Be part of a community of leaders
Our Management Associate Programme has a primary mission: to nurture a community of leaders that gives working families and their children equal access to quality education.
To that end, you will be given opportunities to go beyond what you’ve learnt in school, and gain a wider, cross-disciplinary exposures to the world of early childhood education. So you may grow to fill potential leadership roles within the organization. The result: a fulfilling career that gives you – and the families you serve – even more.
Management Associate
Corporate Programme
Management Associate
Education Programme
Management Associate (Corporate) Programme
Curious to know what’s in store for you as a Management Associate? Here’s what you can expect. Management Associates will be given two postings to grasp a deep and holistic understanding of how our organisation operates. You’ll be immersed in our business and given the opportunity to work with senior management and industry leaders along the way.
The two-year programme includes:
A compulsory on-boarding programme
Two job rotations as illustrated in the diagram below
Corporate Department
One year in a Corporate Function where you’ll build your professional skills & gain broad experience from a group perspective.
Business Units
One year in a Business Unit where you’ll work with a team to contribute to key aspects of our business, gaining knowledge in areas such as operations.
Upon Completion
After your 2 years, you will be posted to a permanent role, depending on your career aspirations, strengths and the needs of the organisation.
Learn and Grow With Us
On the job learning
Leadership development
Projects for extended learning
Mentoring / coaching
Eligibility Criteria
Fresh Graduates with a good degree (all disciplines), or mid-careerists with not more than 5 years of working experience, with the passion to build a career in Early Childhood may apply. Candidates with the following qualities will be considered favourably:
Strong leadership abilities
Commitment to care and service
Drive and resilience
Collaboration and influence
Good academic & co-curricular activities record, with exposure to business or digital products
Hear from our Management Associates (Corporate)
Back in 2018, I had a short stint with NTUC First Campus’s (NFC) Corporate Development team and I truly enjoyed my time....
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Back in 2018, I had a short stint with NTUC First Campus’s (NFC) Corporate Development team and I truly enjoyed my time. I was appreciative of the nurturing and warm culture in NFC, and I felt that everyone was genuine and passionate in their area of work.
As a fresh graduate, I thought NFC would be my first choice as I wanted a job where I could see myself doing meaningful work for an organisation that is focused on its social mission and with an open and nurturing culture.
With a degree in Accountancy and Business (business analytics), I wanted to leverage on my business acumen and also technical skills that I have gained throughout my university years. Hence, I decided to select the Corporate track in the Management Associate programme. I like that there is a structure in the programme, where we could choose to rotate to different departments to learn the different business functions.
I realised the importance of having a strong foundation in a child’s early years while volunteering and teaching children...
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I realised the importance of having a strong foundation in a child’s early years while volunteering and teaching children from low income backgrounds. I was attracted to the early childhood sector by the prospect of being able to contribute to a cause I deeply believe in - enabling children to receive quality early childhood education regardless of their backgrounds.
I was given the opportunity to work on different types of projects that helped me strengthen my management skillsets such as stakeholder management, project conceptualisation and execution with aim to scale.
The opportunity to interact with senior management helped convince me that this programme is indeed designed with an intention to groom potential leaders. I am certain taking up this programme is a right move for me!
Following my graduation in accountancy, I was looking for something where I could hone the skills learnt in university whilst...
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Following my graduation in accountancy, I was looking for something where I could hone the skills learnt in university whilst making a positive impact on the community. I’ve always had a heart for children, and resonate greatly with NFC’s mission of making a difference in children’s lives by giving them equal access to quality education. Being associated with the company makes me happy to know that there is meaning behind every engagement that I work on and that I am ultimately contributing to a greater purpose.
I opted to apply for the corporate track of the Management Associate programme as I wanted to leverage on my business acumen and technical skills. The rotation within the corporate and business unit functions was a main draw for me, as it offers a holistic understanding of the company. I was also interested in the mentorship opportunities with senior management because it is rare for fresh graduates to learn directly from senior members of the company.
Management Associate (Education) Programme
A structured career programme that works towards being a centre leader (Principal) within 4 years after completion of the required Early Childhood Care and Education qualification. There will also be opportunities for progression towards leadership roles in our headquarters / Early Childhood Care and Education.
The Management Associate (Education) programme includes the following possible opportunities
This is how your Management Associate (Education) journey may look like:
Year 1 to 3
Teacher / Lead Teacher
- Strengthen foundation in curriculum, child development & pedagogy
- Achieve curriculum mastery for 2 months to 6 years old children
- Lead small team
- Foster Parent-Centre relationship
Year 4
Vice Principal
- Build and strengthen community-centre relationships
- Achieve mastery in centre management operations
- Mentor and coach centre staff / teachers
Principal
Centre Leadership
- Sponsorship opportunities for Master in Early Childhood Care and Education
- Leadership development
- Achieve mastery in curriculum design
*Career opportunities towards senior leadership positions in HQ
e.g. General Manager, Group Officer, Area Director
*Based on individual potential and aspiration
Eligibility Criteria
Fresh Graduates with a good degree (all disciplines), or mid-careerists with not more than 5 years of working experience, with the passion to build a career in Early Childhood may apply. Candidates with the following qualities will be considered favourably:
Strong leadership abilities
Commitment to care and service
Drive and resilience
Collaboration and influence
Good academic & co-curricular activities record, with exposure to business or digital products
Hear from our Management Associates (Education)
I have always wanted to join the early childhood sector and play my part in nurturing our next generation. I am glad that...
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I have always wanted to join the early childhood sector and play my part in nurturing our next generation. I am glad that NTUC First Campus is probably the first to offer a Management Associate (Education) programme in this field.
In addition, I really like how clearly structured the programme is. This certainly gives me the confidence that as long as I put in the effort and constantly improve with the guidance and support from my mentors, I will definitely be able to progress and achieve my goals.
I am looking forward to a fulfilling and rewarding career where I can nurture and witness the growth of the children.
It was clear to me that at some point in my life, I will pursue my passion in early childhood. However, being a mid-careerist,...
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It was clear to me that at some point in my life, I will pursue my passion in early childhood. However, being a mid-careerist, there are not many organisations that offer a Management Associate (MA) programme to people of my profile as it is often targeted at fresh graduates. It was great that NTUC First Campus (NFC) is diversifying the profile of Management Associates.
More importantly, I was inspired by NFC’s drive to be the leader to uplift the early childhood sector, to further professionalise it and attract more people to join the sector. Also, the MA programme allows one to serve on the ground first by directly teaching the children before taking on leadership roles within a shorter span of time.
I joined the Education track in NTUC First Campus (NFC) Management Associate (MA) programme as I wanted to understand the...
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I joined the Education track in NTUC First Campus (NFC) Management Associate (MA) programme as I wanted to understand the early childhood sector holistically. I believe that by beginning my career as a preschool educator, I will gain a strong foundation in curriculum planning, child development, and pedagogy.
The daily routine of working with children, parents, and colleagues at my centre has allowed me to form many meaningful relationships. I believe in fostering family-school partnerships and the importance of working closely with families to enhance the children's development. Although the MA programme is highly intensive, it is an extremely rewarding career.
As a Sociology graduate, I strongly resonate with NFC’s Child Support Model in helping disadvantaged children. I hope to contribute to NFC through researching into how current support schemes can be improved for these children.
Prior to joining NTUC First Campus (NFC) as a Management Associate (Education) [MA(Edu)], I worked in two vastly different...
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Prior to joining NTUC First Campus (NFC) as a Management Associate (Education) [MA(Edu)], I worked in two vastly different Ministries. Besides being a thought and practice leader in the early childhood sector, NFC now has a well-structured MA(Edu) programme which focuses on grooming future leaders. Hence, I took a leap of faith to leave my stable job for NFC.
Being an MA(Edu) gives me the breadth and depth in preparing myself to be an early childhood leader. Most importantly, I still get to be with the children! I am glad that this programme is giving me a “good start in life”.
I used to have tiny dreams of being a pre-school teacher. As I progressed through university, I became interested in working...
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I used to have tiny dreams of being a pre-school teacher. As I progressed through university, I became interested in working with young children, particularly in the fields of special educational needs (SEN) and educational psychology.
The willingness of NTUC First Campus (NFC) to welcome fresh graduates like myself who have yet to attain the relevant early childhood qualifications to join the sector was also what drove me to take the leap of faith to apply for the Management Associate (Education) programme. It is heartening to learn that NFC invests in its people through comprehensive training, professional and leadership development.
Furthermore, as I had previously graduated from Chinese schools with significant exposure to bilingual education and the Chinese culture, I feel empowered to approach topics on early childhood bilingualism and Mother Tongue Languages in NFC.
The NTUC First Campus (NFC) Management Associate (Education) programme is probably the first of its kind in Singapore and...
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The NTUC First Campus (NFC) Management Associate (Education) programme is probably the first of its kind in Singapore and that is pretty exciting. This programme is very comprehensive and it is also reassuring to know that there is a clear career progression and support structures in place to train and empower the individual.
I am also glad that NFC values people of all experiences and talents. So whether one comes from engineering, medicine, F&B or the arts background like myself, so long as one resonates with NFC’s vision and mission.
It has always been my personal goal to work with children. After five years in the Marketing and Advertising industry, I...
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It has always been my personal goal to work with children. After five years in the Marketing and Advertising industry, I was ready for a career that allows me to play a pivotal role in shaping the minds of children.
Coming across the Management Associate programme was a godsend because its well- structured career path ensured that I would get a quality foundation as well as vital experience in learning the ins and outs of the ECCE industry within a short time. Together with its robust network of centres, I was confident that I had found a new home. Learning about NFC’s work ethos sealed the deal for me; NFC is a people-first organisation that always puts families, children and their staff at the forefront.
Despite being a recent hire, I was given the privilege of working on an ECCE research project. Admittedly, I was apprehensive at first but thanks to the peer support and brilliant teamwork from the rest of the Management Associates, it was an unforgettable and enriching experience.
Frequently asked Questions (FAQ)
Yes, you can apply for both Management Associate programmes.
You are encouraged to apply as long as you have the passion, the right values and aspirations for this programme. If your application is selected, HR will contact you for a better understanding of your background and experiences.
For Management Associate (Education) programme:
You will be offered a sponsorship for the 13-month Diploma in Early Childhood Care & Education – Teaching (Conversion) [DECCE-T(Conversion)] course as this is a requirement to teach as a pre-school teacher. Should you be successful in your application and not already possess the above diploma, the sponsorship comes with a 1-year bond that needs to be fulfilled upon the completion of the 4-year programme.
For Management Associate (Corporate) programme:
You will not be bonded to NFC for this programme.
Yes, you can. It depends on which ECCE diploma; as you might be required to enroll in the Early Childhood Care & Education – Teaching (Conversion) [DECCE-T(Conversion)] course which is a prerequisite to teach in pre-school. The DECCE-T course is sponsored by NTUC First Campus and comes with a 1-year bond.
Yes. If you have prior experience or currently working in the Early Childhood Care and Education sector, you are welcomed to apply for the Management Associate (Education) programme.
The Management Associate (Education) programme starts you on the ground as a teacher and supports your growth to take on a centre leader role after the 4th year of the programme. Beyond centre leadership, you have opportunities for higher leadership roles in the corporate functions after the programme.
