Charyl Tan is an MND Edge Scholar who holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering with an additional Major in Engineering and Public Policy, as well as a Master of Science in Engineering and Public Policy from Carnegie Mellon University in the United States. She is a Manager for Integrated Operations at the Municipal Services Office, under the Ministry of National Development.
The Ministry of National Development (MND) EDGE Scholarship is a joint talent development scheme by MND and its statutory boards such as Building and Construction Authority (BCA), the Housing & Development Board (HDB), the National Parks Board (NParks) and the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA).
Driven by a desire to create a positive impact on our urban landscape and harness her technical skills for the betterment of society, Charyl Tan embarked on the MND EDGE Scholarship programme in 2017. She saw it as a valuable opportunity to engage in a multifaceted role encompassing both policy formulation and hands-on operational work, and at the same time, be able to contribute to making our housing estates an endearing home for fellow Singaporeans.
“I was particularly drawn to the versatility that the MND EDGE Scholarship programme offered. The programme allowed me to immerse myself in policy work within MND, touching on diverse aspects of the built environment, including construction industry regulations, urban planning and redevelopment as well as city greening, while also having exposure to more operational and technical functions like joining engineering project teams in HDB for short stints,” she explained.
With the scholarship, Charyl pursued her education at Carnegie Mellon University in the United States, undertaking a double major in Civil Engineering and Engineering and Public Policy. She later pursued a master’s degree in Engineering and Public Policy. This academic journey equipped her with technical expertise in the industry and provided her with a broader understanding of the social, environmental, and economic aspects that shape it. Charyl shared, “My civil engineering background provided me with the technical skills to understand the industry and new technological breakthroughs, while my second major and postgraduate studies in engineering and public policy helped me contextualise this information through different lenses.”
Studying abroad exposed Charyl to multiple perspectives, new ideas and different cultural values. “This in turn helped me broaden my understanding of the world and challenged some underlying assumptions that I didn’t know I had. Through knowing people from different walks of life, I was better able to empathise with different communities and gained a deeper appreciation for diversity and inclusion,” she recounted.
Charyl Tan
Transforming Municipal Operations for a Sustainable Future
In her current role, Charyl oversees integrated operations at the Municipal Services Office (MSO), which was established to enhance coordination and improve the quality of municipal services provided by the government and town councils in Singapore.
MSO and its partner agencies have embarked on a comprehensive, multi-year project to integrate and optimise decision-making and ground operations across the municipal sector. Charyl plays a key role in driving this transformation of municipal operations, drawing upon a diverse range of skill sets.
She engages in various aspects of municipal operations such as conducting ground sensing and inspections to assess the state of municipal services, managing pre-emptive and reactive cases by addressing residents’ feedback and concerns, exploring and implementing technology deployments such as researching new technologies and trialling the use of drones for municipal works. She also focuses on resource optimisation and contract management, utilising data analysis to monitor the performance and productivity of operators. Additionally, she contributes to policy reviews related to the municipal sector and the integrated facilities management industry.
“We are transforming the way works are scheduled and manpower is deployed on the ground. We focus on training workers to perform multiple, adjacent job functions and leverage operations-technology and Command, Control and Communications (C3) concepts. These measures enable us to take pre-emptive actions that effectively cater to the needs of residents,” Charyl elaborated.
Broadening Skillsets in a Nurturing Environment
At MND, Charyl is exposed to a variety of training opportunities across Whole-of-Government which has assisted her current work, broadened her knowledge and diversified her skillsets.
She also appreciates MND’s Scholars’ Mentorship Programme which allows her to network with other staff and gain valuable insights.
“MND has a new mentorship programme, which pairs me with an experienced officer from the Public Service Leadership Programme or a director from MND so that I can receive guidance and support for my personal and professional development. I am looking forward to using this avenue to seek feedback on my career progression and help me gain a sharper focus on what is needed to grow professionally,” she said.
Charyl also enjoys being in a positive and nurturing work environment. “Since joining MND, myteam has been very collaborative and supportive. I am not afraid to ask questions and am frequently encouraged to brainstorm and provide my own suggestions,” she added.
For aspiring scholars and students who hope to work in MND, Charyl has this advice: “Reach out and speak to officers who are currently at MND and find out about their experiences. Share your interests and seek advice on how that might (or might not) fit into the organisation’s needs.”
