Application Guide
How to Apply for Senior/Public Health Officer (Air and Droplet Division)
at Singapore Government, Communicable Diseases Agency
🏢 About Singapore Government, Communicable Diseases Agency
The Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA) is Singapore's central authority for public health policymaking, established in 2025 as a statutory board under the Ministry of Health. What makes CDA unique is its mandate as the primary agency managing communicable diseases through surveillance, outbreak investigations, vaccination programs, and global health collaboration, offering unparalleled impact on national health security. Working here means contributing directly to Singapore's frontline defense against airborne and droplet-borne diseases in a newly established, forward-looking organization.
About This Role
This Senior/Public Health Officer role focuses specifically on airborne and droplet-borne diseases, involving formulation and implementation of prevention/control strategies, epidemiological investigations, outbreak management, and developing surveillance programs. The role is impactful because it directly shapes Singapore's response to diseases like tuberculosis, influenza, COVID-19, and other respiratory pathogens through evidence-based policymaking. You'll provide technical expertise and manage programs that protect public health at both individual and population levels.
💡 A Day in the Life
A typical day might involve analyzing surveillance data on respiratory disease trends, participating in outbreak investigation meetings for suspected tuberculosis cases, and developing technical guidelines for healthcare facilities on infection control measures. You could spend afternoons coordinating with hospital epidemiologists, reviewing literature on emerging airborne pathogens, and preparing briefing materials for senior management on prevention strategy updates.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who Singapore Government, Communicable Diseases Agency Is Looking For
- Has 3-5 years of experience in public health, epidemiology, or infectious disease management with specific expertise in airborne/droplet transmission dynamics
- Possesses strong analytical skills for outbreak investigation and surveillance data interpretation, ideally with experience in statistical software (R, SAS, or STATA)
- Demonstrates program management experience in public health settings, including strategy development, implementation, and evaluation
- Shows understanding of Singapore's healthcare system and experience working with government agencies or in regulatory environments
📝 Tips for Applying to Singapore Government, Communicable Diseases Agency
Highlight specific experience with airborne/droplet-borne diseases (e.g., tuberculosis, influenza, COVID-19, measles) rather than general infectious disease experience
Quantify your impact in previous roles using metrics like outbreak response times, surveillance system improvements, or program coverage rates
Demonstrate knowledge of Singapore's public health landscape by referencing local initiatives like the National TB Programme or pandemic preparedness frameworks
Show how your experience aligns with CDA's 2025 establishment mandate - emphasize adaptability to new organizational structures
Include examples of cross-agency collaboration, as CDA works closely with MOH, hospitals, and international health organizations
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
['Your specific technical expertise in airborne/droplet transmission dynamics and relevant disease experience', "Examples of successful outbreak investigations or surveillance program development you've led or contributed to", "How your background aligns with CDA's mission as Singapore's central communicable diseases authority", 'Your ability to translate epidemiological findings into actionable public health policies and programs']
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → CDA's establishment framework and its relationship with Ministry of Health and other statutory boards like Health Promotion Board
- → Singapore's current communicable disease landscape, particularly tuberculosis rates and respiratory disease patterns
- → Recent airborne/droplet-borne disease outbreaks in Singapore and the government's response mechanisms
- → CDA's international collaborations, particularly with WHO and regional health organizations in Southeast Asia
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Applying with only general public health experience without specific airborne/droplet disease expertise
- Failing to demonstrate understanding of Singapore's unique public health system and regulatory environment
- Presenting theoretical knowledge without concrete examples of program implementation or outbreak management
📅 Application Timeline
This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.
Typical hiring timeline:
Application Review
1-2 weeks
Initial Screening
Phone call or written assessment
Interviews
1-2 rounds, usually virtual
Offer
Congratulations!
Ready to Apply?
Good luck with your application to Singapore Government, Communicable Diseases Agency!