Decoding your first month

The wider Singapore Public Service, comprising officers working in ministries and statutory boards.

Also heard as: Singapore Public Service, SPS

A public body established by legislation to perform specified functions, with its own legal identity and employment practices.

Also heard as: statutory board, SB

Context: SB is highly ambiguous and should be interpreted using the agency context.

Work, outcomes or arrangements that span multiple agencies and are pursued from the perspective of the Government as a whole.

Also heard as: whole of government, whole-of-govt

The most senior civil servant heading a ministry, accountable for its administration, policy support and organisational performance.

Also heard as: Perm Sec, PermSec, Permanent Sec

Context: PS is highly ambiguous and also commonly means Public Service.

A senior management appointment usually responsible for a division, directorate or major function.

Also heard as: D, Director-level

Context: D is highly ambiguous and grade structures differ across agencies.

A Permanent Secretary appointment supporting or sharing leadership of a ministry, usually with a stated portfolio.

Also heard as: Second PS, 2nd PS

A management appointment commonly responsible for a team or portfolio, often reporting to a Deputy Director or Director.

Also heard as: Asst Dir

Context: AD is highly ambiguous, including Active Directory in technology contexts.

The senior executive heading a statutory board or public agency that uses the Chief Executive title.

Also heard as: Chief Exec

Context: Some organisations use CEO instead; CE is also highly ambiguous outside the appointment context.

An agency that sets or coordinates policies, standards, resources or capabilities across the Public Service.

Also heard as: central agencies

Context: The set of agencies treated as central agencies depends on the function and context.

The part of the Public Service made up of officers employed in ministries; statutory boards are legally distinct employers.

Also heard as: Singapore Civil Service

A Cabinet appointment coordinating policy and action across ministries for a stated portfolio.

Also heard as: Coordinating Min

Context: The portfolio forms part of the full title, such as Coordinating Minister for National Security or Public Services.

Informal shorthand for a director-level officer, discussion or clearance point.

Also heard as: D level, director level

Context: The grade or appointment counted as D-level varies by agency and context.

A senior executive supporting the Chief Executive and typically leading one or more major portfolios.

Also heard as: Deputy CE, Deputy Chief Exec

A management appointment commonly leading a branch, team or substantial portfolio under a Director.

Also heard as: Dep Dir

Context: DD has many other meanings and appointment structures vary by agency.

A Cabinet appointment assisting the Prime Minister and carrying assigned portfolios.

Also heard as: Deputy PM

A senior ministry leader below the Permanent Secretary level, usually responsible for a major policy or organisational portfolio.

Also heard as: Dep Sec, DS(P), DS(D), DS(S)

Context: The letters in parentheses identify a portfolio and vary by ministry.

The most senior public-service leadership appointment, responsible for leading the Civil Service and stewarding the wider Public Service.

Also heard as: Head, Civil Service, Head Civil Service

The agency responsible for driving coordination, consolidating inputs and moving a cross-agency issue or initiative forward.

Also heard as: lead ministry, lead department

A ministry together with the statutory boards or agencies that work in its broad policy and delivery domain.

Also heard as: ministry-family

A political office-holder appointment supporting a Minister in specified ministry portfolios.

Also heard as: Min of State

The senior person whose position, decision or engagement the staff team is preparing for, such as a Minister, Permanent Secretary or Chief Executive.

Also heard as: the principal, principals

Context: The exact meaning depends on context and can also refer to a school principal or a party in a legal or commercial relationship.

The core values expected of Singapore public officers: integrity, service and excellence.

Also heard as: ISE, Integrity Service Excellence

The team or officer that organises a committee or meeting, coordinates papers, drafts minutes and tracks follow-up actions.

Also heard as: meeting secretariat, committee secretariat, sec

A senior Cabinet appointment whose holder undertakes responsibilities assigned by the Prime Minister.

Also heard as: Senior Min

Context: SM may also mean senior management in workplace contexts.

A political office-holder appointment supporting one or more Ministers in specified ministries.

Also heard as: Senior MOS, Senior Min of State

Context: SMS also has common non-government meanings such as Short Message Service.

An officer performing staff functions for a higher authority, including studying the situation, recommending plans and translating decisions into action.

Also heard as: staff officer

Context: The cited definition comes from SAF staff-work doctrine. Civilian agencies may use the term more loosely or use different appointment titles.

The named person or team serving as the main channel for coordination, enquiries or issue routing.

Also heard as: single point of contact, single contact point

A political office-holder appointment supporting a ministry and its parliamentary and policy work.

Also heard as: Senior Parl Sec

Context: SPS is highly ambiguous and also refers to agencies and schemes in other contexts.

Cross-agency strategic outcomes used to align agencies around results that cannot be achieved by one organisation alone.

Also heard as: WOG Strategic Outcomes, Whole-of-Government Strategic Outcome