The Public Service newbie guide

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

Also heard as: Singapore Public Service, SPS

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 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 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.

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

Also heard as: Second PS, 2nd PS

A senior executive supporting the Chief Executive, commonly used in statutory boards and agencies.

Also heard as: Asst CE, Assistant CE, Assistant Chief Exec

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.

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 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 senior leadership appointment heading a division or major organisational function.

Also heard as: Division Director

Context: Divisional Director, Group Director and Senior Director are broadly comparable leadership titles, but the exact hierarchy varies 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.

A senior leadership appointment heading a group of related functions or divisions.

Also heard as: Group Dir

Context: Group Director, Divisional Director and Senior Director are broadly comparable leadership titles, but the exact hierarchy varies by agency.

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 baseline competencies expected of all Singapore public officers, introduced to provide a common language for development and performance conversations.

Also heard as: OCCs, Our Core Competency

Context: Six core competencies apply to all public officers. Two additional competencies apply to officers with supervisory or leadership responsibilities. OCC replaced the AIM model.

A political office-holder who supports a ministry's parliamentary and policy work.

Also heard as: Parliamentary Sec

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

A senior leadership appointment responsible for a major organisational function, portfolio or group.

Also heard as: Snr Dir

Context: Senior Director, Group Director and Divisional Director are broadly comparable leadership titles, but the exact hierarchy varies by agency.

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.

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.