Published 06 August 2026  |  By Winny Soong

Behind every well-run project is a team that understands the operational needs and brings together people with the right expertise. At POLWEL’s Business & Employment Services Division (BESD), strong project management and decades of experience come together to deliver service excellence for clients, while creating meaningful opportunities for retired officers.

We caught up with Anthony Chay (Head, Integrated Business Operations) and Masrun Bin Ahmad, a former Singapore Police Force (SPF) officer turned Project Operations Supervisor, to learn about the people, planning and teamwork behind BESD’s projects.

BESD brings together both project management and employment services. How do these two functions work hand in hand to support POLWEL’s wider social mission?

Anthony: They are closely connected and both are equally important to the work we do.

On the project management side, we work closely with clients from various public-sector agencies to understand the project deliverables and current operational challenges. We then operationalise the project plans and deliver solutions that are tailored to their needs. This involves much more than simply channelling available manpower over to projects. We need to understand the project objectives, identify the skills required, and critically build the right team to support consistent quality service delivery.

On the employment services side, we connect experienced retired and former SPF and Home Team officers with opportunities that match their skills and expertise. While helping clients meet their operational needs, we also enable retired officers to stay active, purposeful and connected to a profession to which they have dedicated much of their lives.

Masrun: Before deployment, POLWEL takes time to understand the potential staff’s experience, strengths, interests and availability, so they can be matched to a suitable role and contribute confidently from day one.

Having gone through this journey myself, I understand what these opportunities mean to retired officers. We get to stay active, supplement our income and continue serving the community in a different capacity.

When POLWEL takes on a new outsourced project, what happens behind the scenes before the team is ready to begin work?

Anthony: Most people see a project only when it is running, but the extensive preparation work happens before that. We begin by understanding the project scope, service standards, timelines and operational risks. From there, we plan the manpower, workflows, reporting and communication needed for smooth project delivery.

Every project requires a different mix of skills. Some call for specialised knowledge, while others require strong stakeholder-management, administrative or supervisory experience. Once suitable individuals are identified, we prepare them for deployment.

The projects managers from BESD also coordinate closely with our clients and the ground deployment teams to ensure everyone understands the project’s objectives, responsibilities and expected standards. This gives both our staff and clients confidence that the project is set up for success.

Masrun: Once the groundwork is in place, my focus is on preparing individuals for deployment and making sure they have the support to perform their roles well. As I often say, “Officer readiness is always a key priority.”

Briefings and on-the-job training help familiarise them with the work environment, their duties and our clients’ expectations. Depending on the nature of the work, they may also receive additional guidance or undergo a period of observation and assessment before taking on the role fully.

Even after operations begin, our work does not stop. I regularly visit project sites to check in with the teams, listen to their concerns and address any issues they may encounter. Feedback from the ground is important because it gives us real-time visibility into operational challenges and evolving needs.

How does close collaboration between the BESD team and project teams on the ground help ensure quality service delivery?

Anthony: Both teams play different but complementary roles. The BESD team of project managers handle the client engagement, contract requirements, manpower planning, reporting and operational coordination, while the ground team provides valuable day-to-day insights into site operations.

Close collaboration helps us identify issues early, respond to operational challenges and ensure our ground teams have the support needed to deliver quality outcomes. Quality service is a shared effort built on trust, communication and a commitment to achieving the same outcome.

Masrun: I see myself as the bridge between the BESD project managers and the teams on the ground. Feedback gathered during site visits is shared promptly with the project managers so that timely decisions can be made, additional support provided and new operational requirements communicated to the ground teams.

Things can change very quickly on the ground and sometimes at short notice. That is why close coordination is so important.

I remember during the recovery stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, we had to move quickly to set up 7 recreation facilities for migrant workers across Singapore. This supported the Ministry of Manpower’s efforts to allow these workers to access recreational facilities while managing the exposure to the general population. The large-scale deployment of this project meant that we had to manage the deployment of over 100 officers, to keep the facilities open 7 days a week, while juggling the health risk to our officers.

What value do former and/or retired Police and Home Team officers bring to these projects, and how are their experience and strengths matched to suitable roles?

Anthony: Former and retired Police and Home Team officers bring a unique combination of operational experience, discipline, sound judgement and a strong public-service mindset. Many have spent years managing incidents, conducting investigations, making decisions under pressure and working closely with stakeholders.

These strengths are highly relevant across many of BESD’s projects. For example, someone with an investigation or enforcement background may be well suited for inspection, prosecution, audit or compliance-related work, while those with training experience may support assessments, role-play exercises or training projects. Those with leadership and operational experience may also take on supervisory or project coordination roles.

Masrun, what led you to take on a second career with POLWEL? Which skills or experiences from your years in the Singapore Police Force have been most useful in your current role as a Project Operations Supervisor?

Masrun: After serving in the SPF for almost 33 years, retirement was a major adjustment. While I enjoyed the rest and freedom at first, it did not take long before I started missing the sense of purpose and routine that had been part of my daily life for so many years.

“After a while, you realise retirement doesn’t mean you stop contributing. You just contribute in a different way,” shared Masrun.

I learnt about POLWEL through former colleagues and email broadcasts for second-career opportunities. It felt like the right place to begin my next chapter. Thankfully, many of the skills and experiences I gained during my years in the SPF continue to serve me well today. Frontline policing taught me to stay calm under pressure and make sound decisions, while my experience in community policing and investigations strengthened my communication, analytical and problem-solving skills. These are experiences I draw on regularly when working.

Finally, what does meaningful employment and purposeful work mean to both of you?

Anthony: For me, meaningful work is more than just the job itself. There is a real sense of satisfaction when a project is delivered well and our client’s needs are met. It is equally rewarding to see someone’s experience put to good use.

Over the years, I have witnessed many inspiring second-career journeys at POLWEL. Some of our project staff continue contributing actively in their 70s. That is a powerful reminder that experience does not lose its value at retirement. With the right opportunity and support, it can continue benefiting organisations and communities for many years.

“At the end of the day, our work is about delivering service excellence while giving retirees the dignity, purpose and opportunity to continue contributing,” says Anthony.

Masrun: Working at POLWEL has allowed me to apply the experience I gained over more than 3 decades in the SPF in a new environment. It has also allowed me to see project delivery from a different perspective. There is a lot of preparation and coordination involved in making sure our clients receive the service they need and that our staff are ready to deliver it.

“Retirement may mark the end of one career, but it can also be the beginning of another meaningful chapter,” reflects Masrun.

Knowing that I can support our clients, help our teams on the ground and encourage fellow retired officers in their own second careers make the work especially fulfilling and rewarding. 

For Anthony, Masrun and the BESD team, successful project delivery is about balancing dependable project management with meaningful opportunities – bringing POLWEL’s social mission to life while delivering value to clients.

Whether you are looking for project management and operational support, exploring a meaningful second-career opportunity, or interested in collaborating with POLWEL, connect with us at collaborate@polwel.org.sg to find out how we can work together.

Read more stories from the People of POLWEL series here.