Senior Manager, Human Resources

Senior Manager, Human Resources

Location: Perai, Penang

Reports to: HR Director

Employment Type: Full-time, Permanent (New Position)

Salary: Up to RM17,500 per month (depending on experience and qualifications)

About the Company

Our Penang facility is a world-class, high-volume manufacturing site that designs and produces iconic, high-quality products loved by children and collectors worldwide. With several thousand employees, the plant operates in a fast-paced, multi-shift manufacturing environment and plays a critical role in the company's global supply chain. We foster a collaborative, inclusive culture that values innovation, continuous improvement, safety, and employee development.

Job Purpose

The Senior Manager, Human Resources will provide strategic and operational HR leadership with a strong emphasis on Talent Acquisition, Employee Relations / Industrial Relations, and broader HR generalist responsibilities. This newly created role partners closely with the HR Director and site leadership to build a high-performing workforce, maintain positive employee and industrial relations, and ensure HR practices support business goals in a large-scale manufacturing setting.

Key Responsibilities

Talent Acquisition

• Lead end-to-end talent acquisition strategies for the site, covering both salaried and hourly/operator roles in a high-volume manufacturing environment.
• Develop and execute sourcing strategies, employer branding initiatives, and recruitment campaigns to attract quality talent.
• Partner with hiring managers on workforce planning, job profiling, selection processes, and offer management.
• Oversee foreign worker recruitment and management processes in compliance with Malaysian regulations.
• Drive continuous improvement in recruitment metrics (time-to-fill, quality of hire, cost-per-hire, diversity).

Employee Relations & Industrial Relations

• Serve as the primary lead for employee relations and industrial relations matters at the site.
• Handle grievances, disciplinary cases, misconduct investigations, and dispute resolution in a fair, consistent, and legally compliant manner.
• Build and maintain constructive relationships with unions (if applicable), employee representatives, and relevant government agencies.
• Advise management on IR strategy, collective bargaining support, and risk mitigation.
• Promote a positive workplace culture and proactive employee engagement to minimise industrial issues.

HR Generalist & Business Partnering

• Act as a trusted HR business partner to site leadership on people-related matters.
• Support performance management, talent development, succession planning, and employee engagement initiatives.
• Ensure full compliance with Malaysian employment laws, labour regulations, and company policies.
• Contribute to the design and implementation of HR policies, processes, and programmes aligned with local and regional requirements.
• Analyse HR data and metrics to identify trends and recommend solutions that improve workforce effectiveness and retention.
• Lead or support change management initiatives, organisational design, and other special projects as assigned.
• Mentor and develop junior HR team members.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resource Management, Business Administration, or a related field. Master's degree or professional HR certification is an advantage.
• Minimum 8–12 years of progressive HR experience, with at least 4–5 years in a managerial or senior specialist role.
• Strong hands-on experience in Talent Acquisition within a manufacturing or large-scale operational environment.
• Solid expertise in Employee Relations and Industrial Relations, including practical handling of grievances, disciplinary processes, and engagement with unions/authorities in Malaysia.
• Broad HR generalist experience covering performance management, employee engagement, compliance, and policy implementation.
• In-depth knowledge of Malaysian employment and industrial relations laws.
• Experience managing or supporting foreign workforce processes is highly preferred.
• Excellent stakeholder management, communication, and influencing skills.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-volume manufacturing environment and manage multiple priorities.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and HRIS systems.