General Manager, Manufacturing Malaysia

Job Title: General Manager, Manufacturing (Penang)

Location: Penang, Malaysia

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced and driven General Manager, Manufacturing to establish and lead our clients new manufacturing operations in Penang, Malaysia. This role will oversee the setup of operations, supply chain, and scaling of local production capabilities in collaboration with their regional and China-based teams.

The ideal candidate is a seasoned manufacturing leader with strong experience in New Product Introduction (NPI), supply chain management, and contract manufacturing (CM) environments. This position requires a hands-on leader who thrives in a startup-like, high-growth environment and can build manufacturing excellence from the ground up. He or she must have experience in either automation, semiconductor or any similar high tech manufacturing environment.

Key Responsibilities

1. Manufacturing Setup and Operations

• Lead the setup and launch of manufacturing operations in Penang, beginning with contract manufacturing and transitioning toward in-house production.
• Drive product transfer activities from existing manufacturing sites, ensuring quality, yield, and schedule compliance.
• Establish standard operating procedures (SOPs), production workflows, and quality management systems to meet corporate and regulatory requirements.
• Work closely with regional and R&D teams to ensure smooth NPI handover and product readiness for mass production.

2. Team Leadership

• Hire, develop, and manage the local manufacturing and engineering team in Penang.
• Build a strong leadership culture emphasizing accountability, continuous improvement, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Mentor local staff to develop future leadership capabilities within the Malaysia operation.

3. Supply Chain and Vendor Management

• Collaborate with corporate teams to identify, qualify, and manage local suppliers and partners.
• Optimise supply chain efficiency, lead times, and cost performance while maintaining quality standards.
• Oversee material planning, procurement strategy, and vendor relationships in Malaysia.

4. Operational Excellence and Performance

• Define and track key performance indicators (KPIs) related to manufacturing yield, cost, delivery, and quality.
• Drive continuous improvement through Lean manufacturing, process automation, and data-driven decision-making.
• Ensure full compliance with EHS, ISO, and local regulatory standards.

5. Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with R&D, engineering, and supply chain teams across regions to support new product introduction and design-for-manufacturability initiatives.
• Serve as the local point of contact for senior leadership on plant performance, capacity planning, and project execution.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelors degree or higher in Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, or related field.
• Minimum 15 years of manufacturing experience, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership role.
• Proven track record in setting up or scaling new manufacturing facilities.
• Strong experience in contract manufacturing management, NPI, and supply chain establishment.
• Background in semiconductor, advanced electronics, or precision manufacturing preferred; experience in Medtech or automation industries is a plus.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Fluent in English; proficiency in Mandarin is an advantage.

Personal Attributes

• Results-driven, hands-on leader comfortable in a fast-paced, small-factory environment.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to build teams and processes from scratch.
• Collaborative and culturally adaptable, with cross-border working experience.