Role Purpose
The General Manager - Operations (GM) provides executive leadership and strategic direction across all Operations functions, including Operations & Project Delivery, Supply Chain & Procurement (SCM), Production & Fabrication, and the Engineering Design Office (EDO).
The role is accountable for end-to-end operational performance, ensuring projects are delivered safely, on time, within budget, and to required quality standards. Beyond execution, the GM plays a key integrator role, aligning people, processes, and resources to support business strategy, financial performance, and long-term capability building.
The GM owns recruitment, manpower planning, and leadership development across Operations-related departments and is responsible for establishing a performance-driven, disciplined, and collaborative operating culture.
Core Accountabilities / Responsibilities :
1. Operations & Project Delivery
- Provide executive oversight of all operational activities from project handover to final delivery.
- Own and monitor key project delivery KPIs (schedule, cost, quality, productivity).
- Ensure consistent project governance, planning, scheduling, and reporting disciplines.
- Drive on-time, right-first-time delivery across all projects.
- Act as escalation owner for cross-functional bottlenecks impacting cost, schedule, or quality.
- Ensure operational readiness for mobilizations, dry docks, and site works.
- Promote clear decision-making, accountability, and structured problem-solving within project teams.
2. Supply Chain & Procurement (SCM)
- Provide strategic oversight of procurement strategy and SCM performance KPIs (cost, lead time, availability).
- Ensure supply chain resilience, cost control, and timely material availability to support project execution.
- Approve key vendor selections, sourcing strategies, and contract negotiations.
- Monitor inventory control, material traceability, and wastage reduction initiatives.
- Align SCM planning closely with production schedules and project timelines.
- Foster strong internal collaboration between SCM, Engineering, and Operations to minimize disruption.
3. Production & Fabrication
- Oversee workshop and production operations to ensure efficiency, safety, and quality standards are met.
- Own fabrication and manpower utilization KPIs, including productivity, efficiency, and rework rates.
- Drive capacity planning and continuous improvement initiatives aligned with business growth.
- Ensure production outputs comply with engineering drawings, specifications, and class requirements.
- Champion lean manufacturing principles, operational discipline, and practical problem-solving on the shop floor.
- Build a culture of ownership, safety awareness, and continuous improvement within production teams.
4. Engineering Design Office (EDO)
- Provide strategic oversight of the Engineering Design Office and its delivery KPIs.
- Ensure engineering deliverables are accurate, buildable, and aligned with production and site requirements.
- Drive timely issuance of drawings, MTOs, and revisions to support project schedules.
- Ensure effective design change management and coordination with Operations and SCM.
- Support digitalisation, standardization, and automation initiatives (e.g. CAD standards, MTO tools).
- Encourage early collaboration between engineering and execution teams to reduce downstream rework.
5. Financial & Commercial Control
- Own operational cost control and margin protection across all projects.
- Review and challenge project budgets, forecasts, and cost-to-complete assessments.
- Support variation claims, change orders, and commercial risk mitigation from an operational perspective.
- Ensure operational decisions balance delivery urgency with financial discipline.
- Provide clear visibility to management on operational risks, trade-offs, and mitigation actions.
6. Governance, Safety & Compliance
- Ensure compliance with ISO standards, class rules, client requirements, and statutory obligations.
- Champion a strong, visible safety culture across all operational areas.
- Enforce operational discipline through SOPs, work instructions, and internal audits.
- Act as a key contributor during external audits, client inspections, and regulatory engagements.
- Lead by example in ethics, professionalism, and adherence to company policies.
7. Leadership, Recruitment & People Development
- Lead, recruit, and develop a high-performing Operations leadership team.
- Own manpower planning, succession planning, and capability development across Operations, SCM, Production, and EDO.
- Set clear performance expectations, roles, and accountability for direct reports.
- Coach and support department heads to strengthen leadership depth and execution maturity.
- Foster cross-department collaboration, constructive challenge, and alignment to shared objectives.
- Build a culture of trust, accountability, and continuous learning without over-management.
Qualifications :
- Degree in Engineering, Naval Architecture, Industrial Engineering, or related field.
- Professional certifications in project management, operations, or supply chain (advantageous but not mandatory).
Requirements & Skills :
- Minimum 8-15 years of progressive operations leadership experience in project-based environments.
- Strong background in marine interiors, shipyard operations, offshore, or complex fabrication industries.
- Demonstrated leadership across Operations, Production, Supply Chain & Procurement (SCM), and Engineering functions.
- Proven track record managing complex, fast-track projects involving multiple internal and external stakeholders.
Skills & Competencies :
- Strategic operational leadership with strong execution focus
- End-to-end accountability for complex, fast-track project delivery
- Commercial and financial acumen in cost, margin, and risk control
- Cross-functional integration across Operations, SCM, Production, and Engineering
- Decisive, structured decision-making under pressure
- People leadership focused on clarity, capability, and succession
