We are partnering with a leading aerospace and precision manufacturing organization to identify a Senior Director of Operations to lead and optimize its regional manufacturing operations across Southeast Asia. This is a strategic leadership role responsible for driving operational excellence, manufacturing performance, business growth, and organizational transformation across multiple production facilities.
The successful candidate will oversee end-to-end operations, including production, supply chain, quality, logistics, and continuous improvement initiatives, while ensuring alignment with corporate objectives and customer requirements. A key focus of this role will be leading a major factory transfer and regional expansion program, ensuring seamless operational continuity, successful facility ramp-up, and sustainable long-term growth.
Key Responsibilities:
Regional Operations Leadership
- Provide strategic leadership and oversight of manufacturing operations across multiple sites within the region.
- Develop and execute operational strategies that support business objectives, customer commitments, and long-term growth plans.
- Ensure alignment of production, supply chain, quality, engineering, and logistics functions to drive operational efficiency and business performance.
- Establish governance frameworks, operating standards, and performance management systems across all manufacturing facilities.
- Drive consistency in operational KPIs, reporting structures, and best practices throughout the organization.
Manufacturing Transformation & Factory Relocation
- Lead large-scale factory transfer and facility transition programs from planning through execution and stabilization.
- Develop and manage comprehensive transition roadmaps covering asset migration, workforce planning, supplier relocation, inventory management, and customer continuity.
- Ensure minimal disruption to production schedules, delivery commitments, and customer satisfaction during transition activities.
- Oversee new facility setup, including manufacturing layout design, capacity planning, equipment installation, workforce readiness, and operational qualification.
- Lead facility ramp-up activities to achieve targeted productivity, quality, and delivery performance.
Operational Excellence & Continuous Improvement
- Champion Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement initiatives across all operational functions.
- Identify operational bottlenecks and implement sustainable solutions to improve throughput, productivity, cost efficiency, and quality performance.
- Drive manufacturing process optimization through automation, digitalization, and best-in-class operational practices.
- Partner with Engineering and Quality teams to improve manufacturability, process capability, and overall operational effectiveness.
- Foster a culture of operational excellence, accountability, and continuous improvement throughout the organization.
Production & Supply Chain Management
- Oversee production planning, scheduling, and execution to ensure customer delivery commitments are consistently achieved.
- Monitor and improve key operational metrics related to productivity, quality, delivery, inventory management, and cost performance.
- Ensure effective utilization of manufacturing resources, including equipment, materials, and workforce capacity.
- Collaborate with Supply Chain and Procurement teams to strengthen supplier performance, material availability, and inventory optimization.
Financial & Business Management
- Assume full accountability for operational financial performance, including Profit & Loss (P&L) management.
- Lead budgeting, forecasting, capital expenditure planning, and financial performance reviews.
- Drive cost reduction initiatives while maintaining operational efficiency, product quality, and customer satisfaction.
- Evaluate and prioritize investments in manufacturing technologies, automation, equipment upgrades, and facility enhancements.
Compliance, Risk & Safety Management
- Ensure all operations comply with applicable regulatory, environmental, customer, and industry requirements.
- Promote a strong safety culture through leadership engagement, policy enforcement, and proactive risk management practices.
- Lead safety audits, operational risk assessments, and corrective action programs to maintain a safe working environment.
- Support business continuity planning and operational risk mitigation initiatives.
Leadership & Talent Development
- Build, lead, and develop high-performing operations leadership teams across multiple locations.
- Drive succession planning, organizational capability development, and workforce engagement initiatives.
- Mentor senior managers and functional leaders, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous learning.
- Establish talent development programs that strengthen leadership capabilities and technical competencies throughout the organization.
Requirements:
- Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Precision Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related discipline. A Master's Degree or MBA will be an advantage.
- Minimum 12 years of progressive leadership experience within manufacturing operations, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership capacity.
- Proven experience managing multi-site manufacturing operations and regional operational teams.
- Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, Operational Excellence, or equivalent professional certification.
- Experience supporting aerospace industry standards and customer requirements.
- Proven success leading regional manufacturing transformation and organizational growth initiatives.
- Strong track record in Lean Manufacturing, Operational Excellence, Six Sigma, and large-scale business transformation initiatives.
- Demonstrated experience leading factory relocation, site transfer, facility start-up, or manufacturing expansion projects.
- Strong financial acumen with proven experience managing Profit & Loss (P&L), budgeting, forecasting, and capital investment planning.
- Extensive knowledge of CNC machining, precision manufacturing, and complex component production environments.
- Experience within aerospace, aviation, defense, semiconductor equipment, or other highly regulated manufacturing industries is highly preferred.
- Excellent leadership, stakeholder management, communication, and change management capabilities.
- Willingness and flexibility to travel frequently across regional manufacturing locations, including Thailand and Malaysia.
Interested candidates may email your resume to Eline Poh ([Confidential Information])
We regret to inform that only shortlisted candidates will be notified.
Eline Poh Qiao Ying [HIDDEN TEXT]
EA License No.: 23S2032 | R2198980
