Overview

A well‑established industrial manufacturing group with multiple plants in Malaysia is seeking a Chief Operating Officer to lead and integrate its manufacturing footprint across Southern and Central regions. The role has full accountability for operational performance while strengthening leadership capability.

Key Responsibilities

End‑to‑End Manufacturing Leadership: Own overall operational performance across multiple manufacturing sites, ensuring consistent delivery on safety, quality, cost, productivity, and service targets within a complex, process‑driven environment.
Multi‑Plant Integration & Governance: Align operating standards, KPIs, and execution discipline across sites while balancing plant‑specific requirements, product mix differences, and production constraints.
Hands‑On Operational Execution: Maintain strong shop‑floor presence to directly address production inefficiencies, machine downtime, long campaign runs, maintenance challenges, and execution gaps with speed and ownership.
Leadership Development & Succession: Coach and develop senior site leaders, closing capability gaps and preparing them to step into broader operational leadership roles.
Cost, Productivity & P&L Management: Drive cost control, yield improvement, and operational efficiency while contributing meaningfully to budgeting, forecasting, and operational P&L discussions.
Cross‑Functional Collaboration: Work closely with Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, Logistics, HR, and Finance to ensure integrated execution, material availability, and organisational alignment.
Operational Risk & Stability Management: Strengthen governance, escalation mechanisms, and risk controls to ensure stable operations during long production campaigns, changeovers, and maintenance cycles.

Key Qualifications & Requirements

Industrial Manufacturing Background: Proven experience in medium to heavy industrial manufacturing environments with complex, multi‑stage production processes rather than light assembly operations.
Multi‑Plant or Complex Site Leadership: Track record managing multiple manufacturing plants or a highly complex, high‑mix production environment with significant scale.
Strong Financial & P&L Exposure: Demonstrated ability to manage operational costs, productivity levers, and plant‑level or group‑level financial performance.
Hands‑On, High‑Ownership Leadership Style: Comfortable operating on the shop floor, taking full accountability, and driving solutions without finger‑pointing.
Senior Operations Leadership Experience: Typically 15–20+ years experience; currently or previously holding a COO, Senior GM Operations, or expanded GM role.

Why Join This Organisation

This role offers a rare opportunity to take on true operational ownership within a stable, industrial manufacturing group that values integrity, accountability, and hands‑on leadership. The successful leader will have real influence over operations, leadership development, and long‑term manufacturing excellence, with visible impact across the organisation.

COO (Industrial Manufacturing) - MY875514