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.