Senior Manager, Industrial Relations

The Senior Manager, Industrial Relations is responsible for leading the organization's industrial and employee relations function across manufacturing operations. This role oversees union engagement, collective bargaining, disciplinary governance, workplace investigations, and compliance with labor laws to ensure a harmonious, compliant, and productive work environment.

The incumbent will partner closely with plant management, HR teams, and senior leadership to proactively manage workforce risks, strengthen union-management relationships, and support business continuity.

Job Responsibilities:

• Develop and implement industrial relations strategies, policies, and governance frameworks.
• Lead union engagement activities, collective agreement negotiations, and dispute resolution.
• Manage grievances, disciplinary matters, domestic inquiries, and workplace investigations.
• Advise and coach management and supervisors on employee conduct and disciplinary issues.
• Ensure compliance with Malaysian labor laws, collective agreements, and company policies.
• Monitor workforce sentiment and identify potential industrial relations risks.
• Collaborate with Operations, HR, and Legal on organizational and workforce matters.
• Represent the company in dealings with labor authorities and external stakeholders.
• Prepare management reports on industrial relations trends, disciplinary cases, and union matters.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance IR processes and governance.

Job Requirements:

• Bachelor's Degree in Human Resource Management, Industrial Relations, Business Administration, Law, or a related discipline. A Master's Degree or professional certification in Industrial Relations, Human Resources, or Employment Law will be an added advantage.
• Minimum 10–15 years of progressive experience in Industrial Relations and Employee Relations within a manufacturing environment, with strong hands-on experience in managing unionized environments, collective agreement negotiations, disciplinary management, domestic inquiries, workplace investigations, and dispute resolution.
• Proven experience in handling labor office cases, industrial relations disputes, and liaising with government authorities and external stakeholders.
• Experience leading industrial relations strategies across multiple manufacturing plants and managing teams and stakeholders at senior management level.
• Sound knowledge of Malaysian labor laws, including the Employment Act, Industrial Relations Act, Trade Unions Act, and other relevant statutory requirements.
• Excellent leadership, negotiation, influencing, stakeholder management, and conflict resolution skills.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities with a proactive and strategic mindset.
• High level of integrity, professionalism, and confidentiality.
• Fluent in both English and Bahasa Malaysia, with strong written and verbal communication skills.