Job description
Position Summary
We are seeking a seasoned and results-driven General Manager, Plant Operations to assume full operational and financial leadership for a large-scale manufacturing facility in Johor. This role is a pure operational leadership mandate, requiring the successful candidate to manage a complete, multi-functional plant team while driving continuous improvement in efficiency, quality, and cost control.
The Director will hold full P&L accountability for the plant and must be an expert in the oleochemical or related heavy chemical manufacturing environment.
Key Responsibilities
Operational & Financial Leadership The Plant Director is responsible for managing a full-fledged team across all site functions: Production, Maintenance, QA/QC, Sales, Logistics, and Warehouse. P&L and Financial Management: Maintain full P&L accountability for the plant. Strategically manage and control plant costs, consumption, and operational expenditures to ensure alignment with budget and profitability targets.
Operational Excellence & Efficiency: Formulate and execute strategies to drive operational excellence and significantly enhance operational efficiency. Benchmark performance against global best practices to optimize production output and quality. Headcount & Resource Management: Oversee all aspects of headcount and resource management across the plant.
Develop a high-performing leadership team, fostering a culture of accountability and continuous improvement across all departments. Production & Maintenance Oversight: Directly supervise plant operations, ensuring production schedules are met safely, efficiently, and to the highest quality standard (QA/QC). Champion robust maintenance programs to minimize downtime.
Consumption Management: Implement strict control and reporting systems for utility, material, and resource consumption management to drive cost reduction initiatives. Compliance and Safety: Oversee and enforce strict compliance with all safety, environmental (DOE), and regulatory requirements within the plant.
Requirements
Minimum of 15 to 20 years of progressive experience in oleochemical manufacturing or related chemical industries, with a deep, hands-on operational foundation. Leadership Track Record: Proven experience in a senior Plant/Factory General Management capacity, demonstrated by the successful leadership and management of a full, multi-functional plant team (Production, Maintenance, QA/QC, Logistics, etc.)
Financial Acumen: Must possess strong business acumen and verifiable experience managing full P&L responsibility and driving complex operational transformation or turnaround initiatives. Transformation: Experience in leading major performance improvement programs and implementing best practices in a complex chemical processing environment.
Qualifications
& Skills Education: Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering or a related discipline is mandatory. A Master’s degree (MBA or equivalent) is a significant advantage. Leadership: Exceptional leadership, coaching, and stakeholder management skills, with the proven ability to influence and engage teams across all organizational levels.