This is a prestigious global industrials company, recently acquired by a leading private equity firm in a high-value leveraged buy-out. The company is embarking on an ambitious transformation journey to drive growth and operational excellence across its worldwide operations. As part of this strategic vision, they are seeking a high-calibre individual to lead the operational transformation of their Asia business, which is a key growth driver for the company.
The Director of Operational Excellence will play a pivotal role in the newly established Value Creation Office. Reporting to the Group Chief Transformation Officer, this individual will collaborate closely with the Asia Management Team and work with private equity sponsors to optimize the performance and efficiency of the Asia production facilities. This position is responsible for overseeing the transformation agenda of a sub-US $1B business, implementing best practices, and driving continuous improvements across the region.
Responsibilities:
Lead the operational transformation efforts for Asia operations, reporting directly to the Group Chief Transformation Officer and working in close partnership with the Asia Management Team and Private Equity Sponsors.
Spearhead the implementation of operational excellence initiatives by collaborating with cross-functional teams (Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain, and Quality) to improve productivity, streamline processes, and enhance resource allocation.
Drive continuous improvement efforts across the region through the application of Lean and Six Sigma methodologies, focusing on enhancing operational performance, product throughput, quality, and optimizing working capital and inventory levels.
Identify and implement best practices across Asia operations, aiming to streamline workflows and capitalize on process improvement opportunities.
Strengthen the capabilities of the Asia workforce, from frontline employees to functional leaders, by providing coaching, training programs, and the development of academies to build operational excellence.
Foster collaboration with private equity investors, the group headquarters, and regional leadership teams to ensure alignment and secure support for transformation initiatives.
Requirements:
Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in a relevant field.
A minimum of 20 years of experience in the industrials or manufacturing sector, with a proven track record of driving value creation, operational excellence, and large-scale transformation.
Deep understanding of key performance indicators for manufacturing operations, such as cycle time, defect rates, throughput, and related metrics.
Accreditation in Lean and Six Sigma methodologies, with a strong practical application of these principles.
Exceptional stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate effectively with cross-regional and cross-functional teams, including production staff and private equity sponsors.
Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities, demonstrated by a history of successfully leading complex transformation projects.
Fluency in English is required; proficiency in Mandarin Chinese or Bahasa Malayu is highly desirable.
Previous experience in management consulting is advantageous.