Director I - Delivery Management

UST USource; Bayan Lepas; On-site; MYR 300,000 - 600,000; Full time

Job summary

UST USource seeks a senior Digital Transformation Leader to oversee a greenfield manufacturing program in Kulim, Malaysia. You will represent global technology leadership, drive MES, IT/OT integration, automation, and digital factory capabilities onsite.

You will balance global standards with local needs, manage vendors and system integrators, ensure cybersecurity, and lead go-live and handover to steady-state operations during an 18-month onsite assignment.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of experience in digital transformation, manufacturing systems, IT, or technology leadership.
• Led at least one major greenfield factory, plant expansion, or manufacturing transformation.
• Strong MES implementation and manufacturing-system integration experience.
• Experience managing multi-vendor ecosystems and system integrators.
• Experience in semiconductor, electronics, or advanced manufacturing environments preferred.
• Fluent English and willingness to onsite in Kulim for ~18 months.

Responsibilities

• Act as the primary onsite technology leader and liaison among plant leadership, global IT, engineering, and vendors.
• Translate ramp-up goals into an integrated digital transformation roadmap.
• Lead MES readiness, governance, deployment, and operational transition.
• Ensure end-to-end integration across MES, ERP, and shop-floor systems.
• Define governance, milestones, risk management, and escalation processes.
• Drive go-live, stabilization, and handover to steady-state operations.
• Manage MES vendors, automation providers, equipment suppliers, and SI partners.
• Embed cybersecurity, backup, and IT/OT security requirements.

Skills

Digital transformation leadership

Manufacturing systems

IT/OT leadership

Vendor management

Governance & risk management

Executive communication

Education

PMP/PRINCE2/ITIL/TOGAF certifications

Tools

Power BI

Job description

Role Overview We are seeking a senior Digital Transformation Leader to provide onsite leadership for a major greenfield manufacturing program in Kulim, Malaysia. The role will represent global technology leadership and drive the successful delivery of factory digitalization initiatives, including MES, manufacturing applications, IT/OT integration, automation, digital factory capabilities, infrastructure readiness, cybersecurity, vendor management, governance, and production ramp-up.

Key Responsibilities Program Leadership Act as the primary onsite technology leader and liaison between plant leadership, global IT, engineering, manufacturing teams, vendors, and system integrators. Translate factory ramp-up goals into an integrated digital transformation roadmap. Establish governance, milestones, risk management, and escalation processes across all technology workstreams.

Drive delivery from design through implementation, testing, go-live, stabilization, and operational handover. MES & Manufacturing Systems Lead MES implementation readiness, governance, deployment, and operational transition. Ensure end-to-end integration across MES, ERP, shop-floor systems, automation platforms, quality systems, and production processes.

Balance global standards with local manufacturing requirements while minimizing unnecessary customization. Define support, monitoring, ownership, and handover models before go-live. Digital Factory & Automation Drive adoption of connected manufacturing, automation, digital workflows, analytics, paperless operations, and real-time production visibility.

Support autonomous manufacturing initiatives through equipment connectivity, automated decision-making, and integrated operational processes. Prioritize digital initiatives based on business value, scalability, safety, and operational impact. Vendor & Implementation Management Manage MES vendors, automation providers, equipment suppliers, infrastructure partners, and system integrators.

Define delivery ownership, milestones, acceptance criteria, and escalation mechanisms. Monitor vendor performance, delivery risks, dependencies, and change requests while ensuring alignment to program objectives. IT/OT, Infrastructure & Cybersecurity Ensure readiness of infrastructure, plant networks, connectivity, workplace services, compute, identity management, and security platforms.

Coordinate IT/OT architecture and integration across enterprise systems, manufacturing environments, and equipment connectivity. Embed cybersecurity, backup, recovery, business continuity, and compliance requirements into all solutions. Go-Live & Operational Transition Lead technology readiness, cutover planning, and production startup activities.

Establish go/no-go criteria, risk mitigation plans, and hypercare support processes. Drive stabilization, issue resolution, documentation, knowledge transfer, KPI monitoring, and transition to steady-state operations. Mandatory Experience & Skills 15+ years of experience in digital transformation, manufacturing systems, IT, or technology leadership.

Proven leadership of at least one major greenfield factory, plant expansion, or manufacturing transformation program. Strong MES implementation and manufacturing-system integration experience. Experience managing digital factory, automation, IT/OT, infrastructure, and enterprise application initiatives.

Demonstrated success managing multiple vendors and system integrators. Strong governance, stakeholder management, financial oversight, risk management, and executive communication skills. Experience in semiconductor, electronics, or advanced manufacturing environments is highly preferred.

Ability to work independently onsite and represent senior/global leadership. Fluent English and willingness to be based in Kulim for approximately 18 months. Preferred Qualifications Experience with semiconductor MES, factory automation, equipment integration, Industry 4.0, or autonomous manufacturing programs.

Exposure to ERP-to-MES integration, manufacturing data platforms, analytics, and digital operations. PMP, PRINCE2, ITIL, TOGAF, or related certifications. Experience working within global matrix organizations.

Key Success Factors The ideal candidate is a hands-on transformation leader capable of converting a complex greenfield vision into successful execution. They will drive MES and digital factory readiness, manage multi-vendor ecosystems, mitigate risks, protect critical milestones, and ensure a successful factory launch while effectively representing global technology leadership onsite.

Candidate Screening Information Total years of digital transformation/manufacturing leadership experience. Largest greenfield or manufacturing implementation led (scope, duration, and role). MES platforms delivered and responsibilities held.

Largest team, vendor ecosystem, and program value managed. Digital factory, automation, Industry 4.0, or autonomous manufacturing initiatives delivered. Availability for onsite assignment in Kulim, Malaysia, for approximately 18 months.

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