General Manager, Plant Operations

MVC Resources; Johor; On-site; MYR 400,000 - 700,000; Full time

Job summary

Zohorecruit seeks a seasoned General Manager, Plant Operations to lead a large-scale manufacturing facility in Johor. This role carries full P&L accountability and demands hands-on leadership of Production, Maintenance, QA/QC, Sales, Logistics, and Warehouse teams to drive safety, quality, and cost optimization.

The ideal candidate has 15–20 years in oleochemical or related chemical industries, with a proven track record in Plant/Factory GM roles, and a MBA is a strong plus.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering required; MBA preferred.
• Proven leadership of multi-functional plant teams.

Responsibilities

• Own P&L accountability for the plant and drive cost control.
• Oversee Production, Maintenance, QA/QC, Logistics, Sales, and Warehouse.
• Lead safety, regulatory compliance, and environmental requirements across the site.
• Drive continuous improvement and transformation programs to enhance efficiency and quality.
• Develop and mentor a high-performing leadership team with accountability.

Skills

P&L leadership

Industrial leadership

Operational excellence

Cost control

Stakeholder mgmt

Strategic thinking

Team leadership

Safety compliance

Education

Bachelor's in Chemical Engineering

MBA (advantage)

Job description

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

Experience & Expertise

Industrial Depth: 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.