HR & Admin Manager

Private & Confidential; Kuala Lumpur; On-site; MYR 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

Private & Confidential in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, seeks an experienced HR & Admin Manager to lead HR and administrative operations. The role partners with regional HR leadership and business heads to strengthen governance, drive HR strategy, and ensure smooth delivery across the organisation.

The ideal candidate is strategic yet hands-on, capable of managing complex employee relations, overseeing HR operations, and influencing a diverse workforce in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related discipline.
• 10-12 years+ HR management experience, with at least 6 years in a managerial role.
• Experience managing small HR & Admin teams.
• Strong knowledge of employee relations, governance, and HR metrics.
• Fluency in English, Chinese and Malay.

Responsibilities

• Partner with regional HR leadership to shape and execute HR strategies.
• Lead organisation design, workforce planning, succession planning, and capability development.
• Advise on employee relations, investigations, disciplinary actions, conflict resolution, and multi-jurisdiction advisory.
• Drive change management initiatives to support organisational transformation and alignment.
• Oversee end-to-end HR operations including payroll, taxation, and benefits administration.
• Review, streamline, and enhance HR processes to strengthen governance and employee experience.
• Provide HR insights, dashboards, and data analytics to support business decisions.
• Act as senior HR lead on the ground, handling operational tasks as needed.
• Lead or support cross-border HR projects such as policy harmonisation and vendor management.
• Oversee Kuala Lumpur office administration and vendor relationships.

Skills

Fluent English

Fluent Chinese

Fluent Malay

Stakeholder management

HR analytics

People leadership

Education

Degree in Human Resources or related discipline

Job description

HR & Admin Manager – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Position Overview

A multinational organisation in the commercial services sector is seeking an experienced HR & Admin Manager to lead HR and administrative operations in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. This role serves as the senior HR lead on the ground, partnering closely with regional HR leadership and business heads to strengthen governance, drive HR strategy, and ensure smooth operational delivery.

The ideal candidate is strategic yet hands‑on, capable of managing complex employee relations, overseeing HR operations, and influencing a diverse workforce. The role requires agility, resilience, and the ability to operate effectively in both strategic and operational capacities.

Key Responsibilities

• Partner with regional HR leadership and business leaders to shape and execute HR strategies aligned with organisational priorities.
• Lead organisation design, workforce planning, succession planning, and capability development.
• Serve as the primary advisor on employee relations matters, including investigations, disciplinary actions, conflict resolution, and multi-jurisdiction advisory.
• Drive change management initiatives to support organisational transformation and alignment.
• Oversee end-to-end HR operations, ensuring consistent, high-quality delivery of HR services.
• Manage compensation and benefits operations including payroll, taxation, and benefits administration, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliance with Malaysian legislation.
• Review, streamline, and enhance HR processes to strengthen governance, efficiency, and employee experience.
• Provide HR insights, dashboards, and data analytics to support business decision-making.
• Act as the senior HR lead on the ground, stepping into operational tasks when required to ensure continuity and service excellence.
• Lead and resolve complex employee relations matters, ensuring fair, consistent, and legally compliant outcomes.
• Build and maintain a positive, inclusive, and culturally sensitive work environment.
• Guide managers on performance issues, grievance handling, and workplace conduct.
• Champion initiatives that strengthen employee engagement, communication, and collaboration.
• Partner with regional HR teams on cross-border initiatives including organisation structure reviews, manpower planning, engagement programmes, and HR operational improvements.
• Lead or support HR & Admin projects such as policy harmonisation, vendor management, office administration oversight, and compliance reviews.
• Oversee general office administration for Kuala Lumpur operations, ensuring smooth operations, cost efficiency, and compliance with corporate standards.
• Manage relationships with external vendors, government bodies, and service providers as required.

Requirements

• Degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related discipline.
• 10-12 years+ of HR management experience, including at least 6 years at managerial level and experience managing small HR & Admin team.
• Deep expertise in employee relations, including investigations, disciplinary processes, conflict resolution, and multi-jurisdiction advisory.
• Proven ability to manage and influence in a diverse, multi-cultural environment.
• Strong operational grounding in HR processes, compensation & benefits, and HR governance.
• Comfortable being hands‑on, rolling up your sleeves, and acting as the senior HR lead on the ground.
• Experience using HR metrics and data to guide decision-making.
• Agile, fast-paced, and able to operate both strategically and operationally.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to influence and build trust with senior stakeholders.
• Fluent in English, Chinese, and Malay.
• Candidates available on short notice will be priortised.

Confidentiality Notice

This is a highly confidential search. Company information will only be disclosed to shortlisted candidates. All applications will be handled with strict discretion.