New Country Operations Manager

MR DIY International; Seri Kembangan; On-site; MYR 120,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

MR DIY International is seeking an experienced New Market Expansion Manager with a strong operations background to lead expansion initiatives across multiple markets, from initial build-out to steady-state execution.

You will work closely with the Head of New Market Expansion and the RTM team, ensuring that new initiatives are implemented, adopted, and sustained at store level while aligning with SOPs in each new market.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Operations Management, Retail Management, or related discipline.
• 5–8 years of experience in operations management or multi-site retail.
• Fluent in English; additional languages for target markets are a plus.

Responsibilities

• Project-manage end-to-end new market expansion initiatives across all markets, from business build-out through launch to post-launch stabilization.
• Establish project governance for expansion initiatives, including project plans, milestones, risk management, issue resolution, and status reporting to the Head of New Market Expansion.
• Act as the key link between the Market Expansion team and RTM, translating expansion initiatives into clear, executable plans at store level.
• Troubleshoot execution issues at store level as they arise, diagnosing root causes and coordinating resolution with RTM and other functions.
• Monitor store-level execution against SOP across all markets, identify gaps, and drive corrective action with RTM.
• Coordinate cross-functional stakeholders (RTM, Supply Chain, HR, Finance, and external partners) to unblock issues and keep expansion initiatives on track.
• Support store opening readiness and go‑live checks across new markets, ensuring operational standards are met before launch.
• Conduct field visits across markets to validate execution quality, gather ground-level feedback, and surface risks early.
• Develop and refine SOPs and playbooks based on learnings from each new market, and ensure proper handover and training to RTM.
• Report progress, risks, and resolutions directly to the Head of New Market Expansion.

Skills

Operations management

Retail operations

Project management

Stakeholder management

Cross-functional coordination

Multi-market exposure

Travel readiness

English fluency

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Operations Management, Retail Management, or related

Job description

Job Summary

We are seeking an experienced New Market Expansion Manager with a strong operations background to project-manage our expansion into new markets, from initial business build-out through to steady-state execution. This role reports directly to the Head of New Market Expansion and covers all markets currently under expansion.

While the role carries full project management responsibility for expansion initiatives, the ideal candidate brings hands‑on retail or operations experience: someone who can walk into a store, diagnose why an initiative isn't landing, and drive it back on track, not just track a project plan from behind a desk.

The role acts as the key link between the Market Expansion team and the Retail Trade Management (RTM) team, which owns day‑to‑day store operations, ensuring that every initiative we design is properly implemented, adopted, and sustained at store level, and that execution stays aligned to SOP as we build the business from scratch in each new market.

Key Responsibilities

• Project-manage end-to-end new market expansion initiatives across all markets, from business build-out through launch to post-launch stabilization.
• Establish project governance for expansion initiatives, including project plans, milestones, risk management, issue resolution, and status reporting to the Head of New Market Expansion.
• Act as the key link between the Market Expansion team and RTM, translating expansion initiatives into clear, executable plans at store level.
• Troubleshoot execution issues at store level as they arise, diagnosing root causes and coordinating resolution with RTM and other functions.
• Monitor store-level execution against SOP across all markets, identify gaps, and drive corrective action with RTM.
• Coordinate cross-functional stakeholders (RTM, Supply Chain, HR, Finance, and external partners) to unblock issues and keep expansion initiatives on track.
• Support store opening readiness and go‑live checks across new markets, ensuring operational standards are met before launch.
• Conduct field visits across markets to validate execution quality, gather ground-level feedback, and surface risks early.
• Develop and refine SOPs and playbooks based on learnings from each new market, and ensure proper handover and training to RTM.
• Report progress, risks, and resolutions directly to the Head of New Market Expansion.

Job Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Operations Management, Retail Management, or a related discipline.
• 5-8 years of experience in operations management, retail operations, project/programme management, or business transformation, ideally within multi-site or retail businesses.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects or initiatives concurrently across different markets or countries.
• Strong hands‑on operations background, comfortable troubleshooting on the ground rather than managing purely from a project plan.
• Experience acting as a bridge between HQ/project teams and field or operations teams.
• Strong project management, stakeholder management, and cross-functional coordination skills.
• Comfortable working across multiple markets and cross-cultural teams in a fast-paced, new-market environment.
• Willingness to travel extensively across all markets covered.
• Experience in retail, FMCG, or other multi-site consumer businesses is highly preferred.
• Fluent in English; additional languages relevant to target markets are an advantage.

At MR DIY International, we're more than a global home improvement brand, we're a catalyst for ambitious talent ready to grow beyond borders.

With over 5,000+ stores across 15 countries globally, we offer unmatched international exposure to those looking to build a meaningful, global career.

From retail operations and merchandising to strategy, tech, and supply chain.

Your work here shapes how millions of customers shop every day.

Our Culture Is Built On GIVE

Growth: Rapid development opportunities at every stage of your journey.

International Exposure: Cross-border collaborations and secondments.

Value Creation: Real ownership, real impact.

Empowerment: A culture that trusts you to lead and innovate.

If you're driven, adaptable, and eager to be part of a high-impact team, MR DIY International is where you build, lead, and thrive.