Operations Strategy Manager

VAT Vakuumventile AG; Batu Kawan; On-site; MYR 300,000 - 480,000; Full time

Job summary

VAT Manufacturing Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. in Batu Kawan, Penang, seeks a Strategic Program Manager to drive critical initiatives spanning capacity expansion, supply chain scaling, product relocation, and continuous improvement.

You will partner with Operations, Engineering, Finance, and Quality to ensure alignment with business goals. The role demands a highly organized leader with 10+ years in manufacturing, strong governance, risk management, and change implementation capabilities to deliver

Qualifications

• Degree or Masters in Engineering, Science, Economics, Business Administration or other related technical discipline.
• At least 10 years of experience as a site leader in a complex, fast-paced environment.
• Minimum 10 years of direct management experience in manufacturing.

Responsibilities

• Lead and govern multiple strategic site programs from initiation through implementation and stabilization, aligning with VAT Malaysia's growth and productivity.
• Coordinate external supplier ramp-up and capacity expansion to support business growth.
• Lead product relocation, localization, industrialization, and related transformation programs.
• Establish governance, prepare dashboards, and report progress to site and global leadership.
• Identify risks, resource gaps, and mitigation plans to ensure on-time delivery and customer commitments.

Skills

Strategic program mgmt

Cross-functional leadership

Stakeholder management

Project governance

Education

Bachelor/Master in Engineering/Science/Business

Job description

Innovation, Efficiency and Ambition: this is what VAT has stood for over 50 years.

With this passion, VAT has grown to become the leading international developer, manufacturer and supplier of high-performance high-end vacuum valves and vacuum sealing technology, employing over 2000 people worldwide. The headquarters are located in Haag (Switzerland), the production centers in Switzerland, Malaysia, Romania and Taiwan.

VAT is the leading global developer, manufacturer and supplier of mission-critical high-vacuum solutions needed for manufacturing processes of innovative products used in daily life such as portable devices, displays and other devices enabling the new Digital Era.

VAT Manufacturing Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. was among the first companies to establish operations in Batu Kawan Industrial Park (BKIP) in 2012. Since then, VAT has continued to expand its investment in Malaysia, bringing advanced manufacturing capabilities and state-of-the-art vacuum valve technologies to Penang. With the addition of a new manufacturing facility in BKIP, the Penang operations are set to become the largest production site within the VAT Group globally.

The Strategic Program Manager serves as a key execution leader responsible for driving the successful delivery of critical strategic initiatives that support VAT Malaysia's growth, operational excellence, and long-term business objectives. Reporting directly to the Malaysia Site General Manager, this role acts as the bridge between leadership strategy and operational execution, ensuring that complex, cross-functional programs are effectively planned, coordinated, and delivered.

The role is accountable for leading and governing high-priority site initiatives, including internal capacity expansion, external supply chain scaling, product transfer and relocation programs, manufacturing readiness, and operational transformation projects. Working closely with Business Units, Operations, Supply Chain, Engineering, Finance, Quality, and other key stakeholders, the Strategic Program Manager ensures alignment, execution discipline, risk management, and timely delivery of strategic priorities.

This position requires a highly organized, results-oriented leader with strong program management, stakeholder management, and problem-solving capabilities. The incumbent will drive cross-functional collaboration, establish governance and performance tracking mechanisms, remove execution barriers, and ensure strategic initiatives achieve their intended business outcomes in support of VAT Malaysia's continued growth and competitiveness.

Your responsibilities include, but not limited to:

Strategic Program Leadership

• Lead and govern multiple strategic site programs from initiation through implementation and stabilization, ensuring alignment with VAT Malaysia's growth, productivity, and customer commitments.
• Translate leadership objectives into executable project plans, milestones, governance structures, and measurable outcomes
• Manage cross-functional dependencies across Operations, Supply Chain, Engineering, Quality, HR, Finance, Facilities, and Business Units to ensure effective execution and delivery.

External Ramp-Up & Supplier Capacity Expansion

• Lead strategic supplier ramp-up initiatives to ensure capacity readiness in support of business growth objectives.
• Coordinate supplier development, qualification, sourcing expansion, and capacity investment activities to strengthen supply chain capabilities.
• Align external supply capacity with internal manufacturing requirements and customer demand forecasts.
• Drive governance, risk mitigation, and recovery plans to address supplier bottlenecks, delivery risks, quality challenges, and ramp-up readiness.

Product Relocation, Industrialization & Business Transformation

• Lead product relocation, transfer, localization, and industrialization programs from planning through qualification and operational handover.
• Coordinate execution across Business Units, Product Management, Engineering, Supply Chain, Operations, and Quality to achieve cost, quality, timeline, and customer requirements.
• Drive strategic initiatives related to operational excellence, quality transformation, automation, digitalization, productivity improvement, and footprint expansion.

Executive Governance & Stakeholder Management

• Establish governance mechanisms and lead executive reviews, steering committee meetings, and cross-functional decision-making forums.
• Prepare and present program dashboards, progress updates, risk assessments, resource requirements, and recommendations to site and global leadership.
• Facilitate stakeholder alignment, drive accountability, and ensure disciplined execution of strategic priorities.
• Identify and manage execution risks, resource gaps, capacity constraints, and cross-functional dependencies that may impact business objectives.
• Develop mitigation and recovery plans to ensure successful delivery of strategic programs and customer commitments.
• Lead change implementation and ensure effective adoption of new processes, technologies, operational capabilities, and organizational initiatives.
• Degree or Masters in Engineering, Science, Economics, Business Administration or other related technical discipline.
• At least 10 years or more of experience as a site leader in complex and fast-paced environment with a proven track record.
• Minimum 10 years of direct management experience in manufacturing environment.
• The role requires the management of a very cyclical and high product mix business, to optimize capacity and productivity levels.
• Should have broad manufacturing or engineering experience and a leader (P&L ownership) with a sound operations background.
• Strong planning (long-, mid- and short-term), process and project management expertise.
• Must be a strategic thinker with ability to connect site strategic priorities to the business unit and other corporate stakeholders.
• Experience in direct customer interface and engagement at a site level will be an added advantage.

Preferred Qualification

• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills (numerically literate), a clear ‘can-do’ attitude with the ability to manage complexity and to prioritize fast in an agile and dynamic environment.
• Proven track record in successful implementation of continuous improvement initiatives by applying lean management
• Passion in building team, developing people’s potential and creating a great team culture for high performance and engagement.
• International operational experience in Europe and Asia (regional/Global) will be a big plus.
• Knwoledge and experience in Precision Machining, Mechanical Assembly operations will be beneficial.
• Experience in vaccum system, vacuum related design and high purity processes will be an added advantage.
• Experience in Semiconductor and similar cyclical business will be an added advantage.

VAT is an equal opportunity employer. We see ourselves as a responsible and far-sighted employer that offers not only jobs, but also career and personal development opportunities through various training programs. We recognize the value of employee diversity and provide equal employment opportunity for all qualified application that contributes to innovation, improves customer orientation and employee satisfaction. One-step in this direction is to ensure that people are recognized and fairly compensated for their contributions to the company. In 2021, VAT received the Fair-ON-Pay+ certificate as an acknowledgement for our commitment in ensuring equal pay for equal work between men and women.