Regional HR Leader & Strategic Partner

SD Guthrie International; Selangor; On-site; MYR 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

SD Guthrie International is seeking a Senior HR leader to drive the regional HR strategy and partnering with the Regional CEO. You will steer workforce planning, talent management, and employee relations across operating units, ensuring regulatory compliance and alignment with business objectives.

You will lead foreign worker management, performance development, and HR governance while championing organizational effectiveness and digital HR improvements to enhance productivity.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in HRM, Business Administration, Industrial Relations, Psychology or related field.
• Master’s degree in HRM, Business Administration or related field is an added advantage.
• Professional HR certification (e.g. MIHRM, SHRM, CIPD or equivalent) is desirable.
• Minimum 10–12 years of relevant HR experience, with at least 5 years in a managerial, HR business partnering or regional HR role.
• Experience supporting multiple operating units within labour-intensive industries.
• Strong knowledge of Malaysian employment laws, industrial relations and labour regulations.
• Experience in talent management, workforce planning and organizational development.

Responsibilities

• Lead implementation of HR strategies and initiatives across the region.
• Act as strategic HR partner to the Regional CEO and leadership team.
• Provide HR insights to support operational decisions.
• Align workforce strategies with regional objectives and manpower requirements.
• Lead regional manpower planning and workforce optimization initiatives.
• Monitor workforce trends and succession planning activities.
• Support talent identification, leadership development and employee retention strategies.
• Coordinate recruitment activities for critical positions within the region.
• Provide guidance on industrial relations and employee relations matters.
• Support resolution of disciplinary issues, grievances and workplace disputes.
• Ensure compliance with employment legislation, collective agreements and company policies.
• Foster positive employee relations and engagement across operating units.
• Oversee foreign worker management and labour administration activities within the region.
• Monitor workforce availability and labour requirements to support operational continuity.
• Ensure compliance with immigration, labour and regulatory requirements.
• Coordinate with relevant stakeholders on foreign worker recruitment, deployment and welfare matters.
• Support performance management frameworks and processes.
• Monitor workforce productivity and performance trends.
• Coordinate learning and development initiatives to enhance employee competencies.
• Promote leadership development and capability-building programmes.
• Ensure HR governance, compliance and risk management; audits.
• Monitor HR-related risks and recommend mitigation strategies.
• Support HR audits, compliance reviews and investigations.
• Ensure timely reporting and implementation of corrective actions.
• Lead employee engagement initiatives across the region.
• Support organizational development and change management programmes.
• Promote a positive work culture aligned with company values.
• Drive initiatives to improve workforce productivity and organizational effectiveness.
• Monitor regional HR performance indicators and workforce analytics.
• Prepare reports and recommendations for management review.
• Identify opportunities to improve HR processes, systems and service delivery.
• Support digitalization and transformation initiatives within the HR function.

Skills

Strategic HR Partner

Workforce planning

Talent management

Leadership development

Employee relations

HR analytics

Change management

Education

Bachelor's Degree in HRM/Business/Management/IR/Psychology

Master's Degree in HRM/Business Administration or related field

Professional HR certification (e.g. MIHRM, SHRM, CIPD)

Job description

SD Guthrie International is seeking a Senior HR leader to drive the regional HR strategy and partnering with the Regional CEO. You will steer workforce planning, talent management, and employee relations across operating units, ensuring regulatory compliance and alignment with business objectives.

You will lead foreign worker management, performance development, and HR governance while championing organizational effectiveness and digital HR improvements to enhance productivity.