Sr. Operations Manager - Warehouse

Crane Worldwide Logistics; Johor Bahru; On-site; MYR 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Crane Worldwide Logistics seeks an experienced leader to drive warehouse startup and design scalable operations for high-volume, complex environments. You will own the startup from contract award to go-live, shaping layouts, processes, and systems while coordinating IT, HR, finance and commercial teams.

You will also design future-ready operating models, balance speed with sustainability, and lead a high-performing operations leadership team through ambiguity and change on site.

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading large scale warehouse operations.
• Demonstrated success in start ups or major operational transformations.
• Strong project management capability in live operational environments.
• Commercially astute with understanding of cost drivers and margins.

Responsibilities

• Own the warehouse start up from contract award to go live, including layout, capacity planning, SOP design and systems implementation.
• Act as the overall operational project lead coordinating IT, Engineering, HR, Finance and Commercial.
• Establish and manage detailed project plans, RAID logs and readiness reviews to ensure on-time, budget-compliant delivery.
• Lead continuous improvements post go-live and manage customer interfaces and KPIs.

Skills

Startup/Transformation

Project management

Leadership presence

Commercial acumen

Warehouse operations

Job description

1. Warehouse Start Up & Project Management

• Own the warehouse start up from contract award to go live, including but limited to:
  • Layout and capacity planning
  • Process design and SOP development
  • Labour ramp up and training plans
  • Systems implementation (WMS, automation interfaces, reporting tools)
• Act as the overall operational project lead, coordinating:
  • Internal teams (IT, Engineering, HR, Finance, Commercial)
• Build and manage detailed project plans, milestones, RAID logs, and readiness reviews.
• Ensure start up is delivered on time, within budget, and to contractual SLAs.

2. Operational Design & Innovation

• Design scalable, fit for purpose operating models for high volume, complex operations.
• Challenge standard solutions where required - applying creative problem solving to constraints such as space, labour, systems, or cost.
• Identify and implement automation, mechanisation, or digital solutions where they deliver real ROI.
• Balance speed of deployment with long term operational sustainability.
• Recruit, develop, and lead a high performing operations leadership team (Ops Managers, Department Manager, Support Functions).
• Establish a strong safety first, performance driven culture from day one.
• Coach leaders through ambiguity and rapid change during start up and ramp up.
• Act as the visible senior leader on site during critical phases.
• Serve as the senior operational interface with the customer during implementation and early operations.
• Translate customer requirements into executable operational solutions.
• Manage expectations while maintaining contractual integrity and commercial discipline.
• Present confidently to senior customer stakeholders, including performance updates and risk mitigation plans.
• Own operational KPIs including:
  • Productivity
  • Safety and quality metrics
• Establish strong cost controls during ramp up and steady state.
• Proactively identify operational risks and implement mitigation plans.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives post go live

Skills, Experience & Capability

• Proven experience leading large scale warehouse operations.
• Demonstrated success in start ups or major operational transformations.
• Strong project management capability in live operational environments.
• Commercially astute - understands cost drivers, margins, and contract obligations.
• Able to operate effectively in uncertain, high pressure environments.
• Strong leadership presence with the ability to influence at all levels.