Country Manager (SG&MY)

Qode; Singapore; On-site; SGD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

A logistics leader in Asia Pacific is seeking a Country Manager responsible for managing operations in Singapore and Malaysia. This role requires a self-motivated individual with extensive operational experience in supply chain and strong business acumen. You will develop strategic plans, manage P&L, and grow customer relationships while reporting directly to the CEO. A minimum of 3 years of business experience in the region is required.

Qualifications

• Involvement in Asian country-based business activities for a minimum of 3+ years.
• Exceptional financial understanding and analysis skills.
• Extensive supply-chain operational experience managing people, financials, customers, and contracts.

Responsibilities

• Manage operations for Singapore & Malaysia, including profit targets.
• Develop and manage annual budgets and business operating plans.
• Lead and develop relationships with key customers and ensure service expectations are met.

Skills

Business acumen

Commercial acumen

Operational effectiveness

Customer service

Interpersonal skills

Negotiation

Education

Director-level experience

Experience in supply chain

Tools

Word

Excel

Job description

We are working with one of the safest and most efficient logistics partners in Asia Pacific to place a Country Manager for Singapore & Malaysia.

Position Summary

• Manage operations, develop business, and increase profitability for the Singapore & Malaysia locations.
• Client‑facing role with strategic competencies required to grow the business and retain existing accounts.
• High level of responsibility requiring self‑motivation, time‑orientation, and the ability to juggle general management and operational requirements.
• In‑depth understanding of the Singapore & Malaysia market relative to 3PL, freight forwarding, transportation and supply chain.
• Senior executive reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer.

Responsibilities

• Manage all operations within the Singapore & Malaysia locations, including profit, revenue, cash and safety targets.
• Develop multiyear country strategic plans in line with the company's regional strategy.
• Develop and agree upon annual budgets and produce a detailed annual business operating plan to the CEO; produce monthly business performance reports.
• Improve operational effectiveness to ensure customer service levels are efficient and aligned.
• Deliver annual country plans for safety, financial, operations, new business, people, and corporate social responsibility.
• Recruit and manage staff, including performance monitoring, mentoring and training.
• Maintain regular client contact and effective communication.
• Represent the company at Business Chambers and other corporate events.

Capabilities and Competencies

• Strong understanding of how a business operates with a proven track record demonstrating business acumen in Singapore & Malaysia.
• Sound commercial acumen.
• Experience driving business transformations.
• Detail‑oriented, driven and able to manage ambiguity.
• General management experience and strong networking skills.
• Ability to deliver the highest standards of customer service.
• Ability to recruit top talent and monitor performance.
• Excellent interpersonal skills at all levels, including people‑management and leadership.
• Strong knowledge and experience of 3PL operations and freight forwarding.
• Experience living abroad is desirable, with a global mindset and cultural sensitivity.
• Familiarity with computer software programs such as Word, Excel, etc.

Key Accountabilities

Safety

• Drive and measure safety policies and procedures.
• Demonstrate effective performance in achieving agreed safety goals, in line with the annual safety plan.
• Ensure all hazards and risks are identified, evaluated and controlled in accordance with safety policy and client requirements.
• Ensure completion of incident reports and communication of investigation findings in line with reporting requirements, client requirements and Comcare requirements, including close‑out and verification of corrective actions.

Grow Profitably

• P&L managed and maintained with targets successfully achieved.
• Close monitoring of performance against budget, identification of variances and remedial actions.
• Strategy developed and implementation plan in place for the country.
• Monitoring of operations performance against the plan.
• Identification and implementation of key operational efficiencies across sites.
• Work with the Commercial Manager and Regional Commercial Director to establish a growth strategy for Thailand, including target markets, prospects and revenue objectives.
• Grow the business to meet the business plan goals.

Deep Customer Relations

• Lead and drive the establishment, maintenance and development of relationships with key customers, measured by achievement of business development budgets and customer satisfaction surveys/interviews.
• Prepare and lead presentations and negotiations with prospective customers to achieve growth targets.
• Ensure the business needs, service and delivery expectations of customers are met effectively by operations.

Develop Our People

• Relationship management of key top talent appropriate to each development or project.
• Undertake workforce planning based on financial information and ongoing people‑management programs.
• Manage communication flow and information links between all key staff across the country.
• Set and monitor staff KPIs linked to their development plan.
• Ensure quality and people‑management policies and practices such as Equal Employment Opportunities, Workplace Diversity and Performance Management are applied.

Scale Across Asia Pacific

• Ensure consistent application of the company's policies, procedures and practices.
• Collaborate within the Asian region to establish the growth strategy and contribute to strategic planning operations.
• Actively seek opportunities to develop new customer relationships in Thailand and when opportunity arises within Asia.
• Provide subject‑matter expertise in the pursuit of new business in the Asia region.
• Support the continued cross‑development of Asia resources throughout the region.

Key Behaviours

Ethics & Values

• Ability to articulate values.
• Ability to see things through the eyes of others.
• Connect values with actions.
• Doesn’t attack people, attacks problems; maintains composure.
• Admits mistakes.

Drive for Results

• Uses varied tactics to get things done; resourceful.
• Maintains high standards.
• High need/drive to achieve results.
• Perseverance; works through barriers.
• Works with and through others.

Courage

• Able to take the lead; can stand alone.
• Faces up to problems.
• Clear and direct communicator.
• Not overly intimidated by those in power.
• Keeps events in perspective.

Business Acumen

• Understands consequences of business actions.
• Understands the interrelationship of business elements.
• Aware of current business trends.
• Applies business knowledge to the job.
• Understands the competition.

Negotiating & Influencing

• Finds agreement points.
• Good listener.
• Diplomatic and tactful under pressure.
• Wins concessions without damaging relationships.
• Lets the other side get some wins; can walk away.

Customer Focus

• Timely and responsive actions to serve customers.
• Makes product/service improvement based on feedback.
• Handles difficult customers comfortably.
• Listens and reacts to customer input.
• Has an organised method for improving quality and customer relations.

Integrity & Trust

• Shows consistency; actions match words.
• Treats others with dignity/respect.
• Keeps confidences.
• Willing to admit mistakes.
• Focuses on the part of the truth he/she can disclose.

Education, Qualifications & Experience

Experience

• Knowledge of local country laws, statutory requirements, Company Law, and business regulations. Director‑level experience is ideal.
• Involvement in Asian country‑based business activities for a minimum of 3+ years.
• Experience in Singapore is a must.
• Extensive supply‑chain operational experience in a medium to large private‑sector organisation managing people, financials, customers, and contracts.
• Extensive knowledge of up‑to‑date business management practice.
• Exceptional financial understanding and analysis skills.
• Exceptional ability to build relationships both internally and externally.
• Exceptional business development experience and record.
• Exceptional research and analytical skills and a capacity for sound judgement.
• A practiced strategic thinker.
• A creative mind, practiced in designing and selling solutions.