Head of Operations, Asia (Medical Device/Precision Engineering)

Adecco Portugal; Singapore; On-site; SGD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

A Head of Operations Asia role based in Singapore is available with Adecco Portugal. This leadership position oversees regional manufacturing across Asia, driving cost improvements and scalable capabilities while ensuring quality and regulatory compliance.

You will lead Lean initiatives, capacity planning, and new production ramp-ups, engaging cross-functional teams in a high-growth, multisite environment. Mandarin fluency and extensive travel across Asia are required.

Qualifications

• Degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Materials Science or a related discipline.
• Experience leading plant or multi-site operations (5+ years).
• Proven track record in cost reduction and manufacturing performance improvements.
• Experience scaling production and transferring operations across sites or countries.

Responsibilities

• Oversee manufacturing operations across Asian sites, driving performance in production, supply chain, planning and manufacturing engineering.
• Improve gross margin and reduce cost of goods through yield, productivity, and overhead optimisation.
• Lead capacity planning, production transfers, facility expansion and scale-up to support growth.
• Implement Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement to enhance output, quality, and on-time delivery.
• Ensure new production ramp-ups transition from development to mass production cost-effectively.
• Maintain robust processes within regulated quality systems to balance cost with compliance.
• Develop site leadership and foster a cost-conscious, high-performance culture across the region.

Skills

Leadership

Cost reduction

Lean manufacturing

Six Sigma

Cross-functional collaboration

Commercial acumen

Multicultural teams

Mandarin

Travel readiness

Education

Engineering/Manufacturing degree

Job description

The Opportunity

We are partnering with a growing medical device manufacturing business to appoint a Head of Operations, Asia, based in Singapore. This is a strategic leadership opportunity for an experienced manufacturing professional to oversee regional operations, drive operational excellence and support the company's next phase of growth.

With manufacturing operations across Asia and increasing production demands, the successful candidate will play a pivotal role in strengthening operational performance, improving cost competitiveness and building scalable manufacturing capabilities.

The Role

• Regional Operations Leadership: Oversee manufacturing operations across multiple Asian sites, driving performance in production, supply chain, planning and manufacturing engineering.
• Cost & Profitability: Improve gross margin and reduce cost of goods through initiatives in yield, productivity, scrap reduction, process efficiency and overhead optimisation.
• Manufacturing Expansion: Lead capacity planning, production transfers, facility expansion and manufacturing scale-up to support business growth.
• Operational Excellence: Implement Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives to enhance output, quality, efficiency and on-time delivery.
• New Product & Production Ramp-up: Ensure new customer programmes transition successfully from development and validation into stable, cost-effective mass production.
• Quality & Compliance: Maintain robust manufacturing processes within regulated quality systems, ensuring cost improvements do not compromise product quality or compliance.
• People Leadership: Develop site leadership teams, strengthen operational accountability and build a high-performance, cost-conscious culture across the region.

The Talent

• Degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Materials Science or a related discipline.
• At least 15 years of manufacturing operations experience, including 5 years or more leading plant or multi-site operations.
• Proven track record in cost reduction, gross margin improvement and manufacturing performance optimisation, supported by measurable results.
• Experience scaling production, establishing new manufacturing lines, expanding facilities or transferring operations across sites or countries.
• Strong background in medical device manufacturing or another high-precision, quality-critical industry.
• Hands-on experience in Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma or other continuous improvement methodologies.
• Strong leadership capabilities, commercial acumen and experience working with cross-functional and multicultural teams.
• Proficiency in Mandarin is required to engage effectively with regional stakeholders and manufacturing teams.
• Willingness to travel extensively across Asia.