HR Manager for APAC Operations

We are representing a fast-growing digital infrastructure company powering the future of connectivity across APAC. With data centers, fiber networks, and cloud edge facilities under our portfolio, the team is actively expanding our footprint in Malaysia and the broader APAC region. Its Johor hub is a strategic growth site supporting regional operations, construction, and customer delivery.

The HR Manager will be the key HR business partner for our Malaysia operations based in Johor, with regional scope as we scale across APAC. You will own the full employee lifecycle and act as a trusted advisor to department heads on all people matters. This role carries heavy responsibility in strategic business partnering, hiring advisory, recruitment execution, and day-to-day HR management to support aggressive headcount growth and operational excellence.

Key Responsibilities

1. HR Business Partnering & Strategy

- Act as primary HRBP to Johor-based leadership across Operations, Construction, Sales, Finance, and Technical teams

- Partner with department heads to translate business objectives into HR initiatives covering workforce planning, org design, and talent strategy

- Advise leaders on people risks, succession planning, and performance issues to drive business outcomes

- Lead HR integration for new sites/projects as we expand across Malaysia and APAC

- Provide data-driven insights on headcount, attrition, compensation, and engagement to inform decision-making

2. Recruitment & Hiring Advisory

- Own end-to-end recruitment for technical and non-technical roles in Malaysia: data center technicians, project managers, engineers, sales, and corporate functions

- Build and execute sourcing strategies for niche digital infrastructure talent in a competitive APAC market

- Coach hiring managers on best practices: job scoping, interview structure, assessment, and candidate selection

- Manage relationships with external recruitment agencies, headhunters, and job boards; optimize cost-per-hire

- Drive employer branding initiatives in Johor and Malaysia to position us as an employer of choice

- Ensure compliance with local hiring laws, quota requirements, and expatriate employment pass processes

3. Human Resource Management & Operations

- Oversee payroll, benefits administration, leave management, and HRIS for Malaysia entity in compliance with Employment Act 1955 and latest amendments

- Develop, update, and enforce HR policies and employee handbook aligned with local labor law and company culture

- Manage employee relations: grievances, disciplinary actions, conflict resolution, and investigations

- Lead performance management cycle including goal setting, mid-year reviews, and annual appraisals

- Implement learning & development programs to upskill technical teams and build leadership pipeline

- Drive employee engagement, onboarding, and retention programs tailored to shift-based and project-based workforce

- Ensure compliance with SOCSO, EPF, EIS, HRD Corp, and other statutory requirements

4. Regional APAC Support

- Support regional HR projects including compensation benchmarking, policy harmonization, and talent mobility across APAC

- Advise on cross-border employment issues, relocation, and work visa matters for Malaysia hub

- Share best practices from Malaysia to other APAC markets and vice versa

Key Requirements

- Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field. Master’s/MBA or CIPD/SHRM certification is a plus

- 7+ years of progressive HR experience, with at least 3 years in an HRBP or HR Manager role

- Proven experience supporting high-growth environments, preferably in data centers, telecommunications, construction, tech, or infrastructure sectors

- Strong knowledge of Malaysian labor law, Employment Act 1955, Industrial Relations Act, and statutory bodies

- Hands-on recruitment experience for technical/engineering roles and senior leadership hires

- Demonstrated ability to influence and advise C-level and department heads

- Experience managing HR operations: payroll, compliance, ER cases, and policy design

- Excellent communication skills in English and Bahasa Malaysia. Mandarin is an advantage for APAC collaboration

- Willing to be based in Johor with flexibility for site visits and regional travel

If you are interested to find out more, apply now!