Manager, Industrial and Employee Relations

Our client vision is to be the world’s best performing snacks-led powerhouse, unleashing the full potential of their differentiated brands.

Powered by their strategy to Differentiate, Drive & Deliver, they are a leading company in global snacking, international cereal and noodles, and North America frozen foods, with iconic, world-class brands and strong underlying growth momentum and profitability.

Our client purpose is to create better days and a place at the table for everyone through their trusted foods brands.

As part of this purpose, they are committed to advancing sustainable & equitable access to food by creating Better Days for 4 billion people by the end of 2030.

Responsibilities:

Grievance & Compliance Leadership:

• Lead end-to-end employee misconduct investigations (preliminary and detailed), ensuring fairness, consistency, and legal compliance across all cases.
• Own full disciplinary lifecycle: recommend actions, approve issuance of show cause/warning/dismissal letters, and maintain robust, auditable records.
• Drive periodic compliance audits across contract labor suppliers (security, canteen, uniform vendors) and ensure timely corrective action on non-conformities.
• Conduct due diligence and performance reviews of foreign operator agencies; submit data-driven recommendations for contract renewals or terminations.

Policy & Process Ownership:

• Manage centralized document control for all HR policies, procedures, and operational guidelines — ensuring accessibility, version control, and alignment with evolving legal standards.
• Design and deliver compliance training programs for managers and employees, covering HR policy, performance management, and labor law essentials.
• Act as the go-to subject matter expert on employment law, IR best practices, and grievance resolution frameworks.

Union Engagement & Strategy:

• Lead plant's transition into a unionized environment: educate leaders and HR on union dynamics, negotiation frameworks, and collaborative engagement models.
• Build and sustain a constructive union relationship — balancing business needs with employee representation through regular dialogue, transparency, and mutual respect.
• Anticipate union-related risks and opportunities; advise leadership proactively on IR positioning and response strategies.
• Drive union readiness programs, including leadership coaching, communication protocols, and scenario planning. 

Canteen Management:

• Lead vendor governance for contract labor and canteen operations. Monitor service levels, hygiene, and employee satisfaction; drive timely audits, feedback loops, and improvements.

Hostel & Foreign Worker Management (End-to-End):

• Manage full lifecycle of foreign worker operations: manpower planning, documentation, immigration processes, hostel inspections, welfare coordination, and compliance with regulatory and internal standards.
• Ensure foreign workers are treated with dignity and respect; champion human rights standards and ethical labor practices.
• Coordinate with embassies, Ministry of Home Affairs, Department of Immigration, and labor agencies to ensure seamless processes and timely resolution of issues.
• Oversee hostel living conditions, safety, and welfare programs; act as the primary point of contact for foreign worker concerns.

Compliance Audits & Risk Management:

• Lead and coordinate audits related to labor compliance, human rights, and ethical sourcing across all third-party providers.
• Ensure the plant is audit-ready at all times; track and close findings with urgency and rigor.
• Stay current on evolving labor regulations and proactively adjust policies and practices to mitigate risk

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resource Management, Business Administration, Industrial Relations, or related discipline.
• 7–10 years of HR experience, with deep exposure to industrial relations, employee relations, labor law, and HR compliance—preferably in a manufacturing, unionized, or FMCG environment.
• Proven track record of managing complex disciplinary cases, union negotiations, and IR matters with sound judgment and integrity.
• Strong working knowledge of Malaysian labor law, Employment Act, Industrial Relations Act, and related regulations.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint); able to prepare reports, dashboards, and present findings with clarity.
• Familiar with HR systems, documentation best practices, and audit standards.
• Excellent stakeholder management and interpersonal skills; able to influence, negotiate, and build trust across all levels—from frontline employees to senior leaders.