Job Description

The HR Manager (Talent Acquisition Specialist) will be responsible for the full spectrum of Human Resources, with a heavy emphasis (approx. 70%) on strategic talent acquisition and technical recruitment You will design and execute aggressive hiring strategies to secure specialized engineering and operational talent required for large-scale data center environments. Additionally, you will oversee local HR operations, compliance, employee relations, and workforce planning in Kulai.

Key Responsibilities

1. Talent Acquisition & Workforce Planning (Core Focus)

• End-to-End Recruitment: Lead the full lifecycle recruitment process for critical data center roles, including Critical Facilities Engineers (Electrical/Mechanical), Data Center Operations (DCO) Specialists, Project Managers, and EHS (Environment, Health, and Safety) personnel.
• Strategic Sourcing: Build a robust pipeline of passive and active technical talent using specialized job boards, LinkedIn Recruiter, headhunting, and local technical networks.
• Local Ecosystem Partnership: Establish and maintain strategic partnerships with universities, vocational colleges (TVET), and technical institutes in Johor and broader Malaysia to build an early-career talent pipeline.
• Employer Branding: Promote the company's brand within the Southern Region tech and engineering hub to position the company as an employer of choice.
• Time-to-Hire Optimization: Streamline the interview, assessment, and onboarding processes to significantly reduce time-to-hire without compromising on quality.

2. HR Operations & Compliance

• Local Labor Compliance: Ensure all HR practices strictly adhere to the Malaysia Employment Act 1955 and local statutory requirements (EPF, SOCSO, EIS, PCB).
• Onboarding & Retention: Design an impactful onboarding experience tailored for data center personnel to ensure high retention and strong cultural alignment from Day 1.
• Employee Relations: Serve as the primary point of contact for employee grievances, disciplinary actions, and counseling, fostering a safe and collaborative working environment.

3. Compensation, Benefits & Performance Management

• Market Benchmarking: Partner with leadership to benchmark salary and benefits, ensuring competitive packages tailored to the high-demand Kulai data center corridor.
• Performance Tracking: Manage the annual performance appraisal process and assist department heads in setting clear KPIs.

Job Requirements

• Education: Bachelor's Degree in Human Resource Management, Business Administration, Psychology, or a related field.
• Experience: * Minimum of 5–8 years of HR experience, with at least 3–4 years dedicated to high-volume technical recruiting
  • Prior experience in heavy-asset industries is mandatory (e.g., Data Centers, Telecommunications, Oil & Gas, Semiconductors, Power Generation, or Mega-Infrastructure Construction).
• Domain Knowledge: Strong familiarity with industrial engineering terminology (e.g., HVAC, Chilled Water Systems, High Voltage Systems, UPS, Generator sets).
• Geographic Context: Deep knowledge of the Johor/Kulai talent landscape and established networks with local recruitment channels.
• Language Skills: Excellent communication skills in English and Bahasa Malaysia (Mandarin proficiency is an added advantage given the stakeholder landscape in Kulai).
• Soft Skills: Resilient, proactive, and capable of working in a high-pressure, fast-paced infrastructure development environment.