Reporting Relationship : Managing Director, Greater China Region

Responsibilities:

•  Overall responsibility for the manufacturing and distribution activities, including budgeting, planning, manufacturing, third party oversight, warehousing and distribution, materials management, inventory management, technical services (Quality, R&D Packaging Development), etc..

•  Being a leader and role model for the Operations group, ensuring the correct team is in place and all people are developed to their full potential.

•  Supervising all manufacturing and budgeting activities to ensure effective use of manpower, materials and equipment.

•  Analyzing and making recommendations on the outsourcing strategy as well as the selection and evaluation of third party manufacturers.

•  Maximizing distribution activities to ensure an effective and efficient supply chain, maintaining best-possible service to the customers. This will include fine-tuning sourcing and purchasing procedures, effective production scheduling, and supervision of warehouse, shipping and dumping activities.

•  Establishing QA standards and procedures as needed, and ensuring they meet Corporate QA standards. Resolving QA issues as they arise, and providing QA and technical support to assist the new product development process. Ultimately ensuring premium quality of product and execution of programs.

•  Building systems, processes and structure in a computerized environment.

•  Establishing and facilitating communications and teamwork within the Operation group as well as with other departments.

•  Working with sales, marketing and related departments to achieve effective forecasting.

•  Supporting new product development processes to ensure speedy launch of new products, which will include working with Marketing and New Product Development.

•  Developing and maintaining budgets, and ensuring continuous improvement / heightened efficiencies throughout the manufacturing and distribution functions.

•  Working on any ad hoc projects as needed.

Qualifications :

•  The ideal candidate will be an experienced PRC National executive from the FMCG, cosmetics, personal care, food or pharmaceutical industries.

•  S/He will have at least 8-10 years operations experience, including production, materials management and/or third party manufacturers management with a multinational manufacturing firm.

•  The Operations Director will have a minimum of 4-5 years in a managerial role.

•  Experience in the areas of supply chain, distribution and/or warehouse management is highly preferable.

•  Prior experience working in a computerized environment is essential, preferably with exposure to MRP / BPCS.

•  There is a strong preference for an all-round leader with a broader business understanding, and an individual who is not too technical.

•  As such, the Operations Director will have solid, all-round business, finance, interpersonal, communication, team building, presentation and computer skills, and the ability to effectively implementing business plans through collaboration with other functions.

•  Solid English and Mandarin capabilities, as well as a persistent, diligent, and teamwork oriented approach are required.

•  S/He will also have strong negotiations and problem solving skills.

•  The candidate shall be a highly professional individual.

•  S/He should fit in with the company culture, and have high levels of initiative and maturity.

•  The individual shall ideally have worked in a batch production environment where there is large number of short runs.

•  Experience working with or managing third party suppliers is a definite advantage.

•  The incumbent will possess a strong work ethic, and be capable of performing under pressure to deliver results.

•  S/He will be mature and capable of commanding the respect and credibility of those with whom he/she comes in contact, both internally within the organization, and externally, with his/her business contacts.

•  S/He should be an analytical, down-to-earth, hands-on manager, with an approachable yet firm and decisive personality.

•  Strategic and logical thinking.

•  Be a creative and innovative person.

•  Methodical, self-driven and highly motivated.

•  A cross-cultural sensitivity, and an in-depth understanding of the culture and methods of operating in China .

•  The ability to understand business / economic conditions and government / regulatory / policy / political issues in China , and a solid understanding of doing business in China .

•  A university degree is mandatory, and an MBA would be highly desirable.

•  Over time, there is the definite potential for the individual to grow into a Greater China role.