Job title: Business Unit Manager
Job type: Permanent
Emp type: Full-time
Industry: Renewables & Environment
Functional Expertise: Engineering & Industrial Equipment / Plant / Parts
Salary type: Annual
Salary: negotiable
Location: Malaysia
Job published: 2026-11-03
Job ID: 39053

Job Description

The Role

This position combines full business accountability with hands-on leadership of project operations. The successful candidate will own the unit’s profit and loss, lead multidisciplinary teams and ensure projects are delivered safely, on time and profitably.

The role requires a leader who understands both the commercial and execution demands of a substation or turnkey electrical systems business. You will translate regional strategy into local priorities, deepen customer relationships and build the organisation’s capacity to deliver a growing project portfolio.

Key Responsibilities:

Business Leadership and Financial Performance

  • Own the unit’s P&L, including revenue, profitability, productivity, working capital and cash flow.

  • Translate regional business priorities into country operating plans and growth initiatives.

  • Manage budgets, forecasts, resource allocation and performance reviews.

  • Balance business growth with project delivery capacity, commercial discipline and operational risk.

  • Represent the business within the country leadership organisation.


Growth and Customer Development

  • Develop opportunities across utility, industrial and data centre customers.

  • Strengthen relationships with key customers and support major bids, negotiations and contract awards.

  • Identify underserved customers, market segments and opportunities to expand the installed base.

  • Work with sales and technical teams to develop commercially sound solutions.

  • Monitor customer investment plans, market developments and competitor activity.


Project Execution and Operational Excellence

  • Lead the delivery of high-voltage and extra-high-voltage substation and related electrical infrastructure projects.

  • Oversee project management, engineering, procurement interfaces, site execution and commissioning.

  • Review project schedules, costs, margins, risks and resource requirements, intervening where necessary to protect delivery commitments.

  • Maintain strong governance over contractual obligations, change management and project closeout.

  • Improve execution processes, resource utilisation, quality and customer satisfaction.


Safety, Quality and Governance

  • Take accountability for health, safety and environmental performance across office, project and site activities.

  • Maintain rigorous quality, compliance and operational governance standards.

  • Ensure business decisions and project execution meet applicable legal, contractual and organisational requirements.

  • Build a culture of accountability, ethical conduct and continuous improvement.


Organisation and People Leadership

  • Lead a multidisciplinary organisation spanning commercial, project management, engineering, field operations and support functions.

  • Align organisation structure, staffing and technical capabilities with business requirements.

  • Develop managers and future leaders through coaching, succession planning and capability building.

  • Strengthen collaboration across country teams, regional functions and technical centres.


Candidate Profile

  • A degree in electrical engineering or a related discipline, or equivalent relevant experience.

  • Typically 15 or more years of relevant experience, including substantial leadership responsibility within power transmission, substations or turnkey electrical systems.

  • Demonstrated P&L ownership for a business unit, country operation or comparable operating organisation.

  • Strong understanding of high-voltage and extra-high-voltage substations, including air-insulated and gas-insulated systems.

  • Direct experience overseeing complex electrical infrastructure projects from contract award through engineering, site execution, commissioning and handover.

  • A track record of managing project profitability, cash flow, delivery risks and customer commitments.

  • Experience leading multidisciplinary teams across commercial and operational functions.

  • Experience within an electrical equipment manufacturer, power systems integrator or comparable engineering organisation delivering substation solutions.

  • Strong stakeholder management skills within a regional or international matrix organisation.

  • Fluent English and willingness to travel within the region.


Preferred Experience

  • Familiarity with Southeast Asian utility and industrial markets, particularly Malaysia or Indonesia.

  • Exposure to electrical infrastructure projects for data centres.

  • Experience managing a portfolio that combines equipment, systems and associated services.

  • Evidence of growing a business while strengthening execution capability and financial performance.

  • Experience building teams and managing operations across more than one market.


Leadership Attributes

  • Commercial judgement supported by strong operational discipline.

  • Confidence in engaging senior customers and regional business leaders.

  • Ability to address project issues directly and make timely decisions.

  • A practical approach to developing teams and improving performance.

  • Personal accountability for safety, quality and ethical business conduct.