Aetosky Hiring! Full Time Senior Human Resources Manager in Johor - Ricebowl

Department: Human Resources

Reports to: Chief Executive Officer (or Group Executive)

Location: Johor Bahru, Malaysia - supports teams across Asia Pacific and the Gulf

Direct reports: HR, talent acquisition, and people operations staff; external advisors and providers

Role Overview

The Human Resources Manager owns the people strategy and HR function across Aetosky. This person builds and leads the HR capability needed to attract, develop, and retain talent in a specialised technology and intelligence business, ensures HR policies and practices are sound and compliant across the jurisdictions we operate in, and partners with leadership to align people decisions with business goals.

This is a hands-on leadership role. The successful candidate operates at a strategic level — shaping organisation design, culture, and people policy — while staying close enough to operational HR to ensure delivery is accurate, timely, and professional.

Key Responsibilities

•   Define and lead the group-wide people strategy, aligned to business objectives and growth across Asia Pacific and the Gulf.

•   Advise the executive team on organisation design, workforce planning, and people risk.

•   Build and lead the HR function; set standards, mentor the team, and manage HR budgets and providers.

•   Champion company culture, values, and a professional working environment.

•   Own the end-to-end recruitment strategy for technical and corporate roles.

•   Build pipelines for specialised skills (engineering, intelligence, technical delivery) across multiple locations.

•   Oversee onboarding so new hires are set up effectively and securely.

•   Plan for workforce needs tied to project-based and growth requirements.

•   Own the performance management framework, including goal setting, reviews, and feedback cycles.

•   Drive learning and development, capability building, and career pathways.

•   Lead succession planning and identification of key talent.

•   Support leadership development across the group.

•   Define the reward philosophy and oversee compensation, benefits, and recognition frameworks.

•   Benchmark reward practices against relevant markets to stay competitive and fair.

•   Ensure reward structures are applied consistently and support retention.

•   Develop and maintain HR policies (code of conduct, leave, grievance, disciplinary, remote/hybrid working, mobility).

•   Ensure compliance with employment law in Malaysia and other jurisdictions where staff are based.

•   Manage employee relations matters fairly and discreetly, including grievances and disciplinary processes.

•   Ensure HR practices uphold confidentiality and meet data protection requirements (e.g. Malaysia's PDPA and equivalent regimes in other markets).

•   Oversee HR operations: contracts, records, payroll coordination, and HR systems.

•   Implement and improve HR systems and processes for accuracy and efficiency.

•   Maintain reliable people data and reporting for leadership decisions.

•   Manage relationships with external HR, legal, payroll, and benefits providers.

Required Qualitifcations and experience

•   Significant experience in senior HR leadership, ideally across multiple locations or jurisdictions.

•   Strong knowledge of Malaysian employment law and HR practice; familiarity with other Asia Pacific or Gulf markets is an advantage.

•   Demonstrated experience building and leading HR functions and teams.

•   Track record across the full HR remit: talent acquisition, performance, reward, employee relations, and HR operations.

•   Experience advising executives and influencing at senior level.

•   Sound judgement handling confidential and sensitive matters with discretion.

•   Excellent communication skills with technical and non-technical audiences.

Desirable

•   Experience in technology, engineering, defence, or other specialised / high-assurance industries.

•   Experience recruiting and retaining scarce technical talent.

•   Familiarity with employment and mobility considerations for staff supporting government and defence clients.

•   Relevant qualifications (e.g. CIPD, SHRM, or equivalent; degree in HR, business, or related field).

•   Experience implementing or improving HR systems.•   Discretion and integrity when handling sensitive people matters.

Key competencies

•   Clear, direct communication and strong stakeholder management.

•   Pragmatic, fair, and consistent decision making.

•   Strong ownership and follow-through. Cultural awareness across a multi-region workforce.