R&D Manager

Our client is a German multinational in PCBA and electronics manufacturing, with more than 20 years of operations in Thailand. Its modern factory in 304 Industrial Park, Prachinburi, employs around 200–300 people and works hand-in-hand with the group’s main operations in mainland China. The company offers a dynamic, multicultural and inclusive workplace built on a flat, people-oriented structure, less hierarchy, open communication, and direct access to leadership. High performers and high-potential talent are given real room to grow.

This position will report directly to the site General Manager, with a functional reporting line to the Senior HR Manager based in China, the HR Manager will lead the full HR & Administration function for the Thailand plant. This is a hands-on HR Business Partner role with high autonomy and high accountability. You will work directly with the GM on people strategy, lead a team of payroll, HR generalist and admin staff, and be the go-to advisor on labour law and employee relations.

Responsibilities

• Act as a strategic HR business partner to the General Manager and plant leadership team, aligning people strategy with operational and business goals
• Lead, coach and develop the HR & Admin team (payroll, HR generalist and administration), building a high-performing function
• Partner with department heads on workforce planning and own the end-to-end recruitment process, from sourcing and screening to interviews, hiring recommendations and onboarding
• Design and deliver training and development programmes that build workforce capability and a pipeline of future talent
• Review, align and continuously improve the performance management system in line with organisational goals
• Oversee compensation & benefits and payroll, ensuring accuracy, competitiveness and compliance
• Lead employee relations, including disciplinary processes, investigations and terminations, in full compliance with Thai labour law
• Ensure compliance with local labour laws, regulations and company policies; conduct regular HR audits and drive corrective actions
• Develop, update and administer HR policies, procedures and administrative operations
• Provide HR data, analytics and reporting to site leadership and the group HR team in China
• Drive HR digitalisation and automation, including AI-enabled HR tools, to improve efficiency and employee experience

Requirements

• Around 10–15 years of HR experience, including at least 5–8 years as HR Manager in a manufacturing plant with full-spectrum HR responsibility
• Background in PCB, PCBA, electronics or closely related manufacturing is highly preferred
• Proven hands-on expertise across all core HR functions: recruitment, training, compensation & benefits, performance management and employee relations
• In-depth knowledge of Thai labour law, with hands-on experience handling terminations and complex employee relations cases
• Strategic HR business partner mindset, a proactive advisor and trusted partner to the business, not merely an executor
• Excellent spoken English and strong listening skills; comfortable working closely with Chinese management and colleagues
• Logical thinker who is professional and mature, with sound judgement on sensitive and confidential matters.
• Open-minded and adaptable, thriving in a fast-paced, diverse and international work environment
• Proficiency in HRIS and HR reporting; experience with HR digitalisation, automation or AI-driven HR applications is highly preferred
• Able to work 100% onsite in 304 Industrial Park, Prachinburi

• Act as finance business partner to the Customer Focus Team, providing overall finance support to the business
• Work closely with the CFT on product pricing and costing for ongoing products and new product introduction feasibility studies, ensuring realistic assumptions are applied and risks and opportunities are properly analysed
• Work with the CFT and operations teams to roll up the monthly forecast and the annual budget
• Review and analyse customer level financial statements, providing detailed analysis and deep dive bridging between actual and forecast
• Take the lead on monthly customer level financial reviews with the CFT
• Carry out close loop analysis between actual and quotation at customer level
• Take ownership of the balance sheet, cash flow, profitability and inventory levels for your customers
• Support the CFT and operations to drive cost productivity improvements
• Contribute to customer level business process and flow design or changes
• Drive continuous improvement of FP&A process efficiency and simplification
• Build cross functional relationships where persuasion, negotiation and considerable tact are required to gain support
• Maintain strong relationships with key internal and external customers who have significant impact on the success of the organisation
• Handle ad hoc assignments from the FP&A Manager and Site Controller

• 3 to 5 years or more of experience in costing, FP&A or business control, including feasibility study work
• Experience within a manufacturing company is essential
• Hands on SAP experience is essential, with working knowledge of ERP in a manufacturing environment
• Experience in an international or multinational working environment
• Knowledge and understanding of forecasting, costing, managerial accounting and investment analysis
• Excellent analytical, negotiation and problem solving skills
• Strong communication and presentation skills in both Thai and English. You will be expected to analyse the numbers and then explain them clearly to the team and to stakeholders, which is the single most important capability for this role
• Able to work independently, willing to take a position based on fact finding and logical reasoning, and to provide unbiased recommendations
• Proactive and self driven, comfortable as an individual contributor with full ownership of your customer portfolio
• Bachelor's degree in finance, economics, engineering, mathematics or another analytical field