Operation Governance Assistant Manager

We are seeking a highly driven and analytical Operation Governance Assistant Manager to establish, manage, and sustain Operational Governance systems across downstream manufacturing operations. This role is responsible for ensuring performance transparency, operational discipline, compliance, benefit realization, data integrity, standardization, and governance excellence across the site.

The successful candidate will act as the custodian of operational performance management, KPI governance, improvement portfolio governance, Management of Change (MOC) compliance, operational reporting, and benefits realization. Working closely with Production, Engineering, SHE, Finance, Quality, and cross-functional leadership teams, this position plays a critical role in driving operational excellence, enabling data-driven decision making, and ensuring the sustainable delivery of manufacturing performance improvements.

This position will be working from Unilever Oleochemical Indonesia site at Sei Mangkei, North Sumatera.

Responsibilities :

Operational Performance Governance

• Lead daily, weekly, and monthly performance governance processes across downstream manufacturing operations.
• Maintain and govern plant KPI frameworks covering Safety, Quality, Yield, Reliability, OEE, Energy, Cost, and Production Performance.
• Ensure standardized KPI definitions and reporting methodologies across all manufacturing units.
• Verify operational data accuracy, completeness, and integrity.
• Provide performance gap analysis and recommendations to support operational improvements.

Improvement Portfolio Governance

• Establish and maintain governance for continuous improvement, productivity, and capital project portfolios.
• Monitor project progress, timelines, risks, actions, and benefits realization.
• Facilitate governance reviews and project prioritization discussions.
• Ensure all projects comply with governance requirements, including business case validation, sustainability planning, financial verification, baseline measurement, ownership, and closure criteria.
• Maintain project governance dashboards and reporting systems.

Management of Change (MOC) Governance

• Coordinate governance activities related to Management of Change (MOC) processes.
• Ensure all proposed changes undergo appropriate risk assessments, technical reviews, SHE reviews, and approval processes.
• Monitor MOC implementation, action closure, and compliance performance.
• Ensure operational improvement initiatives comply with established MOC requirements.

Standardization & Operational Excellence

• Govern operational standards, SOPs, and manufacturing documentation.
• Support the replication of successful improvement initiatives across manufacturing units.
• Maintain and enhance best practice repositories.
• Support implementation of Operational Excellence, TPM, Lean Manufacturing, and continuous improvement standards.

Benefits Realization & Financial Governance

• Partner with Finance to validate and monitor improvement benefits.
• Track and verify productivity gains, yield improvements, utility reductions, quality enhancements, and cost savings.
• Conduct sustainability reviews to ensure long-term realization of business benefits.
• Support annual productivity target reviews and performance planning activities.

Operational Reporting & Analytics

• Develop governance dashboards, performance reports, and management scorecards.
• Consolidate operational performance data across downstream manufacturing operations.
• Generate leadership reports and operational excellence reviews.
• Identify trends, recurring losses, performance gaps, and governance concerns.
• Support data-driven decision-making through analytics and visualization tools.

Compliance & Audit Readiness

• Ensure compliance with company standards, SHE requirements, Process Safety Management principles, Quality Systems, and Internal Control requirements.
• Coordinate governance audits and monitor corrective action implementation.
• Maintain governance records and operational compliance documentation.

Capability Building & Governance Culture

• Deliver training and coaching related to operational governance processes and compliance requirements.
• Support capability development in KPI management, continuous improvement governance, RCA, project governance, MOC compliance, and benefit realization.
• Foster a culture of operational discipline, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Accountability

• Sustain effective Operational Governance systems across manufacturing operations.
• Ensure transparency, accuracy, and integrity of operational performance reporting.
• Drive successful governance of continuous improvement and capital project portfolios.
• Ensure Management of Change processes are consistently applied and fully compliant.
• Support realization and sustainability of operational and financial performance improvements.
• Maintain audit readiness and compliance with company and regulatory standards.
• Strengthen operational excellence culture through governance, capability building, and best practice standardization.

Qualifications :

• Bachelor's Degree in Chemical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Minimum 5-8 years of experience in Manufacturing, Operational Excellence, Process Engineering, Production, Continuous Improvement, Project Management, or Operational Governance.
• Experience in batch chemical processing, oleochemical manufacturing, petrochemical, chemical manufacturing, or related process industries.
• Fluent in English, both written and verbal.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities with a data-driven mindset.
• Experience in KPI Management, Operational Performance Management, and Continuous Improvement programs.
• Knowledge of Management of Change (MOC), Risk Assessment, Operational Governance, and Process Safety principles.
• Strong stakeholder management, communication, and influencing skills.
• Ability to work effectively across multiple functions and organizational levels.
• Proficient in data analytics, dashboard development, and reporting tools such as Power BI.
• Willing to be based and work in Sei Mangkei, Simalungun Regency, North Sumatra.

Preferred Qualifications :

• Experience in oleochemical, chemical manufacturing, petrochemical, edible oil, specialty fats, or related industries.
• Certification or exposure to Lean Manufacturing, TPM, Six Sigma, or Operational Excellence methodologies.
• Experience managing governance frameworks, improvement portfolios, and benefit realization programs.
• Knowledge of business performance management, financial validation, and productivity governance processes.
• Experience supporting digital transformation, operational analytics, and manufacturing performance visualization initiatives.
• Strong understanding of Process Safety Management (PSM), Quality Management Systems, and manufacturing compliance requirements.