Senior Manager, Operation Exellence

We are seeking a highly driven and strategic leader to spearhead our Automation, AI, and Operational Excellence (AAIOE) initiatives. This role combines internal transformation leadership with external product development, focusing on building scalable AI solutions tailored for SME clients. The ideal candidate will operate at a managerial level in terms of ownership, vision, and execution.

Key Responsibilities

1. Internal Transformation (AAIOE Leadership)

• Lead end-to-end design and execution of automation and AI initiatives to improve operational efficiency, cost structure, and scalability
• Identify high-impact use cases across business units (e.g. finance, marketing, operations, customer service) and prioritize implementation roadmap
• Build and institutionalize frameworks for process optimization, automation governance, and AI adoption
• Collaborate with business stakeholders to redesign workflows using AI, RPA, and data-driven decision-making
• Establish KPIs and track measurable impact (e.g. cost savings, productivity gains, turnaround time)
• Drive change management and internal capability building to ensure adoption

2. AI Solutions Development & Productisation (Customer Focus)

• Define and execute strategy to develop AI-powered solutions targeting SME pain points (e.g. marketing automation, customer engagement, workflow tools)
• Translate internal AI capabilities into scalable, market-ready products or solutions
• Work closely with engineering/data teams to build MVPs and iterate toward product-market fit
• Engage with customers to validate needs, gather feedback, and refine offerings
• Develop commercialization models including pricing, packaging, and go-to-market strategy
• Partner with sales and marketing teams to position AI offerings effectively in the SME segment

3. Strategic Leadership & Cross-functional Execution

• Act as a bridge between business, technology, and commercial teams
• Build a roadmap that aligns internal transformation with external monetization opportunities
• Monitor emerging AI trends and identify opportunities for differentiation
• Manage external vendors, partners, and solution providers where necessary

The Person:

This role is ideal for someone who can think like a consultant, execute like an operator, and build like a product leader — essentially owning both internal transformation and external monetization of AI.

Experience & Background

• 10–15+ years of experience across digital transformation preferably with product leadership
• Proven track record in driving automation, AI, or operational excellence initiatives at scale
• Experience in building or launching digital/AI products or solutions (startup or corporate innovation experience is a strong plus)
• Familiarity with SME business challenges, especially in Asia or Hong Kong market, is preferred

Capabilities

• Strong strategic thinking with hands-on execution ability (“player-coach” mindset)
• Solid understanding of AI, automation tools, and data applications
• Ability to translate business problems into scalable AI solutions
• Experience in productisation: from idea → MVP → commercialization
• Strong stakeholder management across senior leadership and cross-functional teams

Leadership Traits

• High ownership and accountability, comfortable operating with ambiguity
• Entrepreneurial mindset with a bias for action
• Strong communication and storytelling skills, especially for business and client audiences
• Commercially minded with the ability to link innovation to revenue outcomes

Success Metrics

• Measurable operational efficiency improvements internally (cost reduction, productivity uplift)
• Adoption rate of AI/automation initiatives internally and externally
• Speed from concept to MVP to market