Director of Human Resources

responsibilities. This role is designed for a senior HR leader who can operate at both strategic and operational levels: shaping workforce strategy for a complex global manufacturing function while ensuring local Malaysia needs are surfaced, prioritized, and connected to enterprise HR solutions. The critical success factors for this role include demonstrated consultative skills, fast-paced thinking, learning agility, professional maturity, emotional intelligence, and systems thinking. The strongest candidate will be able to translate ambiguity into clear frameworks, action plans, and enterprise-level recommendations. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES: Act as a talent strategist, trusted advisor, and leadership coach to senior executive leaders Own and drive the function’s talent strategy in alignment with the business strategy, engaging as a trusted advisor and strategic consultant to senior leaders and Factory General Managers Diagnose workforce needs and gaps with a data-driven approach to inform priorities related to workforce planning, organization design, culture, succession planning and leader development Build strong relationships with senior executive leaders and factory General Managers, coaching and influencing them along our manufacturing transformation journey focused on driving automation, Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies and related large-scale upskilling Maintain a pulse on the employee experience through engagement data and regular formal and informal listening sessions to inform action plans with leaders Respond as needed to global or local crises affecting Western Digital employees, act as an early warning signal for executives and the HR leadership team Influence design and drive adoption of enterprise-wide strategic talent programs Act as a steward of the Human Resources functional strategy and operating model Drive the enterprise-wide integrated talent management programs such as goal setting, performance feedback, development conversations and rewards within the aligned functions Participate in cross-functional working teams on talent programs, serving as the voice of the business and bringing insights from external industry trends into the discussions Amplify and embed a focus on inclusion across lifecycle of talent programs Operate with a solution-oriented and enterprise mindset, collaborating with various Centers of Excellence to optimize the business value of the HR function Provide HR leadership to cross-functional business needs and HR team in Malaysia Keep a pulse on local business needs, strategically triaging to mobilize the right HR teams for speedy resolution and in alignment with global practices where needed Represent needs of the site to the HR Centers of Excellence as they design and launch programs Integrate local talent strategies into global functional people strategy and vice-versa by working with the Lead HR Business Partners where needed Advocate for adoption of global HR programs in partnership with local teams to adapt go-to-market plans as needed Represent HR in critical internal and external stakeholder meetings or conferences, as needed Engage with local HR teams supporting / advocating for their overall experience and growth Bachelor’s degree or equivalent required; master’s degree or relevant certification preferred. At least 12-15 years of experience in Human Resources, including HR consulting, Centers of Excellence, or HR Business Partner roles, ideally in a global multinational corporation with a matrix working environment. Demonstrates inclusive leadership, leading with curiosity, results orientation, accountability, and a commitment to developing high-performing teams. Proven record of coaching and influencing senior executive stakeholders to lead strategic initiatives. Understands the competitor landscape, industry dynamics, and internal operations within hardware technology and manufacturing. Leads with a global mindset; experience working globally preferred Operates with a consultative mindset, leveraging data to conduct diagnostics and deliver compelling insights for effective decision-making. Leads systematically through transformation and change, helping the company and individuals embrace change and positively shape the future. Approaches problems from a whole-systems perspective, identifying interdependencies and understanding the systemic consequences of decisions. Demonstrated Executive-level communication, presentation and collaboration skills WD is building the infrastructure behind the AI-driven data economy. As AI scales, so does data. Every interaction, every model, every system generates data that must be stored, managed, and made accessible over time. That’s where we come in. We combine deep engineering expertise with global-scale manufacturing to deliver the storage systems that make AI possible, powering hyperscale data centers, cloud platforms, and enterprise infrastructure worldwide. This isn’t theoretical work. It’s real systems, at real scale, people solving some of the hardest challenges in technology today. We’re looking for people who want to build, solve, and operate at that level. Join us and let’s shape the future of data. WESTERN DIGITAL’S COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY  At Western Digital, we thrive on the power and potential of diversity. As a global company, we believe that the most effective way to embrace the diversity of our customers and communities is to mirror it from within. We believe that the fusion of various perspectives results in the best outcomes for our employees, our company, our customers, and the world around us. We are committed to an inclusive environment where every individual can thrive through a sense of belonging, respect, and contribution.  ABOUT WESTERN DIGITAL  At Western Digital, our vision is to power global innovation and push the boundaries of technology to make what you thought was once impossible, possible.  At our core, Western Digital is a company