Manager, EA/MA
Bain & Company · Singapore · 3d ago
Company Profile
Bain & Company is one of the world's leading management consulting firms, operating across 65 offices in 40 countries. We make our collective knowledge, experience, and global network available to our clients.
Southeast Asia is an increasingly important region for Bain, with a dynamic and growing client base spanning Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Malaysia. As part of this growth, we are investing in the professionalism and capability of our EA/MA function in the region, to deliver best-in-class executive support to our leadership teams.
Position Summary
Based in Singapore, this role will work closely with the GBS KL-based EA/MA Manager for the overall effectiveness, sustainability, and continuous improvement of the EA/MA function, supporting Leadership across Southeast Asia offices. The Manager, EA/MA Program (SEA) partners closely with the regional leadership of the EA/MA function, SEA Leadership Team members, and HR to ensure high-quality service delivery, balanced resourcing, strong team engagement, and ongoing development of the SEA EA/MA cohort.
We are looking for an experienced people leader with strong interpersonal skills, sound business judgement, and a genuine passion for coaching and developing others. The ideal candidate brings a servant leadership mindset and the ability to build trusted relationships across a diverse, matrixed regional organization.
Core Responsibilities & Duties
Team Management
- Oversee the SEA EA/MA team size and capability mix in line with evolving business demand across the region; conduct workforce planning and manage allocations accordingly.
- Work closely with the GBS KL based EA/MA manager to manage allocations to ensure sustainable workloads and effective coverage across all SEA offices, including special allocations (e.g., temporary or project-based assignments).
- Coordinate team integration and foster collaboration across all EA/MA team members supporting the SEA region.
- Regularly assess team and individual workloads; run efficiency and productivity improvement initiatives where necessary.
- Ensure business continuity through active management of leave approvals, backup arrangements, and absence monitoring.
- Anticipate capacity gaps and partner with the regional function leadership and relevant stakeholders on hiring plans where required.
- Provide regular communication updates to the team on office-wide and region-wide initiatives; cascade and reinforce leadership announcements.
- Work with HR to manage complex employee relations matters, absenteeism, and attrition risks.
Service Delivery & Stakeholder Management
- Act as the functional lead and representative for the SEA offices-based EA/MA team; collaborate closely with the GBS KL-based EA/MA Manager on cohort-wide matters, shared standards, and service quality across the SEA region.
- Ensure consistent, high-quality EA/MA support is delivered to Bain’s Leadership Teams across SEA offices.
- Serve as one of the key escalation points for complex stakeholder or allocation matters within the SEA offices-based EA/MA team; partner closely with the GBS KL-based EA/MA Manager to facilitate resolution on issues that span the broader SEA cohort.
- Navigate competing demands from senior stakeholders across multiple SEA offices, balancing priorities and brokering pragmatic outcomes where interests conflict.
- Build and sustain trusted relationships with SEA Leadership Team members and key internal stakeholders.
- Regularly monitor agreed KPIs and stakeholder feedback (e.g., by conducting periodic satisfaction surveys); identify gaps and drive execution of targeted improvement plans.
- Embed and uphold Bain's Professional Standards, Best Demonstrated Practices (BDPs), and Operating Principles within the SEA EA/MA team.
- Set up and monitor quality control processes to ensure a zero-defect approach across team operations.
- Promptly surface risk areas and propose solutions for emerging service-delivery challenges.
- Partner with the regional and functional leadership to align standards, operating models, and share best practices across the region.
- Champion the adoption of digital tools, GenAI-enabled solutions, new ways of working, and other innovations, to enhance efficiency and service quality.
Talent Attraction & Development
- Coordinate EA/MA recruitment plans and processes for the SEA team, providing input on selection, reviewing applications, and participating in interviews.
- Plan comprehensive onboarding and induction programs for new EA/MA hires across SEA offices; actively engage in probation reviews.
- Conduct regular PD check-ins with all EA/MA team members; monitor engagement, morale, and career progression.
- Provide one-on-one coaching to support individual career development and address specific challenges.
- Provide structured input into annual performance reviews in collaboration with the regional functional leadership and relevant stakeholders; make considered recommendations on promotions and recognition.
- Manage training plans for the team – covering content, frequency, channels, and trainers — to address capability gaps and evolving role requirements.
- Support delivery of training programs including interactive workshops, role-play exercises, and academies to enhance team skills and engagement.
- Initiate knowledge and experience sharing sessions within the team and across the broader APAC EA/MA community.
- Coordinate SEA office-wide EA/MA initiatives, including team events, culture-building activities, and cross-functional projects.
Personal Attributes
- Strong coaching orientation and servant leadership mindset, with a genuine investment in the growth and wellbeing of others.
- Ability to build positive working relationships and cultivate a 'one team' culture across a geographically dispersed group.
- Flexible, team-first approach with the ability to adapt and work across teams while combining delegation and direct interaction effectively.
- Effective communicator and active listener; structured, clear, and diplomatically tailored to different audiences, with discretion in handling sensitive situations.
- Proven ability to engage and build credibility with senior stakeholders – including Leadership Team members, Partners, and regional executives – with confidence, maturity, and sound judgement.
- Ability to de-escalate tense or high-stakes situations through calm, clear communication; a natural mediator who can bring parties to resolution without escalating friction.
- Creative problem solver with decisiveness and ownership – self-driven with a good balance between people and business orientation.
- Sound business judgement, balancing employee advocacy with business needs and management responsibilities.
- Resilient and composed under pressure, with the ability to manage peak workloads and shifting priorities effectively.
- Innovative mindset with a genuine focus on continuous improvement and adoption of new tools and approaches.
- Exceptional organizational and time management skills with strong attention to detail.
Qualifications & Experience
- Bachelor’s or master’s degree in a business or related discipline.
- 10+ years of overall experience working in a matrixed, global professional services environment.
- 5+ years of people management experience, including hands-on experience leading EA/MA or similar executive support teams independently with minimal senior oversight.
- Prior experience in an EA, MA, or PA role is required.
- Demonstrated experience managing complex stakeholder discussions and employee relations matters.
- Prior experience working across multiple Southeast Asian markets; deep familiarity with the cultural and operational nuances of the SEA region is highly preferred.
- High proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint); comfort with digital collaboration, productivity, and AI-enabled tools.
- Ability to handle confidential and sensitive information with a high level of discretion and professionalism.