About the Company
Our client is a globally recognized multinational organization operating within a highly regulated and complex business environment. With a strong international presence and a continued focus on growth, innovation, and transformation, the company is investing significantly in its people, leadership capability, and organizational effectiveness across key markets.
Japan represents an important market within the broader regional and global business, offering strong visibility and exposure to senior stakeholders both locally and internationally.
About the Role
We are seeking an experienced HR leader to serve as the senior People Business Partner for the Japan business.
This position will act as the primary HR advisor to senior leadership, leading the people agenda across talent, employee relations, organizational effectiveness, workforce planning, governance, and business transformation.
While structured as an individual contributor role, the position carries significant influence and ownership, requiring a highly credible HR professional who can operate independently while partnering closely with regional and global stakeholders.
The successful candidate will combine strategic thinking with strong operational execution and thrive within a fast-paced, matrixed international environment.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic HR Business Partnering
- Partner with senior leaders to align people strategy with business objectives
- Provide guidance on workforce planning, organizational effectiveness, performance management, and talent strategy
- Support organizational change and transformation initiatives
- Act as a trusted advisor on people, leadership, and business-related matters
Talent Management & Organizational Development
- Support succession planning and leadership development initiatives
- Drive employee development and capability-building programs
- Partner with regional and global teams to implement talent strategies
- Strengthen leadership effectiveness and organizational capability
Employee Relations & Compliance
- Lead complex employee relations matters and workplace investigations
- Advise leaders on employment risk and regulatory matters
- Ensure compliance with Japanese labor law and internal governance standards
- Partner with legal and specialist HR functions on sensitive cases
Talent Acquisition & Workforce Planning
- Partner closely with hiring managers and talent acquisition teams
- Support workforce planning and critical hiring initiatives
- Provide market insight and talent recommendations
- Enhance recruitment processes and candidate experience
HR Operations & Governance
- Support compensation and reward processes
- Oversee key HR governance and compliance activities
- Partner with internal stakeholders on audits, controls, and policy implementation
- Ensure operational excellence across the employee lifecycle
Transformation & Innovation
- Support HR modernization and process improvement initiatives
- Identify opportunities to improve efficiency and employee experience
- Contribute to discussions around technology, AI, and future ways of working
Qualifications
Required
- 10+ years of progressive HR experience
- Strong HR Business Partnering experience within a multinational environment
- Demonstrated experience supporting senior business leaders
- Deep knowledge of Japanese employment practices and labor regulations
- Strong employee relations and stakeholder management capability
- Experience operating within matrix organizations
- Native-level Japanese and business-level English
Preferred
- Experience within financial services, insurance, technology, life sciences, consulting, or other highly regulated industries
- Experience supporting organizational transformation initiatives
- Exposure to talent acquisition and workforce planning
- Interest in HR technology, AI, and future-of-work trends
Why Join?
- Opportunity to serve as the senior HR leader for a strategic Japan business
- Significant exposure to regional and global stakeholders
- Broad remit across business partnering, talent, employee relations, governance, and transformation
- High level of autonomy and influence
- International, collaborative, and forward-looking culture
- Long-term career growth potential within a global organization
Confidential Search
This opportunity is being managed on a confidential basis. Further information regarding the organization and structure will be shared with shortlisted candidates during the interview process.
