Senior Manager, Human Resource Operations, Japan
Location:
Japan

Employment Type:
Full-time

About The Role
We are seeking a highly capable and hands-on Senior Manager, HR Operations to lead HR operations across five legal entities in Japan. This role supports a dynamic, fast-paced organization with a diverse workforce, including approximately 25% non-local employees.

This position is critical to ensuring operational excellence, regulatory compliance, and seamless HR service delivery, covering payroll, benefits administration, employee life-cycle management, and HR systems. The ideal candidate brings deep knowledge of Japanese labor law, strong prioritization skills, and a global mindset to thrive in a multinational environment.

Key Responsibilities

• HR Operations & Compliance
• Oversee end-to-end HR operations for five legal entities, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and efficiency
• Ensure compliance with Japanese labor laws and internal policies, including employment contracts, working conditions, and working hours
• Lead statutory and government reporting (labor standards, social insurance, employment filings, annual labor reports, etc.)
• Act as the primary contact for labor authorities and external auditors as needed

Outcome:
Fully compliant, efficient, and well-governed HR operations across all entities

• Payroll & Benefits
• Manage payroll operations in partnership with external payroll vendors, ensuring timely and accurate processing
• Oversee benefits administration, including defined contribution (DC) pension schemes, health and welfare programs
• Partner closely with Finance on payroll reconciliation, tax reporting, and budgeting

Outcome:
Accurate, compliant payroll and benefits delivery with strong financial alignment

• Employee Lifecycle & HR Systems
• Manage onboarding, offboarding, and employment changes to ensure a smooth employee experience
• Maintain accurate HR data within HRIS and personnel records
• Continuously review and improve HR processes for scalability and efficiency

Outcome:
Reliable HR data, streamlined processes, and positive employee experience

• Stakeholder Management & Collaboration
• Collaborate with HR Business Partners, Talent Acquisition, and Regional/Global HR teams
• Act as a trusted advisor to management on HR policies, procedures, and compliance topics
• Provide clear guidance and support to employees on HR operations, payroll, and benefits

Outcome:
Strong partnership, trusted HR guidance, and responsive employee support

• Continuous Improvement
• Identify operational gaps and drive process and system improvements
• Monitor labor law changes and translate them into internal policy and practice updates

Outcome:
Future-ready HR operations that adapt to regulatory and business changes

Pre-requisites

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field
• Native-level Japanese and business-level English
• Minimum 8 years of HR experience in Japan, with at least 4 years in HR Operations Management within a multinational organization
• Expert knowledge of Japanese labor law and statutory requirements
• Strong payroll and benefits management experience, including DC pension schemes and social insurance
• Proven vendor management experience (payroll, benefits providers, etc.)
• Strong prioritization and organizational skills
• High attention to detail and analytical mindset
• Agility and resilience in a fast-moving environment
• Cultural awareness and experience working with diverse, global teams
• Proactive problem-solving mindset

Are you ready to engineer a greener future?