HR Business Partner – Industrial Manufacturing (Tokyo or Yamanashi)
Introduction We are currently supporting a search for an HR Business Partner with a global industrial manufacturer. Our client designs and makes engineered components and systems for industrial, mobile and aerospace markets, and its Japan business spans several operating companies and sites. This is a hands-on generalist role with real breadth.
About the Role You will partner with the Japan HR Manager and line leaders across the Japan business, turning HR strategy into practice for organisations that together generate more than US$100 million in annual sales. The role covers the full employee lifecycle, from hiring and onboarding through performance, development, engagement and employee relations, and you will help bring consistent policies and ways of working across the entities. The base is flexible: Tokyo or Yamanashi, with regular travel between sites.
Responsibilities Talent acquisition * Run end-to-end recruitment for graded and non-graded roles, from job profiles and adverts to offers and induction * Work with hiring managers on assessment and selection methods, and manage the interview process * Manage agency relationships and keep recruitment costs within budget
Performance and development * Drive the performance management cycle and coach managers on setting standards and giving feedback * Coordinate the roll-out of training and line-manager development programmes across Japan * Keep training records and HR systems accurate
Employee engagement * Plan engagement surveys and communicate the results * Facilitate focus groups and help build action plans that address what employees raise
Employee relations and compliance * Support grievance and disciplinary investigations * Advise managers on people issues and make sure a consistent, legally sound approach is taken * Keep personnel records compliant with Japanese labour law, data protection and SOX requirements
Reward and HR operations * Work with the regional Total Rewards team on job evaluation, grades, titles and salary structure * Handle HR administration, reporting and project work as the business needs
Requirements * 5+ years of HR experience, with a track record in employee engagement, employee relations, organisational development and talent development * Experience in a manufacturing organisation preferred * Working knowledge of Japanese labour law and HR policy * Business-level Japanese and English, written and spoken * A degree in human resources, psychology or a related field * Strong interpersonal and negotiation skills, and the judgement to handle confidential matters with tact
Why Apply * Generalist breadth: recruitment, performance, engagement, employee relations and reward all sit with this role * Work across several Japan entities and help standardise how HR runs between them * A flexible base in Tokyo or Yamanashi * A small HR team where your work is visible and your input shapes policy * Room to grow: the team is open to developing someone into a broader HR leadership role * Salary ¥10M–12M base plus a 12.5% incentive, depending on level