Our client is a global consumer health group with more than 50 years of history, operating in over 100 countries across FMCG and B2B industrial chemicals. A new leadership team is driving a full business transformation over the next five years and beyond.

This is a confidential search. The HR Director leads the Japan HR organisation and reports to the Head of HR Asia.

The role

Full functional ownership of HR delivery for Japan, leading a team of approximately 16 across four groups:

• Global projects and HRIS, including support for group-wide grading and total rewards initiatives
• Talent acquisition and learning
• Compensation, benefits and recognition
• HR operations, payroll and insurance administration, currently run largely in-house

The immediate agenda is to raise the capability and delivery standard of the Japan HR function, and to professionalise HR operations - including assessing where outsourcing should replace in-house administration. An organisational change is currently in progress, so the final team size may shift.

What we are looking for

• Substantial HR leadership experience in a multinational, with genuine breadth across operations, C&B, talent acquisition and learning
• Proven track record leading and upgrading an HR team through a period of change
• Strong grounding in Japanese labour law, payroll and HR operations; experience evaluating outsourcing and shared-service models
• Able to operate credibly with global stakeholders as well as local business leaders
• Fluent Japanese and business-level English
• Hands-on and visible - this is a build-and-develop mandate, not a steady-state one

Location

Osaka Prefecture. This role is expected to be based in Kansai; candidates outside the region will need to relocate. A Tokyo or other base with regular travel to Osaka may be considered, but only as a secondary option.