Join a global leader in the manufacturing and sale of medical laboratory equipment as an HR Business Partner / HR Manager supporting a production facility in Hitachi, Ibaraki.
This is a strategic and hands-on HR leadership position where you will partner directly with senior business leaders while managing a broad range of people priorities across the manufacturing site. You will connect business strategy with effective HR solutions spanning talent management, performance management, employee relations, labour management, recruitment, organisational change, and HR projects.
Working closely with HR Operations, HR Centres of Excellence (CoE), and other functions, you will help ensure consistent HR practices while addressing the specific workforce and organisational needs of the production environment.
For an experienced HR professional with manufacturing or production-site experience, this is an opportunity to operate as a true HR Business Partner and help shape the strategic direction of the business.
Key Responsibilities
- Act as a strategic HR Business Partner to senior leadership, providing practical HR guidance aligned with business and workforce priorities.
- Partner with HR Operations, HR Centres of Excellence (CoE), and other functions to deliver integrated HR support across the production facility.
- Lead and support performance management and employee development initiatives.
- Drive Talent Acquisition and Talent Management activities to support workforce requirements and organisational capability.
- Manage employee engagement initiatives and support effective employee relations across the manufacturing site.
- Provide guidance on labour management and employee relations, ensuring appropriate handling of workforce matters.
- Apply knowledge of Japanese employment legislation and HR practices to support compliant and practical decision-making.
- Deliver end-to-end HR support across a broad range of employee lifecycle and people-related matters.
- Support senior leaders and managers in balancing operational workforce requirements with broader business objectives.
- Lead or support HR activities associated with M&A, organisational restructuring, integration, and significant organisational change.
- Coordinate HR activities across multiple regions, locations, or business sites, supporting consistency in HR policies and practices.
- Lead and contribute to HR projects supporting business, organisational, and workforce priorities.
Required Skills and Qualifications
Experience:
- 5+ years of progressive HR Generalist, HR Business Partner, or related broad HR experience.
- Previous HR experience supporting a manufacturing or production facility.
- Proven experience delivering end-to-end HR support across a broad range of people and employee lifecycle matters.
- Ability to balance operational HR priorities with wider business and workforce requirements.
- Strong knowledge of local employment legislation, HR practices, and compliance requirements.
- Experience providing practical HR guidance to employees, managers, and business leaders.
- Experience supporting or leading HR activities related to M&A, organisational restructuring, integration, or other significant organisational change.
- Experience working across multiple regions, locations, or business sites and managing diverse stakeholder groups.
- Experience supporting people-intensive and customer-focused organisations is relevant, including environments such as travel, hospitality, outsourcing, or BPO.
- Bachelor's degree.
Soft Skills:
- Strong stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to build trusted relationships with employees, managers, and senior business leaders.
- Ability to operate as a credible HR partner and provide practical advice on complex people matters.
- Highly adaptable approach with the ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, people-focused environment.
- Commercial mindset with the ability to understand business requirements and translate them into practical HR solutions.
- Ability to collaborate effectively with HR Operations, CoE teams, business functions, and senior leadership.
- Strong judgement when balancing employee, compliance, operational, and business considerations.
- Ability to work effectively across different sites, locations, and stakeholder groups.
Language Requirements:
- Japanese: Native level
- English: Intermediate to Business level
Preferred Skills & Qualifications
- Strong HRBP or HR management experience within a manufacturing, production, medical device, or life sciences environment.
- Experience partnering directly with senior leadership at a manufacturing or production site.
- Experience working within an international or global organisation.
- Exposure to HR operating models involving HR Business Partners, HR Operations, and Centres of Excellence.
- Experience managing HR projects involving organisational transformation, restructuring, integration, or workforce change.
About the Company
Our client is a global leader in the manufacturing and sale of medical laboratory equipment, operating within the medical and life sciences sector.
The organisation combines global capabilities with manufacturing operations that require close partnership between business leadership and HR. This creates an environment where HR plays an important role in workforce strategy, organisational development, employee engagement, talent management, and operational effectiveness.
This position offers an experienced HR professional the opportunity to apply both strategic HR Business Partnering and hands-on manufacturing HR expertise within an international organisation.
Why You'll Love Working Here
- Operate as a true HR Business Partner with the opportunity to influence the strategic direction of the business.
- Work directly with senior leadership on important workforce, talent, and organisational priorities.
- Take on a broad HR scope covering HRBP, talent management, performance management, employee relations, labour management, and HR projects.
- Apply your manufacturing HR experience within a global medical and life sciences organisation.
- Work closely with HR Operations, Centres of Excellence, and other specialist functions.
- Gain exposure to organisational change, restructuring, integration, and other strategic HR initiatives.
- Help shape HR practices and workforce priorities within a production environment.
- Receive competitive compensation.
Don't Miss Out - Apply Now!
