Global HR Business Partner - HR Strategy Retail Tokyo

Join a leading Tokyo-listed global retail company as a Global HR Business Partner (HRBP) and play a strategic role in supporting its continued international expansion.

Working directly with regional C-suite executives, business leaders, in-country HR teams, and headquarters functions, you will help design and implement scalable global HR frameworks, talent management strategies, organisational structures, and HR systems across key international markets.

This is more than a traditional HRBP role. You will combine strategic HR Business Partnering with hands-on HR planning and system design, covering grading structures, compensation, performance management, employee engagement, succession planning, global mobility, employee relations, and organisational transformation.

The role offers significant exposure to senior international leadership and the opportunity to influence how a major Japanese global brand develops its people and organisational capabilities across nearly 30 countries and regions.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as a strategic HR Business Partner to regional C-suite executives and senior business leaders across key international markets.
• Identify current and future talent requirements and translate business priorities into practical people and organisational strategies.
• Design organisational structures that support international business growth and scalable operations.
• Research, design, implement, and continuously improve global HR frameworks, including grading, compensation, performance evaluation, and employee engagement programmes.
• Standardise talent identification processes and build leadership succession pipelines across international markets.
• Develop and enhance global mobility processes to support both local talent and expatriate employees.
• Ensure talent management and mobility strategies remain aligned with headquarters' broader business and people vision.
• Partner with in-country HR teams and headquarters functions to align local and global HR priorities.
• Lead and support change management and organisational transformation initiatives across multiple markets.
• Advise senior stakeholders on complex organisational, employee relations, and labour-related issues.
• Work with local HR teams to resolve challenging people matters while balancing business priorities and local requirements.
• Drive greater consistency and scalability across international HR practices while recognising individual market needs.
• Influence senior executives and regional leaders to gain alignment on HR policies, organisational priorities, and transformation initiatives.

Required Skills and Qualifications

Experience:

• 10+ years of hands-on experience in HR Business Partnering, HRBP, or HR planning roles.
• Proven experience designing, implementing, or significantly overhauling grading, performance management, and compensation systems.
• Experience leading HR initiatives within a global organisation, either a Japanese multinational company or an international multinational corporation.
• Hands-on experience in employee relations, labour-related matters, and talent acquisition/staffing.
• Strong expertise in global compensation, performance evaluation, grading structures, and talent management.
• Experience partnering with senior business leaders on complex organisational and talent issues.
• Experience translating business and organisational requirements into practical HR strategies and initiatives.
• Bachelor's degree.
• More than 10 years of relevant professional experience.

Soft Skills:

• Proven ability to influence, negotiate with, and advise C-suite executives and regional business leaders.
• Strong analytical ability to diagnose complex or ambiguous organisational challenges and translate them into actionable HR solutions.
• Strategic mindset combined with the ability to execute HR initiatives hands-on.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills across headquarters, regional leadership, and local HR teams.
• Strong communication and negotiation capabilities in an international business environment.
• Ability to balance global consistency with the different organisational requirements of individual countries and markets.
• Strong change management capabilities and confidence operating across complex multinational structures.

Language Requirements:

• Japanese: Fluent
• English: Fluent / Business level, with the ability to lead meetings, negotiate policies, and drive international HR projects verbally

Preferred Skills & Qualifications

• Professional background in retail, FMCG/consumer goods, manufacturing, or management consulting.
• Proven experience leading global HR system implementations.
• Experience leading organisational redesign or multi-country HR transformation programmes.
• Direct experience managing or partnering with HR operations across multiple international markets simultaneously.
• Experience working closely with corporate board members, regional presidents, C-suite executives, or senior divisional leaders.
• Experience developing global talent management, succession planning, or leadership pipeline programmes.
• Exposure to international mobility programmes involving local employees and expatriates.

About the Company

Our client is a leading Tokyo-listed global retail and consumer goods company recognised internationally for its minimalist, design-focused lifestyle products.

Built around a philosophy of simplicity and sustainability, the organisation operates an extensive retail and supply chain network across nearly 30 countries and regions, manufacturing and distributing apparel, household products, and everyday lifestyle essentials.

As its international footprint continues to develop, the organisation is strengthening its global people infrastructure to create more consistent, scalable HR systems while supporting the requirements of individual markets. This creates a significant opportunity for an experienced Global HRBP and HR Strategy professional to influence the organisation's future global workforce and leadership model.

Why You'll Love Working Here

• Take on a strategic Global HRBP role supporting the international expansion of a major Tokyo-listed retail brand.
• Partner directly with regional C-suite executives and senior business leaders across international markets.
• Shape global HR frameworks covering compensation, grading, performance management, talent management, succession, and mobility.
• Gain exposure to HR strategy and organisational development across nearly 30 countries and regions.
• Lead initiatives that connect headquarters strategy with local HR execution across multiple overseas markets.
• Work within an organisation with well-developed operational manuals, systems, workflows, and clearly structured roles.
• Join a culture where employees are encouraged to identify inefficiencies and recommend improvements to existing workflows.
• Benefit from hybrid/remote working and flextime arrangements.
• Access paid parental and caregiver leave to support different life stages.
• Receive a competitive annual compensation package of ¥11M-¥14M.

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