Global HR Planning Specialist - Retail, Tokyo

Join a leading Japanese retail group as a Global HR Planning Specialist, helping drive international talent strategy and HR transformation across key Asian markets.

Based in Tokyo, you will work as an HR business partner to regional leaders, taking the lead on HR initiatives in East Asia while supporting Southeast Asian markets. Your responsibilities will span global HR planning, grading and compensation frameworks, performance evaluation, labor management, employee engagement, and talent development.

Working directly with overseas business leaders, local HR teams, and Tokyo headquarters, you will help establish consistent and scalable global HR systems while ensuring regional requirements are reflected in corporate people strategy.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced HRBP, HR Generalist, or HR Planning professional in Japan looking to develop a career in global HR while leading cross-border projects in a major international retail organization.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as an HR Business Partner to regional business leaders, leading HR initiatives across key East Asian markets and supporting Southeast Asian operations.
• Assess organizational and workforce requirements in each market and develop practical HR strategies aligned with regional business priorities.
• Research, design, implement, and improve global HR frameworks, including job grading, compensation, performance evaluation, and labor management systems.
• Support international employee engagement initiatives, including programs such as global employee stock ownership.
• Partner with in-country HR teams to align local HR policies and practices with corporate strategy while considering regional business and workforce requirements.
• Manage and strengthen global talent pipelines, supporting the development of both expatriate and locally hired employees.
• Collaborate directly with overseas business heads and Tokyo headquarters to implement HR policies consistently across international operations.
• Support change management and organizational development initiatives as the company's overseas business continues to scale.
• Identify regional HR challenges, structure complex issues, and develop practical solutions that improve organizational effectiveness and workforce alignment.
• Build strong relationships across headquarters, regional executives, and local HR teams to support effective cross-border business execution.

Required Skills and Qualifications

Experience:

• 5+ years of hands-on experience in HR Generalist, HR Business Partner (HRBP), or HR Planning roles.
• Proven experience introducing, redesigning, or improving job grading, performance evaluation, or compensation systems, and/or experience in labor relations and recruitment.
• Experience working within the HR function of an international organization, including a Japanese multinational or foreign-affiliated company.
• Practical knowledge across broader HR disciplines, including organizational development, labor management, talent management, and HR policies.
• Experience working with multiple stakeholders on HR initiatives or organizational projects.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent relevant educational background.

Soft Skills:

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to structure complex or ambiguous HR challenges and translate them into practical solutions.
• Excellent interpersonal and stakeholder-management skills for collaborating with and influencing regional executives, local HR teams, and corporate headquarters.
• Strong project-management capabilities and the ability to drive HR initiatives across multiple teams and markets.
• Ability to work independently and take ownership of international HR projects.
• Strong cross-cultural communication skills for building effective relationships across different countries, cultures, and organizational levels.
• Flexible and adaptable approach to working within a growing international business environment.

Language Requirements:

• Japanese: Fluent proficiency.
• English: Business-level proficiency in both written and spoken communication, with the ability to independently lead HR projects, meetings, discussions, and negotiations with international stakeholders.

Preferred Skills & Qualifications

• Hands-on experience leading or participating in cross-border HR system implementation projects.
• Experience coordinating HR projects directly with international subsidiaries, branches, or regional offices.
• Experience with corporate restructuring, organizational transformation, or change management initiatives.
• Experience managing or partnering with HR functions across multiple countries or international regions.
• Strong understanding of global HR planning, compensation and benefits, performance management, talent development, and organizational development.
• Experience supporting both expatriate and locally hired employee populations.
• Experience within the retail, FMCG, consumer goods, or wholesale sector would be valuable.

About the Company

Our client is a Tokyo-listed global retail company recognized internationally for its simple and sustainable approach to lifestyle products.

The company manages an integrated global business spanning product design, manufacturing, distribution, and retail, offering high-quality apparel, household goods, and everyday essentials to customers around the world.

With an expanding international presence across Asia and other global markets, the organization continues to strengthen its global HR strategy, talent management, and organizational infrastructure to support sustainable overseas growth.

The company's international scale provides HR professionals with the opportunity to work directly with overseas business leaders and local HR teams while contributing to strategic people initiatives from its Tokyo headquarters.

Why You'll Love Working Here

• Build your career in Global HR and HR Planning while working across multiple Asian markets from Tokyo.
• Partner directly with overseas executives, regional leaders, local HR teams, and corporate headquarters on strategic people initiatives.
• Gain broad exposure to HRBP, compensation, grading, performance management, employee engagement, talent development, and organizational development.
• Take an active role in designing and improving global HR frameworks rather than focusing solely on operational HR activities.
• Contribute to international talent development for both expatriate and locally hired employees.
• Work in an environment with clearly defined workflows and team responsibilities, supporting effective onboarding and day-to-day execution.
• Have the autonomy to identify operational challenges and propose practical improvements to HR processes and workflows.
• Benefit from flexible working arrangements, including flextime and hybrid work options.
• Access paid family and caregiving leave designed to support employees through different personal and family life stages.
• Develop valuable cross-border HR expertise within a major Japanese retail group with an established international presence.

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