The Role
The Japan People Partner Leader will develop and execute people strategies aligned with business goals, serving as a strategic advisor to leadership while leading initiatives that enhance organizational effectiveness.
Summary Generated by Built In
About Edelman
Edelman is a global communications firm that partners with businesses and organizations to evolve, promote, and protect their brands and reputations. We are trusted advisors to C-suite leaders and pride ourselves on fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and inclusion. In Japan, we are committed to building high-performing teams that drive measurable impact for our clients and communities.
The Role
We are seeking a Japan People Partner Leader to join our Japan leadership team. This is a strategic HR leadership role that works directly with business leaders to co-create and execute a people strategy that fuels business outcomes. The role will report to APAC Chief People Officer and receive strong local guidance from Japan CEO.
As a key member of our Local and Regional People Team, you are a strategic partner to our business leaders in Japan and will be responsible for development and execution of people strategy connected to business outcomes. You will proactively lead initiatives that shape culture, improve team and organization effectiveness, and create inclusive, high-performance environments.
As a People Partner, and in the spirit of a One People Team mindset, you will work collaboratively with our Centers of Excellence (COEs) and People Operations teams to deliver a cohesive and high-impact people strategy. You’ll partner with COEs — who lead the design and activation of programs in Talent Acquisition, DEIB, Learning & Development, Talent Management, and Total Rewards — leveraging their deep expertise to embed best practices across the business.
In parallel, you will stay closely connected to our People Operations team, which is focused on delivering day-to-day employee experience, ensuring compliance, and managing core operational and transactional people processes. This integrated model enables People Partners to focus on strategic, future-oriented work that drives organizational health and effectiveness, while supported by specialized and operational excellence from across the People function.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Trusted Advisor and Strategic Partner
Serve as a strategic advisor and sounding board to leadership on people-related matters. Provide strategic counsel on organizational design, leadership effectiveness, and cultural transformation.
Build strong relationships with cross-functional partners to co-create and influence talent decisions.
Talent Strategy & Organization Design
Partner with leaders to design and execute forward-looking talent strategies aligned with business goals.
Lead organization design efforts, including workforce planning, role clarity, and structure optimization.
Problem Solving & Executive Coaching
Provide thought leadership and coaching to leaders on complex issues including team effectiveness, leadership development, and strategic alignment.
Lead strategic problem-solving on ambiguous or sensitive people issues.
Change Management
Lead change management efforts for organizational transformations, ensuring employee engagement and alignment throughout the process.
Provide strategic guidance on communication plans, adoption strategies, and impact assessment.
Strategic Employee Relations Management
Partner with rest of the people team members and legal on escalated or complex people matters that require strategic input.
Guide leaders on systemic issue resolution, fostering a healthy workplace culture and high-performance environment.
Program Delivery (One People Team)
Act as the strategic connector between business needs and different people teams (e.g. COEs, HR operations) for initiatives related to performance, engagement, inclusion, and capability building.
Ensure effective delivery and adoption of enterprise-wide HR programs by providing business context and feedback loops.
KEY QUALIFICATIONS
- Minimum 12 years of progressive experience in strategic HR roles, preferably in multinational or matrixed environments.
- Proven track record in driving business transformation, high-performance culture and leadership alignment.
- Deep knowledge of Japanese labor laws and employment regulations is essential.
- Experienced in handling complex case management and employee relations issues with sensitivity and discretion.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
- Japanese (native-level proficiency) and English (business-level proficiency, spoken and written) required. Proficiency in additional languages is an advantage.
- Ability to influence at all levels and work collaboratively across functions and cultures.
Why Edelman?
At Edelman, you’ll join a purpose-driven team that’s redefining the communications landscape. You’ll have the opportunity to work at the intersection of business, brand, and societal change — and to shape not just talent strategies but organizational success.
Interested?
If you're passionate about building empowered cultures and want to make a tangible impact, we’d love to hear from you.
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The Company
What We Do
Edelman is a global communications firm that partners with businesses and organizations to evolve, promote and protect their brands and reputations. Our 6,000 people in more than 60 offices deliver communications strategies that give our clients the confidence to lead, act with certainty and earn the lasting trust of their stakeholders.
We develop powerful ideas and tell magnetic stories that move at the speed of news, make an immediate impact, transform culture and spark movements.
Since our founding in 1952 by Dan Edelman, we have remained an independent, family-run company. We use our profits to strengthen our business, provide our employees with opportunities to grow, advance our industry, and serve as a responsible citizen of the world. Every day, we strive to live and work by a long-held set of core values: the pursuit of excellence, the freedom to be curious, the courage to do the right thing, and a commitment to improving society.
Edelman is an equal opportunity employer of all protected classes, including veterans and individuals with disabilities
