HR Director Japan & Korea - Tokyo, JP

The role

Lead HR for CIC Japan as a key partner to local leadership and employees, balancing local execution with CIC's global HR standards. The role may also help build the HR foundation for the future Korea campus.

What you will do

• Partner with leaders in Japan and Korea to set direction and action plans that enable business growth
• Work with hiring managers to execute recruitment aligned with business needs and workforce plans
• Coach managers on leadership effectiveness, goal setting, team development, communication, and feedback
• Oversee performance management, compensation review cycles, payroll oversight, and HR policy implementation
• Lead employee relations and labor matters within the Japanese labor law environment
• Prepare workforce reporting, HR analytics, and leadership updates, and support headcount and budgeting discussions
• Support each campus's General Manager on HR alignment and organizational topics with the owner
• Work with the Japan Talent Acquisition Lead and People Operations Lead, and support establishing the HR function for the future Korea campus

Required qualifications

• 7+ years of progressive HR experience
• Strong knowledge of Japanese labor law and employee relations practices
• Experience handling sensitive organizational and workforce matters
• Fluency in Japanese
• Strong professional English communication skills
• Working experience with work rules (shugyo kisoku), industrial physicians, and mental health support

Nice to have

• Experience supporting regional or multi-country operations
• Exposure to Korea or broader Asia HR environments

Benefits

• Competitive salary, commensurate with experience
• Commuting / transportation allowance
• Massage session once a month
• Allocated training budget
• Retirement allowance after successfully passing the probation period

Before you apply

• Application must be submitted in English
• Role starts as a 6-month contractor engagement with transition to a permanent contract

About the company

CIC builds and connects innovation communities worldwide, operating workspace, laboratories, and event space across North America, Europe, and Asia. CIC Japan runs campuses in Tokyo, Fukuoka, and Osaka, and its consulting division, CIC Catalyst, supports innovation programs and consulting projects.