Responsibilities
The Executive HR Manager, Japan is the senior HR lead for the Japan business, supporting approximately 70 employees and working as part of the broader APAC HR team. The role partners closely with Japan and regional leaders to align people strategies with business goals, ensure compliance with Japan employment requirements, and deliver a high-quality employee experience.
This is a hands-on senior HR leadership role that combines strategic HR business partnering with direct operational execution. The position covers a broad HR scope, including employee relations, HR operations, workforce planning, talent management, compensation and benefits, global mobility, internal events, facilities, and on-site administration.
Key Responsibilities
- Act as the lead HR representative for Japan and a trusted advisor to local management and APAC HR leaders.
- Provide strategic HR guidance while also personally managing day-to-day HR operations and complex people matters.
- Lead employee relations, performance issues, investigations, restructuring support, and compliance matters.
- Manage Japan HR policies, processes, HRIS data, payroll coordination, benefits administration, and employee lifecycle activities.
- Support talent management, succession planning, leadership development, recruitment, onboarding, and workforce planning.
- Partner with Finance and Rewards teams on compensation, benefits, incentives, and market competitiveness.
- Coordinate global mobility matters, including visas, immigration, relocations, and assignment support.
- Lead and develop a lean Japan HR team while contributing directly as an individual contributor when needed.
- Support APAC and global HR initiatives, ensuring they are practical, compliant, and locally relevant for Japan.
Education / Qualifications
- 10+ years of progressive HR experience, including HRBP or HR leadership experience in a global, matrixed organization.
- Strong knowledge of Japan employment law, HR practices, and compliance requirements.
- Broad experience across HR operations, employee relations, talent, compensation and benefits, and organizational effectiveness.
- Proven ability to balance strategic advisory work with hands-on execution.
- Strong communication, stakeholder management, coaching, and problem-solving skills.
- Experience contributing to APAC regional HR initiatives is preferred.
- HRIS experience, such as SuccessFactors, is desirable.
- Second-Class Health Supervisor certification is preferred.
About Octave
Octave provides mission-critical software that empowers organizations to make informed decisions across every stage of the asset lifecycle - Design, Build, Operate and Protect - where performance, safety, and reliability are non-negotiable and failure is not an option.
Turning complex operational data into actionable intelligence, Octave connects expertise, real-world conditions and enterprise-scale insight to improve performance, resilience and incident response where it matters most.
Octave has more than 7,000 employees in 45 countries. Learn more at octave.com and follow us on LinkedIn.
Why work for Octave?
All in. Always forward. That's the way we do things around here. We put trust in our people because we believe it's the best way to unleash potential, bring ideas to life, and keep moving ahead. And it's why we're committed to creating an environment that's truly supportive, providing you with the resources you need to support your ambitions, no matter who you are or where you are in the world.
Everyone is welcome
At Octave, we believe that diverse and inclusive teams are critical to the success of our people and our business. Here, everyone is welcome. As an inclusive workplace, we don't discriminate. In fact, we embrace differences and are fully committed to creating equal opportunities, an inclusive environment, and fairness for all.
Respect is the cornerstone of how we operate, so speak up and be yourself. You're valued here.
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