HR Specialist (Labor Relations & HR Operations)

About the company

Join the Japanese operation of an established international confectionery business. Its HR team supports employees and managers across the employment lifecycle, helping ensure that people processes are reliable, compliant and responsive. This role offers the opportunity to contribute to a consumer-focused organisation where effective operations and positive employee experiences matter. Working with stakeholders across the business and external specialists, you will help deliver essential HR services and support continuous improvement. With responsibilities spanning employee relations, HR administration and workplace wellbeing, this is an opportunity for an experienced HR professional to bring their expertise to a broad, hands-on role within an international business.

What the job entails

As HR Specialist (Labour Relations & HR Operations), you will support the smooth and compliant delivery of day-to-day HR operations and labour relations. You will respond to employee enquiries and manage employment contracts and documentation, as well as onboarding, orientation and offboarding. Your remit will include attendance, social and labour insurance administration, leave of absence and return-to-work processes, and maternity and childcare leave.

You will also coordinate occupational health and safety matters, workers’ compensation and temporary staffing administration, while supporting benefits and employee engagement surveys. You will help ensure compliance with work rules, labour-management agreements and Article 36 Agreements, and liaise with external labour and social security consultants. By identifying issues and improving processes, you will help deliver accurate, efficient and dependable HR support.

Key requirements

• At least three years’ experience in in-house corporate HR operations and labour relations.
• Practical experience managing onboarding and offboarding, social insurance administration and attendance.
• Basic knowledge of Japanese labour legislation, including the Labour Standards Act, Labour Contracts Act and Industrial Safety and Health Act.
• Understanding of working-time administration, leave and return-to-work processes, and labour insurance.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Excel data analysis and reporting using PivotTables and VLOOKUP.
• A detail-oriented, compliance-minded approach, with a focus on operational accuracy and efficiency.
• The ability to identify issues proactively, improve processes and work collaboratively with stakeholders.
• Experience with KOT, SmartHR or Workday, a Shakai Hoken Romushi qualification, a Health Supervisor certification, or business-level English would be advantageous.