Why This Job is Featured on The SaaS Jobs
This Senior HR Generalist role stands out in a SaaS context because it sits at the intersection of global operating standards and local execution. With responsibility spanning Japan and Korea and close linkage into broader JAPAC/SAMEA and global HR groups, the work reflects how modern SaaS companies run people operations across multiple markets while keeping systems, policies, and employee support consistent.
From a career standpoint, the position builds durable SaaS-relevant capability in scalable HR operations: owning end-to-end lifecycle processes in Workday, translating employee questions into repeatable workflows, and partnering across Talent Acquisition, Payroll, Benefits, and Employment Legal. The emphasis on streamlining processes and aligning local nuance with global consistency is directly transferable to other SaaS environments where growth and geographic expansion create complexity in compliance, documentation, and manager enablement.
This role is best suited to an HR generalist who prefers hands-on ownership and structured problem-solving, and who is comfortable acting as the local point of expertise while working in a matrixed, distributed organization. It will particularly fit someone motivated by cross-functional partnering and pragmatic employee relations work, rather than a narrow specialist track.
The section above is editorial commentary from The SaaS Jobs, provided to help SaaS professionals understand the role in a broader industry context.
Job Description
We are looking for a Senior HR Generalist to join our Global HR team! This is a fundamental role in the HR team and will be central to ensuring HR operational efficiency and effectiveness along with supporting the business locally. This role will be responsible for HR within the Japan and Korea markets, ensuring to stay connected with the broader JAPAC/SAMEA team along with the Global HR team.
In this role, you will support all stages of the employee lifecycle including delivery of employee onboarding, facilitating training, Workday processing, working to resolve employee queries, managing employee relations cases, and managing local benefits. You'll partner with the local business leaders along with HR Business Partners, Employment Legal, Talent Acquisition, Payroll, Benefits, and others to deliver world-class employee support to the Japan and Korea markets.
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What You'll Do - Manage all Workday processing and employee questions from onboarding to off-boarding for all employees in Japan and Korea
- Be the local specialist providing hands-on labor law advice and support for Japan and Korea
- Partner with the JAPAC/SAMEA HR Business Partner, Employment Legal, Talent Acquisition, Payroll, Benefits, and many others to understand and resolve local issues
- Update and adjust processes and content, if needed, based on new local labor laws
- Handle all local documents and government paperwork required for Japan and Korea
- Manage projects with various stakeholders to improve and streamline processes, ensuring we drive global consistency along with adjusting for local nuances as needed
- Support the JAPAC/SAMEA HR Business Partner to provide local support to the Japan and Korea business leaders
- Delivering training to support manager development
- Reviewing HR processes and suggesting changes to improve efficiency and scalability
- You will be located at the Tokyo office
- Ability to travel is required
Who You Are - You have at least 5 years of experience working in an HR Generalist, Employee Relations Manager, People Operations, or HR Manager role
- Global experience working with international counterparts for an organization that has offices around the world
- Have strong knowledge of Japanese and Korean local labor regulations and employment practices as well as a desire to learn more
- Have experience working in a matrixed organization, with experience working in a media or technology company a plus
- Have exposure or experience with compensation and benefits, with an understanding of the local market a plus
- Ability to manage employee relations cases, such as performance management, harassment, discrimination, and other policy violations, from intake through investigation
- Ability to work collaboratively, being inclusive of all partners
- Ability to work independently and comfortable working in a distributed setting
- Ability to productively challenge and influence other teams, managers, and leaders
- Ability to prioritize well and be flexible in a fast-paced environment with changing demands where being resourceful to find answers is key
- Strong communication skills - both verbal and written
- Demonstrate a solution-focused approach to problem-solving, with the ability to find pragmatic outcomes
- Fluency in Japanese and English as well as a basic or intermediate knowledge of Korean
Where You'll Be - This role is based in Tokyo, Japan.
- We ask that you come in > 3 times per week.
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