HR Specialist - Japan

GoGlobal is seeking a proactive and experienced HR Specialist to support our client employees in Japan. This position combines HR support as a Local Representative and payroll responsibilities. While the role covers both areas, you will be assigned to focus on HR as your primary function – while supporting the payroll as a secondary duty, based on business needs. Responsibilities and focus areas may be adjusted according to the assignment, but close collaboration with other team members is key to ensuring a smooth employee experience and full compliance with Japanese employment and payroll requirements Roles & Responsibilities HR Local Representative Be the primary HR contact and company representative for Japan Facilitate smooth onboarding for local employees; welcome and guide new hires through all local processes Manage core HR operations, for example time and attendance, probation tracking, contract changes and offboarding processes Address employee and client HR-related issues, escalating and resolving as needed Support employee termination / separation process under the direction of the Reporting Manager Stay updated on Japanese employment laws and HR trends; communicate relevant updates internally Prepare HR documents (e.g., employment agreements, addendums, letters) and maintain accurate personnel records Provide administrative/advisory support on the ground, including but not limited to office management, social insurance enrolment, bank account setup, and office equipment sourcing and purchasing Collect and organize client documents and mail, maintain document storage, ensure the office remains tidy, liaise with vendors, and manage the company’s safe box as part of office administration Support the work visa process thoroughly and in a timely manner Participate and take ownership in ad hoc projects as assigned Support basic payroll activities in Japan, including data input and coordination with vendors or internal teams to ensure accurate processing Maintain general understanding of Japan payroll and social insurance (e.g., health insurance, pension, taxes) to handle employee queries and flag issues for escalation At least a Diploma in Human Resources, Business Administration, or equivalent Minimum 2 years of hands-on experience in HR and Payroll operations Strong knowledge of Japanese employment law and payroll regulations, including statutory benefits and tax compliance Proficient in both Japanese and English (spoken and written) Highly organized with strong attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple priorities Flexible, solutions-focused, and able to thrive in a dynamic, startup-like environment Culturally aware and confident working with international teams across diverse backgrounds and time zones Preferred license: Licensed Social Insurance and Labour Consultant Willing to explore and learn in new areas and able to work under a tight schedule Good time management in order to complete tasks assigned A good team player but able to work independently Integrity, positive work attitude and pleasant character Flexibility / Start-up / Global mindset and ability to perform tasks in different area Must be able to work from office at least three times a week. ABOUT US GoGlobal is the leading professional services company to guide, establish and manage global operations with compliance and confidence. We bring the human touch to entering new markets and consolidating vendors through a single point of management. With a presence in over 140 countries on six continents and growing, we make running a global business easy. Business & Corporate Services provided: Entity Solutions: Entity establishment, Corporate secretarial & directorship services, Domicile services, Dormancy/Liquidation HR Solutions: Global recruitment, Employer of Record (EOR), Agent of Record (AOR), Global benefits, Global payroll, International HR Consulting Finance Solutions: Accounting & Tax For more information, please visit GoGlobal.com OVERVIEW We Measure Success by Results, Not Hours Worked No timesheets. At GoGlobal, we give you the autonomy to make decisions that create real impact. We prioritize results over hours worked, focusing on quality of outcomes rather than tracking time. As a privately owned company, we are free from the pressures of venture capital or private equity investors demanding exponential growth in unreasonable time frames. Sometimes, things just take time to do well. In our business, delivering great results is a process - and we're committed to doing it right. We are not for sale. We believe that financial success is a natural outcome of our work, not the primary goal. Unlike many investors who view money as a goal, our focus is on long-term growth and sustainable success. We are a global team, built for those who want to go further. Here's what your career at GoGlobal looks like: A company small enough for your voice to be heard meaningfully, yet large enough to make a global impact Collaborating with a diverse, global and supportive team Built for the long-haul - no VC or PE pressure, just a focus on sustainable growth WHY WE ARE DIFFERENT We Make Growing Your Career Possible We operate with the benefits of a partnership without the complexities of a partnership. Our hybrid partnership-corporate model offers all employees the opportunity to become a partner, while maintaining a streamlined corporate structure so that decisions are made quickly We do not offer equity plans. As we are not for sale and are not chasing an exit, "stock options" hold little value in our business model. Instead, we provide opportunities for outstanding employees to make partner and share in the profits. We believe it's better to build lasting value than to chase a one-time payout We prioritize organic and sustainable growth. Expanding operations quickly by way of mergers and acquisitions might seem appealing, but the reality is integrating diverse cultures can be challenging. We're proud of our own culture and prefer to grow it our way We're global. We offer career opportunities across the world-whether it's new job roles or international locations English is our official language, but for many, it's our second language. We embrace this and find it rewarding communicating with colleagues from all over the world We are not a family. We operate more like a high-performing sports team where each individual's contribution is crucial to our collective success We keep things simple and collaborative. Our structure makes it easy for teams to work together across borders so we can serve our clients with global needs more effectively. Unlike big, siloed companies, we work seamlessly to handle international deals without the headaches of territorial ownership We believe in transparency and trust. Every month, we share our financials with the team so everyone knows where we stand and what's coming next. It's all about open communication, building trust and empowering every individual to be part of our journey. We don't tell you what to think - we provide the information you need to make your own informed decisions We believe flexibility drives success. Our company is built on trust, and that's why we embrace fully remote work, and hybrid options in some countries. Forget rigid office routines - it's old school! This flexibility fuels productivity, strengthens our workforce, and ensures we remain agile in a fast-changing world. Ready to take the next step in your career with us? Apply now! **Kindly review the provided privacy notice ( LINK ) to gain a comprehensive understanding of our policies and practices governing the treatment of your Personal Data.