Head of HR @ Wieden + Kennedy

Reports to:

President/CCO of WK Tokyo and Global Chief People Officer

General Position Summary

The WK Tokyo Head of HR leads our Human Resources team in establishing priorities, developing strategies, and delivering programs that support the agencys people to help drive the vision of the office. This includes fostering a creative culture that enables individuals to reach their full potential and ensures all employees are treated with respect and fairness. The right leader for this role takes a people-centric approach to HR and not HR for the sake of following policy. Their approach to HR is in service of the vision for our office.

The future of work has never been more interesting and yet, complex. This position rethinks, reshapes, and reinvents how traditional HR is done to apply new thinking in a creative, chaotic, human-centered environment. The person in this role has great instincts and judgment with the ability to connect human concerns with business needs. Is also flexible and able to evolve as our agencys needs evolve. Responsible for overseeing all human resources functions including immigration, employee relations, legal compliance and reporting, benefits, and payroll.

Major Responsibilities/Primary Functions

• Establishes goals, objectives, and systems for the HR department in line with overall agency goals. This should be done in tandem with the Tokyo Management Team.
• Oversees an HR team that provides HR and payroll support for 50+ employees.
• Establishes personal credibility and business partnerships with the Tokyo office (including all department heads) with a clear understanding of our business and advising on the possible impact of actions on the agency through a human lens.
• Develops and communicates HR practices and policies to employees in a consistent and accurate manner.
• Provides counsel and recommendations to Leadership, Managers, and employees on various human resources matters including employee relations, performance management, employment law compliance, policy interpretation, compensation and benefits, and recruitment needs.
• Develops staffing and organizational strategies aligned with the agencys business plan and business goals.
• Manages non-creative talent acquisition for a holistic talent management approach to ensure employees have a sense of belonging throughout the employees lifecycle at W+K.
• Provides coaching and counseling related to organizational and performance-management issues.
• Serves as an internal consultant to Leadership, Managers, and advisor/mediator in employee situations in which discipline is the joint responsibility of the Head of HR and employee supervisor.
• Advises management regarding all employee terminations; oversees and actively participates in all aspects of employee terminations.
• Provides leadership and professional development to direct reports as well as ensuring the overall department has clear growth opportunities. Mentors and trains employees and allocates work.
• Develops and implements effective benefits programs for employees.
• Collaborates with the Global Chief People Officer along with HR peers across the network to share strategies and programs that each office can leverage from one another.
• Monitors and ensures compliance with Japan employment laws and regulations, and recommends best practices; reviews and modifies policies and practices to maintain compliance.
• Maintains and establishes full awareness and knowledge of regulations, industry trends, current practices, new developments, and applicable HR laws.

Qualifications, Distinguishing Characteristics and Special Requirements

• Bachelors degree preferred (Business, Human Resources, or similar relevant field preferred).
• Minimum 1015 years of experience managing a Human Resources department in a medium or large-sized organization, preferably in a creative, non-traditional workplace.
• Passion for learning & development is highly desired; experience building an innovative retention program and/or internal mobility initiative is equally compelling.
• Must possess strong strategic and tactical abilities, as well as an operational, implementation, and detail-oriented perspective.
• Ability to advise, recommend suggestions, and communicate with employees at a variety of levels and across functions.
• Deep knowledge of current Japan employment laws.
• A proven track record of establishing credibility and respect by consistently demonstrating confidentiality and sound critical-thinking skills, placing the highest level of value on people and maintaining composure in stressful situations.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication; initiative and follow-through skills.
• Creative, strategic, and analytical-thinking skills.
• Ability to travel occasionally, sometimes abroad (post-pandemic).

Additional Notes

Wieden+Kennedy believes that each team member makes a significant contribution to our success. That contribution should not be limited by the assigned responsibilities outlined in a job description. Therefore, this job description is designed to outline primary duties, qualifications, and job scope but not limit the employee or the organization to just the work identified. It is our expectation that each team member will offer his/her services wherever and whenever necessary to ensure the success of our endeavors and to pursue individual career growth.

About Us:

Wieden+Kennedy is an independent, global creative company. Were here to do the best work of our lives with inspiring clients. We make work that influences culture and builds business value. Our global network comprises eight offices and 1,400 people, and our work spans every discipline. We have world-class media, design, and tech operations. But everyone and everything at W+K is driven by creativity, and a core mission of building strong and provocative relationships between companies and their customers.

Contact

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