HR Business Partner Japan & South Korea

Founded in 2016, the French leather goods brand Polène stands out for its exceptional artisanal craftsmanship, creating timeless pieces with organic designs directly inspired by nature.

In a context of strong growth and international expansion, we are structuring our operations in 2025 and surrounding ourselves with top talent to develop deep expertise at every level of our organization. Our distinctly artistic positioning supports the elevation of our handbag and jewelry collections, backed by 800 artisans in our workshops located in Ubrique, Spain.

The story of Polène can be written with you: join us and take part in this journey behind the scenes at our Tokyo headquarters, driven by our shared passion for craftsmanship.

As part of the People & Culture Team,

Reporting to our Retail HR Partner in Paris, you will play a key role in aligning global HR policies with local labor laws ans business priorities, and support organizational growth, performance and talent development. Your missions will include :

HR Partnership :

• Act as the primary HR point of contact for employees, providing guidance and support on HR policies, procedures, and employee relations.

• Collaborate with managers and foster a positive workplace culture and ensure alignment with company values.

• Address employee concerns and mediate conflicts as needed.

Performance Management :

• Support managers in performance reviews, goal setting, and development plans.

• Provide coaching and feedback to managers on HR-related matters.

Payroll Management and HR Administration :

• Coordinate payroll processes with external payroll providers to ensure accuracy and compliance.

• Validate payroll data, including timesheets, bonuses, and deductions.

• Address payroll-related inquiries and resolve discrepancies in a timely manner.

• Manage employee records, ensuring accuracy and confidentiality of personal and professional information.

• Oversee employment documentation, including contracts, amendments, and terminations.

• Support visa and work authorization processes when required.

Talent Acquisition

• Act as a partner to the local Talent Acquisition team, providing HR guidance and ensuring recruitment decisions reflect company values and cultural fit.

• Validate shortlisted candidates for office and retail positions, maintaining alignment with HQ expectations and hiring standards.

• Share local market insights and feedback to support efficient and high-quality recruitment processes.

Onboarding & Retention :

• Oversee onboarding processes to ensure a smooth integration for new hires.

• Develop initiatives to enhance employee engagement and retention.

Compliance & Reporting :

• Ensure compliance with local labor laws and company policies.

• Maintain accurate HR records and generate reports as needed.

Collaboration & Communication with HQ :

• Maintain regular and transparent communication with HQ HR teams, ensuring alignment on policies, processes, and people decisions.

• Proactively share local HR insights, challenges, and best practices with the Paris HQ to support global HR consistency and informed decision-making.

• Foster a strong partnership and information flow between the local team and HQ to guarantee visibility and coherence across regions.

Office Management & Events :

• Oversee day-to-day office management and general services, ensuring a seamless and efficient working environment.

• Plan and execute events and initiatives to foster collaboration, celebrate milestones, and enhance the employee experience.

Our expectations :

• You have at least 6 years of HR experience in Japan. Experience in the luxury/high-end retail sector is preferred

• You hold a bachelor’s degree in human resources, business administration or other related field

• You understand payroll systems and external provider coordination

• You have a demonstrated knowledge of employment law, employee relations best-practices, presentation skills, and recruiting practices

• You are able to multi-task, work in ambiguity and adapt to competing priorities in a fast-paced environment

• You have strong relationship-building skills, as well as analytical and problem-solvin skills

• You are OK with traveling domestically when needed

• You are fluent in English and Japanese (Korean would be a plus!)