HR Services Associate

Are you an experienced HR professional passionate about delivering trusted, high-quality advice and making a real impact across the employee lifecycle? If you’re looking for a global HR opportunity where your expertise truly matters, we are hiring an HR Administrator to join our GBS team at Smith+ Nephew Japan, supporting HR customer service across APAC.

Life Unlimited. 

At Smith+Nephew we design and manufacture technology that takes the limits off living. Smith+Nephew is a world leader in advanced wound management, orthopaedics and sports medicine technologies and solutions.

The Position

You will deliver high quality and consistent HR advice, support and resolution to all employees, line managers, executives and outside parties across the end-to-end employee lifecycle, through the application of HR and Pay policies and procedures with the purpose of making S+N a great place to work and delivering a great experience to our customers, in a way that improves their effectiveness day to day. You will undertake the due diligence and administrative activities associated with mergers & acquisitions for new business and the closure of sites. Support the HR community with the calculation and processing of redundancy payments and mutual agreements. You will also provide advice as appropriate to S+N employees on Data Privacy and Freedom of Information provision including processes and procedures, and Subject Access Requests.

Key responsibilities but not limited to:

• HR Customer Service & Advisory

Deliver high-quality, consistent HR advice and support to employees, managers, executives, and external parties across the end-to-end employee lifecycle, ensuring compliance with employment legislation, company policies, and best practice.

• HR Operations & Transactional Management

Manage HR transactional activities for Executive Management, HR, and GBS populations, including joiners, movers, leavers, pay changes, special leave, and compensation and benefits administration, in line with agreed SLAs and standards.

• Case Management & Issue Resolution

Resolve day-to-day HR service enquiries and cases using the service management tool, escalating issues to relevant specialists as needed, ensuring timely resolution, service recovery, and high customer satisfaction.

• Data Management, Systems & Confidentiality

Maintain accurate and timely employee data in Workday and related HR systems, ensure proper documentation and record keeping, and uphold the highest standards of data privacy, confidentiality, and information security.

• Compliance, Redundancy & Data Privacy Support

         Support redundancy calculations, mutual agreements, and M&A or site closure activities in collaboration with HRBPs and HR colleagues and assist with Data Privacy processes including Subject Access Requests and external authority requests.

• Continuous Improvement

Proactively identifying customer needs and drive improvements to HR service delivery and performance.

Use performance data and KPIs to support continuous service and process improvement.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher

• Minimum 2 years’ experience in HR advisory and administration within a regional HR Shared Services environment; experience in a customer-focused commercial HR team/HRIS is preferred.

• Good understanding of employment legislation, HR best practices, and the end-to-end employee lifecycle.

• Proficient in Microsoft Office, Workday, HR systems, and case management tools.

• Customer-focused with a commitment to meeting internal stakeholder needs.

• Business-level English (reading and writing required; conversational speaking) and native-level Japanese are required.

You. Unlimited.
We believe in creating the greatest good for society. Our most valuable investments are in our people and the patients we serve.

Inclusion, Equity, and Belonging: We are committed to fostering a culture where everyone feels welcomed, celebrated, and empowered to thrive. Learn more about our Employee Inclusion Groups on our website.

Work/Life Balance: Flexible Personal/Vacation Time Off, Paid Holidays, Flexible working hours with no core time.

Your Wellbeing: Annual health examination, defined contribution pension plan, Group life insurance plan, Parental Leave, Housing allowance, Employee assistant program.

Flexibility: Hybrid Work Model (For most professional roles)   

Training: Hands-on learning, Team-tailored programs, Subsidies for language classes, Certifications and more.
Extra Perks: Referral bonus, Discounts on fitness clubs, travel and more!