Manager, HR Operations

Job Description

<p><br></p><p>Tesla is seeking a manager to lead and scale our Japan HR Operations function. This is a high-impact management role at a pivotal moment: you will build and develop the local HR Ops team, own end-to-end employee lifecycle operations in Japan, and partner closely with HRBP, HR Coordinator, APAC Ops Hub Team, IT, Legal, Payroll, and Recruiting to deliver compliant, efficient, and scalable people processes.</p><p>You will operate as the Process Owner for core HR Ops workflows—from onboarding through internal movements and offboarding—while driving standardization, automation, and continuous improvement. With strong command of Japanese labor law, social insurance, and HR systems , you will ensure operational excellence, data integrity, and an exceptional employee experience at every critical HR touchpoint.</p><p>This role performs as a significant player in the organization and works independently to ensure APAC standard process localizing in Japan successfully with supervision of APAC Ops Hub team and participate in Japan local communications with business leaders, employees &amp; HR teams intensively. This role offers the opportunity to shape Japan HR Ops from the ground up: lead a growing team, influence cross-functional ways of working, and contribute to Japan and APAC HR Ops best practices. If you thrive in a fast-paced, high-accountability environment and want to build a world-class HR Operations function in Japan, we want to hear from you.<br></p>

Job Responsibilities

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead, coach, and develop the Japan HR Operations team, including hiring, onboarding, performance management, and development planning for direct reports.

• Set team goals, priorities, and performance standards; conduct regular 1:1s, feedback, and performance reviews.

• Define the Japan HR Ops operating model, including local vs. APAC Ops Hub Team responsibilities, RACI, escalation paths, and service expectations.

• Own the Japan HR Ops roadmap and improvement agenda; balance day-to-day delivery with medium-term capability building.

• Report on service delivery, risks, compliance status, and improvement plans to HR Operations leadership.

End-to-End Employee Lifecycle Oversight

• Oversee Japan HR Ops delivery across onboarding, internal movements (reporting line, location, job changes), offboarding, attendance, leave, payroll and related lifecycle processes.

• Ensure the team executes accurately, compliantly, and with a seamless employee and manager experience; intervene on complex, high-risk, or escalated cases as needed.

• Partner with HRBP on policy interpretation, exceptions, and organization-related matters; align with Recruiting, C&B, Payroll, Legal, and Finance on handoffs and accountability.

• Monitor workload, SLA performance, and service quality; adjust resourcing and priorities based on business needs.

Process Governance, Standardization & Automation

• Govern process standards across Japan HR Ops, including process maps, SOPs, job aids, quality controls, and audit readiness.

• Lead process diagnostics, root cause analysis, and closed-loop remediation; prioritize improvements with the highest business and compliance impact.

• Partner with APAC Ops Hub Team and IT to prioritize automation, system enhancements, and AI-enabled efficiency improvements; ensure successful adoption by the local team.

• Establish KPIs, SLAs, dashboards, and management reporting to support data-driven decisions and leadership reviews.

Compliance, Risk & Policy Execution

• Ensure full compliance with Japanese labor laws, social insurance regulations, and internal policies across the function.

• Monitor regulatory changes and translate them into updated processes, controls, and team guidance in a timely manner.

• Lead internal audits and corrective actions; escalate material risks and ensure timely remediation of compliance gaps.

• Build compliance capability within the team through training, quality reviews, and clear accountability.

Cross-Functional Leadership & Stakeholder Management

• Serve as the primary HR Ops partner to Japan HRBP, Recruiting, C&B, Payroll, Legal, Finance, and business leaders.

• Lead alignment on complex, cross-functional matters; resolve conflicts and drive decisions on process, accountability, and timelines.

• Represent Japan HR Ops in senior stakeholder discussions; communicate clearly on risks, trade-offs, and recommended actions.

• Lead change management for process, system, and organizational transitions affecting the Japan HR Ops team and internal customers.

Vendor & Data Management

• Oversee external vendors supporting HR Ops processes (where applicable); define scope, SLAs, performance reviews, and corrective actions.

• Support vendor transitions and onboarding where required; ensure vendors operate within agreed governance and compliance standards.

• Ensure HR data accuracy, security, and audit trail across HRIS and related systems; govern access standards and data maintenance accountability.

Job Requirements

• Bachelor's degree or above in Human Resources, Labor Relations, Business Administration, or a related field.

• 8–10+ years of progressive HR Operations experience, including 3+ years in a people leadership, team lead, or senior process owner role.

• Deep expertise in Japan employee lifecycle operations, labor law, and social insurance; strong compliance mindset and proven risk management experience.

• Demonstrated success building, leading, and developing HR Ops or SSC teams in a multinational or high-growth environment.

• Strong process design, project management, and continuous improvement skills; experience driving automation and system-enabled transformation.

• Proficiency in HRIS (e.g., Workday, SAP SuccessFactors) and HR Ops tools; ability to partner with IT on requirements, testing, and adoption.

• Strong data analysis and reporting skills; advanced Excel and experience translating data into actionable insights for leadership.

• Excellent communication, influence, and stakeholder management skills; able to handle sensitive and complex situations with professionalism and judgment.

• Fluent in Japanese (native or near-native) and English (business fluent, written and spoken); additional APAC language skills are a plus.

• High sense of ownership, resilience, and attention to detail; thrives in fast-paced, ambiguous, and high-volume environments.

Why This Role

• Lead and build the Japan HR Operations function during a critical growth and transformation phase.

• Direct people management responsibility with the opportunity to shape team culture, capability, and performance.

• Define the local operating model and drive meaningful impact through operational excellence, automation, and compliance.

• High visibility with Japan HR leadership, HRBP, and cross-functional partners.

• Join a mission-driven company at the forefront of innovation.