Director of HR - Japan

Director, Human Resources – Japan/APJ

Location: Tokyo, Japan (Hybrid)

About Black Duck

Black Duck meets organizations wherever they are in their security journey, helping them build trust in software through application security testing (AST) solutions that provide visibility, insight, and control across the software development lifecycle. Our solutions help customers identify and manage security, quality, and compliance risks so they can innovate with confidence.

As we continue to grow across the Asia Pacific region, we are seeking an experienced HR leader to serve as a strategic partner to business leadership and help drive our people strategy in Japan and the broader APJ region.

The Opportunity

The Director, Human Resources – Japan/APJ is a strategic and hands-on HR leader responsible for partnering with regional business leaders and global HR stakeholders to deliver people solutions that support business growth, organizational effectiveness, and employee engagement.

This role serves as a trusted advisor to leaders across Japan and the Asia Pacific region, providing guidance on talent strategy, workforce planning, organizational design, employee relations, leadership development, and HR compliance. The ideal candidate brings deep knowledge of Japanese employment practices, strong business acumen, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, global technology environment.

What You'll Do

Strategic Business Partnership

• Partner with business leaders to align people strategies with organizational objectives and growth plans.
• Provide guidance on organizational design, workforce planning, leadership effectiveness, and change management initiatives.
• Act as a trusted advisor to leaders on talent and people-related decisions.

Talent Management & Leadership Development

• Drive talent review, succession planning, and employee development initiatives.
• Collaborate with leaders to identify critical talent needs and retention strategies.
• Coach managers on performance management, career development, and leadership best practices.

Employee Relations & Compliance

• Advise leaders on employee relations matters, investigations, performance concerns, disciplinary actions, and separations.
• Ensure compliance with Japanese labor regulations and local employment requirements.
• Partner with Legal and HR stakeholders to effectively manage workplace issues and mitigate risk.

Performance & Organizational Effectiveness

• Support annual performance management processes, goal-setting, calibration discussions, and development planning.
• Coach managers through performance improvement and accountability conversations.
• Help build a high-performance culture focused on engagement, development, and results.

Regional HR Program Execution

• Partner with global HR Centers of Excellence to implement compensation, talent, engagement, and organizational programs.
• Ensure global initiatives are effectively localized and compliant with regional employment practices.
• Support business transformation and organizational change efforts across the region.

Culture & Employee Experience

• Champion a positive, inclusive, and employee-focused culture.
• Leverage employee feedback and engagement data to identify opportunities and drive meaningful action.
• Promote a workplace environment that encourages collaboration, innovation, and accountability.

Data, Analytics & Governance

• Utilize workforce insights and HR metrics to identify trends, inform business decisions, and improve organizational effectiveness.
• Partner with HR Operations, Payroll, Talent Acquisition, Total Rewards, and Legal teams to ensure effective execution across the employee lifecycle.
• Maintain high standards of data integrity, process excellence, and governance.

What You'll Bring

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field.
• 10+ years of progressive HR experience, including senior HR Business Partner or HR leadership experience.
• Strong knowledge of Japanese labor laws, employment practices, employee relations, and HR compliance requirements.
• Experience supporting business leaders within a global, matrixed organization.
• Demonstrated ability to influence and coach leaders at multiple levels of the organization.
• Strong business acumen with the ability to balance strategic thinking and operational execution.
• Excellent communication, relationship-building, and stakeholder management skills.
• Professional fluency in Japanese and strong business-level English communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting organizations across the broader Asia Pacific region.
• Background in software, cybersecurity, SaaS, technology, or other high-growth global industries.
• Experience leading organizational change and transformation initiatives.
• Strong analytical capabilities with the ability to leverage workforce data and insights to influence decision-making.
• High emotional intelligence, cultural awareness, and a collaborative, solutions-oriented approach.

Why Black Duck?

At Black Duck, you'll have the opportunity to help shape the employee experience and influence the growth of a global organization operating at the forefront of software security. You'll work alongside talented colleagues around the world while driving meaningful people initiatives that support our employees and business success across Japan and APJ.