Director, HR Business Partner - HDD Technology Business

Job Content

As an HR Business Partner, you will provide strategic people consultation across the HDD – Technology business function for Hard Disk Drives (HDD) in Japan. This role will own and drive the Site General Manager’s talent strategy - translating business plans into talent, engagement, and organization plans. You will also partner with the business and HR Centers of Excellence to deliver on the internal HR strategy. The role will need to lead cross-functionally to design and deliver programs.

As an HR Business Partner, you will provide strategic human resource consulting at the Hard Disk Drive (HDD) development base in Japan, leading and promoting the site General Manager's talent strategy. You will also collaborate cross-functionally with various development and management departments and HR Centers of Excellence (CoE) to implement the internal HR strategy.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Act as a talent strategist, trusted advisor, and leadership coach to senior executive leaders.

• Own and drive the function’s talent strategy in alignment with the business strategy, engaging as a trusted advisor and strategic consultant to senior leaders and site General Managers.
• Diagnose workforce needs and gaps with a data-driven approach to inform priorities related to workforce planning, organization design, culture, succession planning and leader development.
• Build strong relationships with senior executive leaders and General Managers, coaching and influencing them along our technology transformation.
• Maintain a pulse on the employee experience through engagement data and regular formal and informal listening sessions to inform action plans with leaders.
• Respond as needed to global or local crises affecting Western Digital employees, act as an early warning signal for executives and the HR leadership team.

Influence design and drive adoption of enterprise-wide strategic talent programs.

• Act as a steward of the Human Resources functional strategy and operating model.
• Drive the enterprise-wide integrated talent management programs such as goal setting, performance feedback, development conversations and rewards within the aligned functions.
• Participate in cross-functional working teams on talent programs, serving as the voice of the business and bringing insights from external industry trends into the discussions.
• Amplify and embed a focus on inclusion across lifecycle of talent programs.
• Operate with a solution-oriented and enterprise mindset, collaborating with various Centers of Excellence to optimize the business value of the HR function.

Provide HR leadership to cross-functional business needs and HR team on the ground.

• Keep a pulse on local business needs, strategically triaging to mobilize the right HR teams for speedy resolution and in alignment with global practices where needed.
• Represent needs of the site to the HR Centers of Excellence as they design and launch programs.
• Integrate local talent strategies into global functional people strategy and vice-versa by working with the Lead HR Business Partners where needed.
• Advocate for adoption of global HR programs in partnership with local Leader Support teams to adapt go-to-market plans as needed.
• Represent HR in critical internal and external stakeholder meetings or conferences, as needed.
• Engage with local HR teams supporting / advocating for their overall experience and growth.

Qualifications

Required Experience, Qualifications, Skills:

• Bachelor's Degree or equivalent. (Master's degree or relevant certification preferred)
• Approximately 10-12 years of experience in Human Resources (especially HR consulting, CoE, HRBP, etc.)
• Understanding and experience with Japanese business practices and labor laws.
• Japanese: Business level or higher
• English: Business level or higher
• Also, those with the following achievements, experience, and abilities:
• Inclusive leadership with an emphasis on developing high-performing teams.
• Proven track record of engaging stakeholders to lead strategic initiatives.
• Understanding of competitor landscape, industry, and internal operations within technology development companies and manufacturing.
• Global mindset (experience working in a global environment preferred).
• Consulting mindset.
• Driving transformation and change to help the company and employees embrace change positively.
• Strategic prioritization for the company, considering the balance with departmental needs.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and collaboration skills.
• Bachelor's Degree or equivalent with Master's degree or relevant certification preferred
• 10-12 years of experience in Human Resources (in HR consulting, Centers of Excellence or HR Business Partner roles)
• Knowledge and experience in Japanese business practices and labor laws.
• Language proficiency: Business-level English and Japanese.
• Demonstrates inclusive leadership with an emphasis on leading with curiosity, results-orientation, accountability and developing high performing team.
• Proven record of influencing senior executive stakeholders to lead strategic initiatives.
• Understands competitor landscape, industry dynamics and internal operations within hardware technology and manufacturing.
• Leads with a global mindset; experience working globally preferred.
• Operates with a consultative mindset, leveraging data to conduct diagnostics and deliver compelling insights for effective decision-making.
• Leads systematically through transformation and change by helping the company and individuals embrace change to positively shape the future.
• Strong sense of strategic prioritization to deliver enterprise-level priorities while balancing with the more unique functional needs.
• Approaches problems from a whole systems perspective identifying interdependencies and understanding the systemic consequences of decisions.
• Excellent communication, presentation and collaboration skills