We are supporting a strategic search for a Talent Acquisition Partner to lead the recruitment function for a world-renowned authority in business standards and technical certification. This is a high-impact, urgent search to identify a sophisticated recruiter who can act as a bridge between regional leadership and the Japanese market, ensuring the firm maintains its legacy of excellence through top-tier human capital.

About the Role

In this role, you will serve as the primary architect of the talent acquisition strategy for Japan, reporting directly to the APAC Talent Acquisition Manager. You will be supported by a dedicated on-site coordinator and a recruitment contractor, tasked with transforming the local hiring model from a heavy reliance on external agencies to a proactive, high-performance internal sourcing engine.

The position offers a unique blend of strategic advisory and hands-on execution. As a trusted partner to senior leadership, you will move beyond mere "order taking" to consult on market trends and talent mapping. Your mission is to stabilize the local recruitment workflow while driving a culture of direct headhunting, particularly for specialized technical and advisory roles.

Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Stakeholder Management

• Lead as the subject matter expert for the Japan talent market, providing data-driven insights and market mapping to senior hiring managers and executive stakeholders.
• Partner with regional leadership in Shanghai and APAC to align local recruitment activities with global organizational goals.
• Architect a direct-sourcing strategy aimed at significantly reducing agency spend and increasing the quality of the internal talent pipeline.

Operational Excellence & Execution

• Drive the full recruitment lifecycle for approximately 30–40 high-value hires per year, ensuring a premium candidate experience from initial contact to onboarding.
• Manage recruitment data integrity and workflow optimization utilizing Workday (ATS) to ensure seamless reporting and process transparency.
• Coordinate daily operations with the local recruitment support team to maintain high velocity in the hiring funnel.

Brand Advocacy & Talent Attraction

• Transform the firm’s employer brand within Japan by leading virtual career talks, localized job fairs, and targeted marketing collaborations.
• Proactively "Hunt" for passive, niche talent in the B2B and engineering sectors, utilizing advanced headhunting techniques to secure specialists in a competitive landscape.

Requirements

• Experience: 10–15 years of professional recruitment experience, ideally within a B2B service, engineering, or technical certification environment.
• Stakeholder Management: Proven track record of navigating complex matrix organizations and influencing senior executive-level stakeholders.
• Technical Skills: High proficiency with Applicant Tracking Systems, with a strong preference for candidates experienced in Workday.
• Language: Native-level Japanese for internal business operations and professional-level English for regional reporting and collaboration.
• Mindset: A proactive, "hunter" mentality with the ability to work autonomously while remaining a collaborative member of a regional team.

Why Apply

• High Visibility: Take ownership of a critical market for a global leader, where your results will be directly recognized by regional executive leadership.
• Strategic Influence: Move away from administrative recruiting into a role where you are a genuine consultant and "trusted advisor" to the business.
• Organizational Impact: Play a pivotal role in the firm’s evolution by building the teams that uphold global business standards.
• Modern Work Culture: Enjoy a stable, professional environment that supports a healthy work-life balance through a structured hybrid working model.
• Career Legacy: Step into a role with high internal respect, replacing a long-tenured predecessor and putting your own stamp on the Japan recruitment function.