At Blue Bottle, our mission is to connect the world to delicious coffee. From seed to cup, we elevate the craft of coffee in everything we do. We strive to build a better tomorrow by investing in what matters: a sustainable future for our people, the company, and our planet.

About the job:

Blue Bottle is writing a new chapter to the story and traditions of coffee, food, and hospitality, and the People team is helping us build the company and culture to do it. Blue Bottlers love our company, products, and mission - a great foundation from which to make Blue Bottle the place to start and pursue a career in world-class hospitality and delicious food & beverage. This position will report to the Sr. People Manager, Japan, work with Blue Bottle leaders as true business partners, and help employees in our facilities (Head Office, Cafes and Production) across Japan, do their best work by supporting a variety of processes and programs related to every aspect of the employee experience. We are building the next great company that everyone wants to work for, and this role is critical to pursuing that mission as we grow.

You will:

• Act as the first contact for the People Team, supporting both business leaders and employees.
• Strategic Partnering and appropriate advice and consultation for the Cafe leadership team in decision making and solving thorny employee issues and situations.
• Deliver appropriate coaching and developmental feedback to our Cafe leadership team and cafe team members.
• Find and establish ways to make every aspect of the employee lifecycle a great employee experience, from onboarding to off boarding and everything in between.
• Partner with function leadership to set and implement talent acquisition strategies and talent-sourcing programs to meet the business and operational needs of a complex organisation.
• Support cafe recruiter, oversee the entire TA process lifecycle for Cafes/Production, and execute and lead external hiring for critical positions (i.e. Cafe Leader) when necessary.
• As part of Talent/Organization management, incl. PDI Cycle management, Conduct to the development of People programs and processes such as succession planning, learning and development, recognition programs, etc.
• Deliver appropriate coaching and developmental feedback to Cafe leadership team and cafe team members.
• Ensure employee health and safety in the workplace (e.g. conduct stress check tests, health and safety committee meetings) and support mental health care in collaboration with industrial doctors.
• Lead employee engagement/retentions and partner, investigate, and resolve employee relations matters and investigations including workplace conflicts or allegations of policy and/or legal violations; work to ensure issues are properly identified, reported, investigated, and resolved.
• Managing company policy & procedure, advising and supporting employees on specific company policy and procedure questions.
• Internal Control/Compliance : Maintain regulatory and compliance practices.
• Collaborate with HQ counterparts and lead implementation as owner of several global HR projects.
• Draft, review, and update Employee Relations and People (HR) related communications.

You are:

• Able to combine great people intuition, business judgement, and discretion in your decision-making
• A deeply empathetic listener who people naturally trust and seek out for help or another perspective
• Collaborative and build trust-based relationships with executives, leaders, and employees
• Adept at recommendations to effectively resolve problems or issues; using judgement that is consistent with Blue Bottle culture as well as standards, practices, and/or employment law
• Comfortable with ambiguity, rapidly changing environments, and building from scratch
• An embodiment of the brand as both an excellent role model and a great partner, giving and receiving feedback, maximizing team members' abilities, and constantly encouraging further growth.
• A brand-builder who shapes and communicates powerfully effective company messages.

You have:

• 5+ years experience as an HR generalist or Business Partner, ideally in consumer retail, food/beverage, hospitality and/or production facilities
• Strong knowledge of labor/employment laws and practices, Japan-specific risk and HSE.
• Broad familiarity with general HR disciplines and best practices (i.e. TA, TD, C&B, OD) and ability to apply practices with judgment to specific situations
• Ability to communicate (reading, writing, and speaking) clearly and effectively in English and Japanese
• People management experience with at least one person, or experience leading a team
• Specific experience with employee relations and navigating difficult situations and conversations
• Superb judgement and integrity, including excellent decision-making skills and a bias to action
• Last but not least, a deep love for great coffee, food, and exceptional customer experience