HR Offboarding Professional Japanese Language Specialist

Overview

IBM HR Operations is seeking a dedicated and detail-focused Japanese Language Specialist to become a vital part of our Global Offboarding team based in Bengaluru. This position entails managing the complete employee separation process for IBM's Japan and wider APJ workforce, acting as the primary Japanese-language liaison for departing employees, HR Business Partners, and local People Managers.

This role emphasizes trust and service delivery, merging language proficiency with rigorous process management. You will oversee separations from the initiation phase through to the Full and Final Settlement (FFS) closure, ensuring that each exit is executed with precision, compliance, and empathy—upholding IBM's dedication to a positive employee experience throughout the employment lifecycle.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee comprehensive offboarding transactions for Japan and APJ employees in SuccessFactors, including resignations, retirements, contract endings, and involuntary separations
• Act as the Japanese-language contact for employees, HRBPs, and line managers during the exit process—addressing inquiries via case management tools in both Japanese and English
• Collaborate with Payroll, Benefits, IT, Facilities, and Legal teams to ensure timely completion of exit checklists (asset recovery, access revocation, badge deactivation, FFS processing)
• Ensure data accuracy on all separation records pre- and post-transaction; proactively identify and escalate discrepancies or exceptions
• Manage Japan-specific compliance regulations including documentation standards, statutory notice periods, and region-specific FFS elements (e.g., retirement allowance, health insurance continuation)
• Assist the APJ team during high-volume periods and provide Japanese-language review of offboarding communications, letters, and process documentation
• Contribute to SLA reporting, NPS/CSAT tracking, and continuous improvement efforts within the Global Offboarding function
  
  

Preferred Education

Master's Degree

Essential Technical and Professional Qualifications

• Business-level Japanese proficiency (JLPT N2 or higher, or equivalent demonstrated fluency in a professional environment)
• 3–5 years of experience in HR Operations or general Operations, Shared Services, or employee lifecycle/offboarding processes
• Familiarity with HRIS platforms—SuccessFactors experience is highly preferred
• Knowledge of Japan HR/labour regulations, including separation documentation, notice periods, and retirement processing
• Strong focus on data accuracy, capable of managing high-volume transactions without errors
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in both Japanese and English
• Graduate degree in HR, Business Administration, or a related field
  
  

Desirable Technical and Professional Experience

• JLPT N2 certification or native proficiency in Japanese
• Experience within a Global Business Services (GBS) or Shared Services Centre environment supporting APJ regions
• Practical experience with ServiceNow or similar case management/ticketing systems
• Background in handling sensitive separation scenarios (PIP exits, redundancies, retirement cases) with a proven ability to manage these situations discreetly and empathetically
• Proficiency in Excel/Google Sheets for SLA monitoring; experience with data handling, analytics, and reporting
• Familiarity with APJ and EMEA separation processes is an additional advantage
• Problem-solving skills, a growth-oriented mindset, and the ability to work with AI tools (e.g., Microsoft Copilot and other LLM tools) are advantageous.