Director, People & Culture Korea

The Director, People & Culture, JSK plays a pivotal role in supporting the key priorities of the People & Culture (P&C) function within the Japan and South Korea Operating Unit (JSK). Operating as a strategic business partner, this role focuses on providing targeted P&C support to functions and/or geographies. The Director will also oversee and ensure end-to-end compliance of CCKC with all global and local policies, procedures and legislations, through close collaboration with broader P&C team members. 

Working closely with the VP, People & Culture, as well as other P&C leaders, this position will drive initiatives that balance strategic priorities with effective project delivery and stakeholder support, contributing to a cohesive and engaging employee experience across the organization. 

Key Responsibilities: 

• Strategic Business Partnering: Serve as a strategic business partner to functions/geographies, providing support on workforce planning, employee engagement, and organizational design aligned with business objectives. Partner with business leaders to identify trends, surface risks or barriers, and provide actionable solutions that promote team effectiveness and organizational growth. Partnered function at the time of hiring is Korea Franchise Operations, as well as being the first point of contact for all associates based in Korea. (Subject to change in time)  

• Guidance, Coaching and Representation: Act as a trusted advisor, offering insights and guidance on people strategies that align with both short-term and long-term business priorities. Partner with leaders to implement initiatives that strengthen leadership capabilities, improve team dynamics, and develop workforce skills. Effectively influence stakeholders within and beyond the function concerning policies, procedures, and practices. Represent P&C function in Korea vis-a-vis all internal & external stakeholders. Be the first point of contact for all Korea based associates, assess their needs, assist them on all local specific or ER matters that may benefit from in person / local language support, and/or guide them to respective function SBPs for everything else. 

• Championing Company Culture: Support the alignment of organizational values with business practices by driving culture-shaping efforts within client groups. Engage leaders in reinforcing behaviors that foster inclusion, collaboration, and employee well-being. 

• Change Management: Enable client groups to build readiness for organizational change by planning and delivering tailored solutions. Provide leaders with tools and strategies to manage transitions effectively and ensure teams are prepared for transformation. 

• Talent Management: Collaborate with COEs to implement effective recruitment, development, and Total Rewards strategies that meet functional needs. Build talent pipelines and ensure the alignment of performance management practices with regional priorities. 

• Global Collaboration: Align and collaborate with regional and global P&C leaders to integrate best practices and ensure consistency across initiatives when needed.  

• Lead P&C ABP Initiatives: Lead planning, delivery, and measurement of projects from the P&C Annual Business Plan, ensuring alignment with organizational objectives. Manage multi-functional programs and coordinate with cross-regional teams to deliver measurable results. Champion and execute enterprise-wide P&C initiatives within client groups, ensuring that business needs and OU priorities are seamlessly integrated. (Specific initiatives will be defined every year based on that year’s priorities and OU P&C team needs)  

• P&C Governance, Compliance and Operations: Ensure P&C operations comply with company policies, local regulations, and industry best practices in Korea. Leverage data and analytics to drive informed decision-making and measure the effectiveness and local compliance of P&C programs. Co-accountable for P&C services delivery for CCKC, working closely with our global Employee Experience Hub to drive a high-quality Associate Experience and fulfilling all regulatory requirements, including reporting and managing Labor audits by the local regulator. 

Qualifications & Requirements: 

• Education: Bachelor’s Degree and above 

• Experience: Minimum 10 years of experience in Human Resource Management, Organizational Development, or similar fields within a multinational organization.  

• Strong strategic and operational P&C capabilities, with demonstrated success not only in business partnering and P&C projects, but also in representing a certain function, legal entity and/or organizational unit. 

• Demonstrated ability to manage diverse and multiple stakeholders in a matrix and multicultural environment, working independently without immediate supervision on site. 

• Experience with human capital processes, including talent management, organizational design, change management, and leadership development. 

• Solid project management skills, with experience managing cross-functional initiatives and meeting clear deliverables. 

• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and influencing skills, with the ability to work effectively at all levels in the organization.  

• Korean language proficiency is required at a fluent level, with ability to interact with external officials.