Associate HRBP

Job Description:

Rakuten International is a division of Rakuten Group, Inc., a Japanese global technology leader in services that empower individuals, communities, businesses and society. Headquartered in San Mateo, California with more than 4,000 employees worldwide, the Rakuten International business portfolio includes market leaders in e-commerce, digital marketing, advertising, communications and entertainment. We create products and services that provide exceptional value by aligning members and the businesses that want to engage them in a shared community.

Rakuten Advertising provides advertising technology and consumer insights to the world's leading brands and retailers. Working with agencies and brands around the world, Rakuten Advertising unites technology, client strategy and consumer insights to deliver advertising experiences that drive increased brand awareness and marketing performance. With access to Rakuten's diverse media properties and audiences, combined with an award-winning performance network and proprietary consumer research, Rakuten Advertising creates the right conditions to reach new customers and sustain long-lasting loyalty.

Job Summary

We're looking for a proactive, adaptable HR professional to join our team for an 8-month maternity cover. This role combines local HR advisory responsibilities with HR business partner support, providing guidance to managers, supporting employees, and contributing to key HR projects. You'll be the go-to HR contact for France while helping drive global HR initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

FRANCE LOCAL HR ADVISOR

• Act as the first point of contact for French managers and employees on policies, processes, and day-to-day HR queries.
• Manage employee relations issues within France, providing guidance to managers and team leads to minimize risk.
• Supervise and implement CSE elections, update local policies, and maintain employee handbooks.
• Partner with the Mobility team to facilitate visa applications and oversee all active cases in France.
• Collaborate with Finance and HR Services to manage payroll and benefits processes.
• Maintain expertise in the HRIS, ensuring accurate data management, and proactively work with HRIS Team to resolve any inconsistencies.
• Take ownership of assigned administrative tasks, ensuring timely and accurate completion.

• Build trusted relationships with a global client group, supporting employees and managers across key employee lifecycle milestones, and escalating complex cases to Senior HR, Legal, or ER specialists as appropriate.
• Provide generalist HR support to enable strategic initiatives across multiple client groups in partnership with the HR Business Partners team.
• Collaborate with global colleagues in Talent Acquisition, Mobility, Total Rewards, and Learning & Development to address opportunities and challenges within your client group.
• Analyze HR data to identify trends and recommend solutions, programs, and policies.
• Support the Global HRBP team on ad-hoc projects, including payroll audits, Workday audits, training delivery, and after-action reviews.
• Take ownership of additional responsibilities as assigned.

• Minimum of 5 years' experience in a French HR environment, with a solid understanding of French employment law; knowledge of additional countries is a plus.
• Proven ability to manage employee relations issues independently, with sound judgment on when to escalate.
• Experience working in complex and/or global matrix organizations, with strong stakeholder management skills.
• Proficient in MS Office and other HR technologies; Workday experience is a plus.
• Prior experience partnering with Centers of Excellence (COEs) preferred.
• Fluency in English and French required.

• Quickly builds credibility and strong relationships across global teams, communicating confidently at all levels and fostering a positive, collaborative environment.
• Highly organized, proactive, and results-oriented, with excellent time management, attention to detail, and the ability to manage complex workloads independently.
• Resilient, adaptable, and committed to continuous learning, taking ownership and initiative to deliver high-quality outcomes while supporting team success.