Sumitomo Mitsui Banking - Director - HR Business Partner

Company Overview:

Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) is one of the largest global financial institutions, headquartered in Tokyo with a robust presence across the Asia-Pacific region, the Americas, and Europe. Operating as a core member of Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, the bank provides a comprehensive range of financial services, including corporate banking, investment banking, and treasury solutions. With a legacy spanning centuries, SMBC combines traditional Japanese banking values with modern, agile financial strategies to support multinational corporations, financial institutions, and government entities worldwide. The Mumbai office serves as a critical hub for the bank's expanding operations in India, fostering a culture of professional excellence, cross-border collaboration, and long-term value creation.

Role Overview:

The Director - HRBP will serve as a strategic partner to the leadership team in Mumbai, acting as the primary bridge between business objectives and human capital initiatives. This role involves navigating complex organizational structures to drive talent strategy, organizational design, and employee engagement. You will work closely with senior stakeholders to translate business challenges into actionable HR solutions, ensuring that the workforce is aligned with the bank's global standards and local regulatory requirements. By leveraging data-driven insights and deep functional expertise, you will shape the culture and operational efficiency of the bank, directly influencing the growth trajectory of the India franchise.

Key Responsibilities:

• Partner with business heads to design and implement talent management frameworks that identify and nurture high-potential leaders to ensure a robust succession pipeline.
• Oversee the end-to-end compensation and benefits strategy, ensuring market competitiveness and internal equity while adhering to global banking compliance standards.
• Lead large-scale HR transformation projects to modernize internal processes, improve operational agility, and enhance the overall employee experience.
• Utilize HR analytics to provide actionable insights on attrition, productivity, and workforce planning, enabling leadership to make informed, data-backed decisions.
• Manage complex employee relations and organizational change initiatives to maintain a high-performance culture that aligns with SMBC's global values.
• Collaborate with regional and global HR counterparts to harmonize local practices with international policies, ensuring seamless integration across the bank's global network.

Required Skillset:

• Demonstrated ability to act as a trusted advisor to senior leadership, with the capacity to influence decision-making in a high-stakes corporate banking environment.
• Expert-level proficiency in managing total rewards and compensation structures within the financial services sector, including knowledge of regulatory frameworks.
• Strong analytical mindset with the ability to translate complex HR data into strategic narratives that drive business outcomes.
• Proven track record of leading organizational transformation and change management initiatives in large, matrixed organizations.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to navigate diverse stakeholder groups and foster a culture of transparency and collaboration.
• A Master's degree in Human Resources or a related field from a premier institute is preferred, complemented by 15-20 years of progressive experience in HR business partnering.
• Ability to thrive in an on-site work environment in Mumbai, demonstrating adaptability to the fast-paced demands of a global financial institution.