Head of HR

HRM Search Partners; Dublin; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

HRM Search Partners is seeking an experienced HR Manager for Ireland & EU to lead the people agenda, balancing hands-on delivery with strategic business partnering across multiple markets. The role oversees ~300 employees across two Irish locations within a global matrix environment.

Key duties include workforce planning, organisational design, talent management and ensuring compliance with Irish employment law across the region.

Qualifications

• Significant experience as an HR Manager or senior HR partner.
• Strong knowledge of Irish employment law and HR best practices.
• Experience in international, multi-country or matrix organisations.
• Experience scaling HR frameworks during growth or expansion.
• Proven business partnering capability with senior leaders.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end HR agenda for Ireland, ensuring compliant HR operations.
• Act as strategic HR Business Partner to a global division across markets.
• Partner with senior leaders on workforce planning, organisational design and change.
• Provide HR oversight across smaller and developing international markets.
• Support establishment and scaling of HR operations in new countries and local compliance.

Skills

HR leadership

Irish employment law

stakeholder management

talent management

workforce planning

change management

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR/Business/Law

Job description

Our client is a leading international engineering and infrastructure services organisation, supporting complex operations across multiple markets. As the business continues to grow, they are seeking to appoint an experienced HR Manager for Ireland & EU to lead the people agenda in Ireland while providing strategic HR partnership and oversight across a number of international markets.

The Role

This is a broad HR leadership position combining responsibility for the Irish business with strategic business partnering across a global division and HR support for smaller and emerging regions. The HR Manager will act as the senior HR lead for approximately 300 employees across two Irish locations, while working within a global matrix structure to support continued growth and organisational development.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Leading the end-to-end HR agenda for Ireland, ensuring effective HR operations and compliance with Irish employment legislation.
• Acting as a strategic HR Business Partner to a global business division, aligning people priorities with commercial and operational objectives.
• Partnering with senior leaders on workforce planning, organisational design, talent management, employee relations and organisational change.
• Providing HR oversight and support across a number of smaller and developing international markets.
• Supporting the establishment and scaling of HR operations in new countries, including policies, processes, contracts and local compliance frameworks.
• Coaching and advising leaders on performance management, employee relations and broader people leadership matters.
• Collaborating with HR colleagues internationally to support consistent implementation of global HR frameworks, policies and initiatives.
• Supporting talent and leadership capability, including workforce planning and hiring activity in partnership with Talent Acquisition.
• Establishing and managing external HR partners across areas including employment law, payroll and HR advisory services.
• Identifying opportunities to strengthen HR processes, governance and infrastructure as the organisation continues to scale.

The Person

The successful candidate will be an experienced and commercially minded HR leader who is comfortable balancing hands‑on operational delivery with strategic business partnering. They will bring strong Irish employment law expertise alongside the ability to operate effectively across different countries, cultures and levels of organisational maturity.

• Significant experience as an HR Manager, Senior HR Business Partner or in a comparable HR leadership position.
• Strong knowledge of Irish employment law and HR best practice.
• Experience operating within an international, multi-country or matrix organisation.
• Exposure to businesses undergoing growth, transformation or international expansion, with experience establishing or scaling HR frameworks.
• Strong business partnering capability, with the confidence to advise, coach and influence senior leaders.
• Experience supporting workforce planning, organisational design, talent management and organisational change.
• A pragmatic and hands‑on approach, with the ability to move effectively between strategic priorities and day‑to‑day HR matters.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to build relationships across geographically dispersed teams.
• Experience managing external HR vendors, employment law advisers and other specialist partners.
• A bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business, Law or a related discipline.

The Package

• Opportunity to take on a broad Irish and international HR leadership remit within a growing global organisation