Human Resources Director

Cobalt Search; Dublin; On-site; EUR 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Cobalt Search in Dublin is seeking a senior People Director to lead a major transformation across a large safety-critical, highly regulated operation. You will provide strategic oversight of HR, industrial relations, talent and development, and inclusion, across approximately 750 employees.

The role will require balancing business needs with a large, unionised workforce, driving long-term change, and partnering with executive teammates to shape culture and system improvements.

Qualifications

• Significant senior HR leadership experience within a complex, operational organisation.
• Experience in safety-critical and highly regulated environments.
• Strong track record in industrial relations and working with trade unions.

Responsibilities

• Developing and delivering the People strategy to support organisational transformation and cultural change.
• Reviewing and updating people systems, processes, compliance and management practices.
• Leading strategic HR, including workforce planning, talent, learning, employee and industrial relations, and inclusion.
• Building a proactive industrial relations approach and fostering partnerships with trade unions.

Skills

Senior HR leadership

Industrial relations

People strategy

Organisational transformation

Union relationships

Job description

Have you led a major organisational transformation within a safety-critical, highly regulated environment? Do you thrive on bringing together different teams, different ways of working and different cultures into one high-performing organisation?

Our client operates a large, complex, safety-critical and highly regulated organisation and is entering a significant period of organisational and cultural transformation.

Several previously separate operations now sit within one organisation, but different systems, processes and management practices remain. The successful People Director will assess the current environment, identify opportunities for improvement, and develop a clear strategy to create a more consistent, compliant and high-performing organisation.

Alongside this transformation, you will lead a People function supporting approximately 750 employees, including a significant blue-collar operational workforce within a heavily unionised environment. You will provide strategic oversight across HR, industrial and employee relations, talent acquisition, learning and development, organisational capability, and inclusion.

What's in it for you

• The opportunity to lead a major people and cultural transformation
• A highly influential Executive Team role within a complex, safety-critical and regulated operational business
• The scope to create a more consistent employee experience across a diverse operational workforce
• The chance to build the systems, leadership capability and culture that will support the organisation's future

You'll be responsible for

• Developing and delivering the People strategy to support organisational transformation and cultural change.
• Reviewing and, where required, updating people systems, processes, compliance and management practices.
• Leading strategic HR, including workforce planning, talent, learning, employee and industrial relations, and inclusion.
• Building a proactive industrial relations approach and fostering effective partnerships with recognised trade unions and employee representatives to support organisational change.
• Providing strategic people leadership across a predominantly operational environment, balancing the needs of the business with those of a large, unionised workforce.
• Leading and developing the People team to ensure it is fit for the future.
• Using people insight to drive best-practice decision-making and measure progress.
• Contributing to business strategy and organisational performance as a member of the Executive Team.

You'll need

• Significant senior HR leadership experience within a complex, operational organisation.
• Experience working within a safety-critical and highly regulated environment.
• Strong experience supporting a blue-collar, operational workforce, ideally within a 24/7 environment.
• Substantial experience operating within a heavily unionised environment, with a strong track record in industrial relations and working constructively with trade unions.
• A strong record of delivering organisational change, transition or cultural transformation.
• Experience auditing existing practices and translating findings into a clear, deliverable strategy.
• Broad expertise across the full employee lifecycle, including workforce planning, talent, learning, employee relations and organisational development.
• A strong understanding of Irish employment law and industrial relations
• Resilience, sound judgement and the ability to lead long-term transformation while managing an active day-to-day function.

Location

This role is based in Dublin and requires regular presence across the wider operational network. Homeworking is limited to a maximum of one day per week, and occasional flexibility will be needed to support a 24/9 operation.

Our client is committed to creating an inclusive workplace and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates. Every application will be reviewed by a real person and responded to.