Lead Employee Relations Specialist

McKesson; Cork; On-site; EUR 86,300 - 143,800; Full time

Job summary

McKesson is seeking a Lead Employee Relations Specialist to manage ER activities in Cork, Ireland. The role focuses on Ireland employment law, investigations, and complex employee relations matters in collaboration with HR, Legal, and Compliance.

You will lead investigations, advise People Leaders on disciplinary processes under Irish law, and interact with bodies such as WRC and Labour Court as required. This is a senior role requiring travel up to 25–30%.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required in HR, Business, Industrial Relations, Law, or related field.
• 6–8 years of progressive Employee Relations experience with significant investigation experience.
• Experience supporting Ireland-based employee populations is required.

Responsibilities

• Investigate and respond to internal employee complaints, external claims, and other sensitive ER matters, ensuring alignment with Irish employment legislation and company policy.
• Lead complex employee relations investigations including disciplinary and grievance matters.
• Provide guidance to People Leaders on disciplinary processes under Irish law and coaching on performance matters.
• Partner with Legal and Compliance to respond to WRC complaints, Labour Court matters, or potential litigation.

Skills

Ireland employment law

Investigation expertise

Stakeholder management

Communication

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor’s degree in HR, Business, IR, Law, or related field

6–8 years ER experience

Job description

McKesson is an impact-driven, Fortune 10 company that touches virtually every aspect of healthcare. We are known for delivering insights, products, and services that make quality care more accessible and affordable. Here, we focus on the health, happiness, and well-being of you and those we serve – we care.

What you do at McKesson matters. We foster a culture where you can grow, make an impact, and are empowered to bring new ideas. Together, we thrive as we shape the future of health for patients, our communities, and our people. If you want to be part of tomorrow’s health today, we want to hear from you.

Lead Employee Relations Specialist (Cork, Ireland)

Role Summary

Provides subject matter expertise for Employee Relations, Labor Relations, and Workforce Compliance issues to McKesson business leaders. Responsible for investigating and responding to internal and external complaints, supporting employment law compliance, and managing complex, high-risk or sensitive employee relations and labor relations matters. Partners closely with HR, Legal, Compliance, and business leaders to ensure fair, consistent, and compliant employment practices.

Reports to VP, Employee Relations

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as subject matter expert in employment law in Ireland, Employee Relations, Labor Relations, and Workforce Compliance practices in the European Union.
• Investigate and respond to internal employee complaints, external claims, and other sensitive ER matters, ensuring alignment with Irish employment legislation and company policy.
• Lead and manage complex employee relations investigations, including disciplinary, grievance, dignity at work, and workplace conduct matters.
• Provide consultation, guidance, and coaching to People Leaders on employee behavior, performance management, and application of disciplinary processes under Irish law.
• Partner with Legal and Compliance to respond to Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) complaints, Labour Court matters, and potential litigation.
• Lead labor relations activities under the direction of the VP, Labor Relations, including engagement with employee representative bodies such as works councils, employee forums, or trade unions where applicable.
• Ensure compliance with European Union and Irish employment legislation, including but not limited to:
  • Unfair Dismissals Acts
  • Employment Equality Acts
  • Organisation of Working Time Act
  • Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act
• Provide guidance on workforce compliance requirements, including statutory leave, working time, accommodations, and local regulatory obligations.
• Deliver training to managers and HR partners on employee relations, labor relations, and compliance topics relevant to the Ireland workforce.
• Maintain accurate and complete documentation within case management systems, including intake, investigation notes, and final reports.
• Identify trends and risks within the employee population and proactively recommend mitigation strategies to reduce risk and enhance employee experience.

Critical Knowledge & Competencies

• Deep knowledge of Ireland employment law and employee relations practices
• Labor relations and employee representative engagement
• Investigation expertise (complex, high-risk cases)
• Compliance and risk mitigation focus
• Influencing and stakeholder management
• Decisiveness and sound judgment
• Conflict management and resolution
• Credibility and executive presence
• Quality and detail orientation
• Strong written and verbal communication
• Problem solving and analytical thinking
• May be required to travel up to 25-30%

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree required (HR, Business, Industrial Relations, Law, or related field preferred)
• Minimum 6–8 years of progressive Employee Relations experience, including significant investigation experience
• Demonstrated experience supporting Ireland-based employee populations required
• Strong working knowledge of Irish employment law and regulatory environment required
• Experience managing Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) cases and/or Labour Court matters preferred
• Experience in labor relations or working with employee representative bodies preferred
• Experience supporting workforce compliance programs in Ireland (e.g., working time, leave, accommodations)
• Experience in a multinational or matrixed organization preferred

Career Level

IC-Professional-P5

Compensation & Benefits

Compensation and benefits will be aligned with local market practices in Ireland and may include base salary, annual bonus, and comprehensive benefits offerings designed to support employee well-being.

At McKesson, we care about the well-being of the patients and communities we serve, and that starts with caring for our people. That’s why we have a Total Rewards package that includes comprehensive benefits to support physical, mental, and financial well-being. Our Total Rewards offerings serve the different needs of our diverse employee population and ensure they are the healthiest versions of themselves.

As part of Total Rewards, we are proud to offer a competitive compensation package at McKesson. This is determined by several factors, including performance, experience and skills, equity, regular job market evaluations, and geographical markets. The pay range shown below is aligned with McKesson's pay philosophy, and pay will always be compliant with any applicable regulations. In addition to base pay, other compensation, such as an annual bonus or long-term incentive opportunities may be offered.

Our Base Pay Range for this position

€86,300 - €143,800