People Director

Cobalt Search; Dublin; Hybrid; EUR 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Cobalt Search is seeking a senior People Director to lead a major transformation from its Dublin base, overseeing HR, industrial and employee relations, talent, learning and inclusion for ~750 staff.

You will shape strategy, systems and leadership capability to deliver a consistent, compliant and high-performing employee experience across a complex organisation.

Qualifications

• Significant senior HR leadership experience within a complex, operational organisation.
• Proven track record delivering organisational change and cultural transformation.
• Experience auditing existing practices and translating findings into a clear, deliverable strategy.
• Broad expertise across the full employee lifecycle: workforce planning, talent, learning, employee relations and inclusion.
• Strong understanding of Irish employment law and industrial relations.
• Experience working in a unionised environment.
• Resilience and ability to lead long-term transformation while managing day-to-day operations.

Responsibilities

• 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, fostering effective partnerships with recognised employee representatives and supporting organisational change.
• Leading and developing the People team to ensure it is fit for the future.
• Using people insight to drive best practice decision making, and measuring progress.
• Contributing to business strategy and organisational performance as a member of the Executive Team.

Skills

Senior HR leadership

Organisational change

Irish employment law

Industrial relations

Unionised environment experience

HR strategy & governance

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR or related field

Tools

HR systems

Workforce planning tools

Job description

Have you led a major organisational transformation before? 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, operationally critical 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, providing 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, operational business
• The scope to create a more consistent employee experience
• 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, fostering effective partnerships with recognised employee representatives and supporting organisational change.
• Leading and developing the People team to ensure it is fit for the future.
• Using people insight to drive best practice decision making, and measuring 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
• 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
• Experience working successfully within a unionised environment
• 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 24/7 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.