People Operations Manager

Bus Éireann; Limerick; On-site; EUR 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Permanent contract

25 days annual leave

Pension scheme

Travel concession on CIE services

Residential travel on CIE services

Job summary

Bus Éireann is seeking an experienced People Operations Manager for the Limerick area. You will lead all people-related aspects of operations, ensuring alignment with the regional plan and delivering key performance metrics across drivers, supervisors, and support staff.

You will drive workforce planning, safeguard HR policy compliance, and partner with the Service Delivery Manager to achieve excellent service delivery.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated track record in managing people in an operations environment.
• Experienced leading complex change initiatives from idea to implementation.
• Knowledge of relevant people policies and ER/IR changes.
• 3–5 years relevant experience.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain the service delivery workforce plan for Limerick in collaboration with HR teams.
• Actively manage driver availability and attendance to meet service requirements.
• Ensure attendance management processes and Return to Work interviews are followed.
• Lead employee engagement strategy and initiatives (GEMS, Have Your Say, Bright Ideas).
• Investigate employee and disciplinary matters in a fair, transparent manner.
• Lead Operations change opportunities including technology, process improvements and workforce management.
• Address employee concerns promptly using an open-door policy; escalate when needed.
• Model performance management and conduct regular 1:1s with direct reports; manage probationary processes.

Skills

People management

Operations leadership

Attendance management

Workforce planning

Employee engagement

Change management

Budgeting

Facilities management

Job description

Bus Eireann is seeking an experienced and proactive People Operations Manager to join our Limerick Area Management Team. In this key leadership role, you will support the delivery of our Road Passenger Services in the Limerick region, ensuring a high quality of performance across all staff including drivers, supervisors, clerical and support functions.

As a People Operations Manager, you will be required to lead and oversee all people related aspects of operations in Limerick, ensuring its alignment with the Regional Operations plan and achieving our key performance metrics while also being compliant with HR Policies and procedures.

You will collaborate and work in close partnership with our Service Delivery Manager to achieve excellence in service delivery for our customers through operational performance and strong people management across the area. Priority responsibilities will include driving employee engagement, leading workforce planning activities and ensuring adherence to key HR policies such as attendance, Dignity & Respect and Safety Management.

Reporting to the Senior Operations Manager, West, you will work closely with the broader regional operations team in a very high-paced, challenging and dynamic operating industry. The role offers the opportunity to lead and shape a positive, productive and high performing work environment.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Develop and maintain an understanding of the service delivery requirements of Limerick and ensure the workforce plan is managed to meet them. This means planning to maintain workforce requirements and collaborating with central and local HR teams in recruitment and selection.
• Actively manage driver availability including effective management of attendance, planned and unplanned to ensure service delivery requirements are met.
• Ensure compliance with the attendance management process including 'Return to Work' interviews.
• Take a leadership role in the employee engagement strategy for the team, identifying, and implementing key initiatives to support creating a great place to work.
• Champion opportunities for employee participation and recognition such as GEMS, Have Your Say, Bright Ideas.
• As a subject matter expert, ensure all employee and disciplinary matters are fully investigated in a fair and transparent manner, consistent with the agreed procedures.
• Act as a change agent in identifying and leading on Operations change opportunities including use of technology, business process improvements, team performance and workforce management.
• Using an open-door policy, ensure all employee concerns / matters are addressed promptly and fairly, and escalated if necessary.
• Role model good performance management by adopting a fair and consistent approach in performance management discussions (GPS) with all direct reports. Hold regular 1:1 meetings, providing constructive and timely feedback allowing the best opportunity for success. Manage the employee probationary process in line with policy, including for drivers.
• Ensure all expenditure including overtime is managed within budget, with approval process in place.
• Ensure full compliance with the Company cash management policy, to include any driver shorts and overs.
• Responsible for Facility Management in Limerick to provide the best possible working environment for colleagues.
• As a member of the Regional Operations Management team role model the Bus Éireann values, acting as an ambassador for Bus Éireann in local and regional interactions.

KEY SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE

• Demonstrated track record in managing people, preferably within an Operations environment with good people management practices.
• Proven ability to prioritise and plan, managing complex data sets and putting in place the business processes to deliver on the plan.
• Detailed knowledge of relevant people policies and procedures and keeps current with ER/IR changes.
• Strong business acumen, understanding the fundamentals of business and financial performance.
• Proven experience of leading increasingly complex change initiatives from idea through to implementation.
• Knowledge of relevant Regulations and demonstrated experience in leading compliance.
• 3 – 5 years relevant experience.

Joining Bus Éireann means becoming part of a respected national transport company that plays a vital role in connecting communities across Ireland. We are committed to supporting our employees through competitive pay, professional development opportunities, and a positive work environment that encourages career progression and work-life balance. As part of our commitment to employee well-being and long-term career development, we offer a comprehensive range of benefits.

BENEFITS:

• Contract: Permanent
• Annual leave: 25 days increasing to 28 after 5 years’ service
• Subsidised GP Scheme for yourself, your partner and dependents up to age of 16
• Travel concession on CIE services for yourself and dependents
• Residential travel on CIE services to and from workplace
• Pension Scheme
• Welfare Scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme

Bus Éireann is proud to be an equal opportunities employer, committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone can achieve their potential.