Sr HR Generalist

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Co.; Dublin; Hybrid; EUR 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH) is seeking a Senior HR Generalist, International to oversee HR operations and compliance for Ireland, Canada, India, the UAE, China and other locations. This role acts as the main point of contact for employees and managers, partnering with Payroll, Legal, and Talent teams to ensure accurate data, smooth processes and policy adherence.

The role combines lifecycle administration with advisory duties, including performance management and investigations, and may

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent HR experience required; CIPD Level 5 strongly preferred.
• CIPD Level 7 and training in Irish employment law and workplace investigations are desirable.
• Strong knowledge of Irish employment law, payroll, benefits and data protection.

Responsibilities

• Provide end-to-end operational HR support across the employee lifecycle, including onboarding and offboarding.
• Coordinate country-specific operational activities with internal stakeholders and external providers.
• Support payroll, benefits, leave administration and HR data accuracy.
• Conduct or support workplace investigations and performance management discussions.
• Advise employees and managers on policy interpretation and compliance.

Skills

HR experience

Employee relations

Investigations

Performance management

Cross-country compliance

Communication

Problem-solving

Education

Bachelor’s degree

CIPD Level 5

CIPD Level 7

Tools

SAP SuccessFactors

Excel

Job description

HMH is a learning technology company committed to delivering connected solutions that engage learners, empower educators and improve student outcomes. As a leading provider of K–12 core curriculum, supplemental and intervention solutions, and professional learning services, HMH partners with educators and school districts to uncover solutions that unlock students’ potential and extend teachers’ capabilities.

HMH serves more than 50 million students and 4 million educators in 150 countries. For more information, visit www.hmhco.com

Location: Hybrid - Dublin, Ireland (Tuesdays & Thursdays)

The Senior HR Generalist, International provides hands‑on HR operations, employee relations and compliance support across Ireland, Canada, India, the UAE, China and other international locations as needed. The role serves as a primary point of contact for employees and managers and partners with HR Business Partners, Payroll, Finance, Legal, Procurement, Talent Acquisition, and external providers.

This position combines employee lifecycle administration with employment advisory work, including performance management, workplace investigations, organizational change, country‑specific employment compliance, employer‑of‑record (EOR) oversight and contractor compliance. The role may also support U.S. employees and HR Operations processes/ projects as business needs require.

Primary Areas of Responsibility

HR Operations, Employee Lifecycle and Service Delivery

• Provide end-to-end operational support across the employee lifecycle, including onboarding/offboarding, probation, employee position changes, work authorizations, and leave administration.
• Maintain accurate employee data and records in Employee Central and other HR systems; process approved changes and ensure documentation is complete, confidential and retained in accordance with applicable requirements.
• Manage HR service requests and employee and manager inquiries within established service expectations, escalating policy, legal, data, system or higher‑risk matters as appropriate.
• Prepare employment letters, employee documentation, operational reports, and other materials required to deliver accurate and responsive HR service.
• Coordinate country‑specific operational activities with internal stakeholders and external providers, ensuring clear ownership, timely follow‑through and appropriate documentation.

Payroll, Benefits, Leave and Absence Administration

• Coordinate and validate HR-to-payroll inputs, approvals, exceptions and reconciliations, with particular responsibility for Ireland, in partnership with Payroll and Finance; support payroll audits and required reporting.
• Administer employee benefits and provider activities, including enrollments and changes, renewals, employee communications, records and issue resolution.
• Administer annual leave, carryover and holiday calendars and maintain applicable absence‑management systems, including employee setup, manager changes, balances, reporting and leaver closure.
• Coordinate maternity, paternity, parent’s, parental, adoptive, unpaid, sick and other leave processes, including forms, letters, schedules, trackers, statutory or social‑welfare documentation and payroll notifications.
• Monitor absence records and supporting documentation, complete required calculations and provide accurate payroll instructions for deductions or adjustments.

International Employment, EOR and Contractor Compliance

• Manage day‑to‑day HR compliance support for Ireland, Canada, the UAE and other assigned countries, helping ensure employee lifecycle practices, records, communications and HR processes align with applicable employment requirements, company standards, data‑protection obligations and guidance from Legal or local counsel.
• In partnership with the Employee Relations Director, conduct the review and maintenance of country‑specific employee handbooks, HR policies, templates, manager guidance and supporting procedures; coordinate updates resulting from legislative developments, legal advice, audit findings or business changes.
• Support governance of employees engaged through international employers of record, including coordination of onboarding and offboarding, required employment documentation,
• Monitor and support Contractor and Employer of Record (EOR) service delivery and compliance obligations in partnership with the HR Compliance & Vendor Mgmt. Manager, Legal, Procurement, Payroll, and Finance, including contract and country‑schedule requirements, statutory employment actions, documentation, data handling and issue remediation.
• Support contractor compliance across assigned international locations, including worker‑classification reviews, onboarding prerequisites, engagement documentation, required approvals, assignment changes, extensions and offboarding controls.

Employee Relations, Performance Management and Organizational Change

• Advise employees and managers on performance and capability matters, workplace conduct, attendance, policy interpretation and other employee relations concerns, adapting guidance to local requirements and established escalation protocols.
• Conduct or support workplace investigations and disciplinary and grievance processes, including planning, interviews, documentation, findings support, action tracking and case closure.
• Maintain clear and confidential case records, track actions and deadlines, and keep relevant HR partners informed of material issues and risk.
• Review themes from employee inquiries, casework and exit feedback and recommend improvements to manager guidance, training, policy or process.

Reporting, Controls and Continuous Improvement

• Prepare recurring and ad hoc HR reports and data submissions, including payroll, leave, headcount, audit, gender pay gap and statutory survey information.
• Maintain operational trackers and review data for completeness, deadlines, exceptions, and required actions.
• Monitor relevant employment‑law and regulatory developments for assigned countries and translate approved changes into practical updates to policies, templates, controls and manager guidance.
• Assess service demand and transactional work to simplify processes, strengthen controls, improve data quality, expand self‑service, automate repeatable activities, and transition routine work to scalable delivery channels.
• Partner with HR Operations, HR Technology, Payroll and other functions to standardize processes and create capacity for employee relations, compliance and advisory work.
• Provide operational HR support outside primary assigned countries, including the United States, and perform other duties aligned with the role’s scope.

What You’ll Need:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent HR experience required; CIPD Level 5 or equivalent qualification strongly preferred. CIPD Level 7 and training in Irish employment law and workplace investigations are highly desirable.
• At least 5 years of progressive HR experience, with strong expertise in employee relations, investigations, performance management, and multi‑country compliance. Canadian HR experience preferred. Experience with EOR/contingent workers, HR process automation, payroll, and benefits preferred.
• Strong knowledge of Irish employment law and HR practices, including employee relations, investigations, payroll, benefits, data protection, and employee lifecycle administration. EOR and contractor compliance experience preferred.
• Strong HR systems, reporting and data‑quality capability. Experience with SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central or a comparable HRIS, case or ticket management systems, absence‑management tools and Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, is desirable.
• Strong communication, organization, judgment, and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to manage sensitive employee matters, competing priorities, and cross‑functional partnerships.

HMH is fully committed to Equal Employment Opportunity and to attracting, retaining, developing and promoting the most qualified employees without discrimination because of race, religion, gender, civil status, family status, sexual orientation, disability, age, membership of the Traveller community or any other protected characteristic which may be established by law. We are dedicated to providing a work environment free from discrimination and harassment, and where employees are treated with respect and dignity

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