VP, People Operations & Experience

abcfinancial; Ireland; On-site; EUR 180,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

ABC Fitness is seeking a Vice President, People Operations & Experience to shape how our global People function scales across operations, employee experience, Talent Management, and AI-enabled transformation.

This leader will partner with senior executives to simplify processes, enhance the manager experience, and drive growth with responsible AI and automation, building a high-performing People organization.

Qualifications

• Significant progressive People/HR leadership experience across operations or transformation.
• Depth in Talent Management, Learning & Development, and leadership development.
• Experience with HR technology, people analytics, workflow automation, or AI-enabled HR.
• Ability to redesign operating models and build scalable systems.

Responsibilities

• Define and lead a scalable People Operations and Experience roadmap.
• Establish operating models, governance, and metrics across People Operations and Experience.
• Build Talent Management, Learning & Development, succession, leadership development, manager enablement, and capability-building practices.
• Champion a technology-forward People operating model, including automation, AI-enabled workflows, people analytics, data governance, and self-service.
• Lead through senior functional leaders to grow enterprise-level People leaders.
• Partner with the CPO, HR Business Partners, IT, Finance, and Legal to connect People priorities to business outcomes.
• Strengthen employee service delivery through simplified processes and knowledge management.
• Integrate employee listening, culture activation, and change communications into broader People transformation work.
• Elevate People analytics to actionable workforce insights.

Skills

People leadership

Talent management

Learning & development

Leadership development

Manager enablement

Succession planning

HR technology

People analytics

Workflow automation

Digital transformation

AI-enabled HR

Change leadership

Executive partnership

Strategic influence

Tools

HR technology platforms

People analytics tools

Automation software

Job description

Join ABC Fitness and become part of a culture that's as ambitious as it is authentic. Let's transform the future of fitness-together!

Our Values

Best Life

We believe great work begins with great people. That's why our culture is built on respect, trust, and belonging. We create an inclusive environment where every team member can bring their authentic self to work-because diverse perspectives drive innovation and meaningful impact.

Growth Mindset

We are doers, thinkers, and dreamers. At ABC Fitness, your growth is our investment. Through continuous learning, mentorship, and professional development opportunities, we empower you to reach new heights-personally and professionally.

One Team

From day one, you'll be part of a team that collaborates, celebrates, and cares. We move fast, support one another, and have fun along the way. Because when you thrive, we all thrive.

ABC Fitness is seeking a Vice President, People Operations & Experience to help build the next generation of our global People operating model. Reporting to the Chief People Officer, this leader will shape how our People function scales across core operations, employee experience, Talent Management, Learning & Development, People Technology, analytics, AI enablement, and employee engagement.

This is not a traditional HR operations role. We are looking for a leader who can pair strong People Operations experience with real depth in Talent Management, leadership development, workforce capability building, and technology-enabled transformation. The right leader will help simplify how work gets done, strengthen the employee and manager experience, develop high-performing People leaders, and ensure ABC's People function is built for growth, agility, and the responsible use of AI and automation.

This role will lead through senior functional leaders across Total Rewards and HRIS, Workforce Relations and Employee Experience, People Technology and Analytics, Talent Management and Learning, and Employee Engagement and Communications.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

• Define and lead a scalable People Operations and Experience roadmap that supports ABC's business strategy, global growth, and evolving workforce needs.
• Establish clear operating models, decision rights, service standards, governance, and success metrics across People Operations and Experience.
• Build practical, enterprise-ready Talent Management, Learning & Development, succession, leadership development, manager enablement, and capability-building practices.
• Champion a technology-forward People operating model, including responsible use of automation, AI-enabled workflows, people analytics, data governance, and employee and manager self-service.
• Lead through strong functional leaders, helping Directors and Senior Directors grow from excellent operators into enterprise-level People leaders.
• Partner with the CPO, HR Business Partners, business leaders, IT, Finance, and Legal to connect People priorities to business outcomes, productivity, risk, employee experience, and organizational effectiveness.
• Strengthen employee and manager service delivery through simplified processes, clearer knowledge management, stronger support models, and measurable improvements in quality, speed, and experience.
• Integrate employee listening, internal communications, culture activation, and change communications into broader People transformation work.
• Elevate People analytics from reporting to actionable workforce insights that improve leadership decisions and organizational performance.

WHAT YOU'LL NEED

• Significant progressive People / HR leadership experience, including leadership of broad People Operations, Employee Experience, HR Operations, or HR transformation work.
• Demonstrated depth in Talent Management, Learning & Development, leadership development, manager enablement, succession planning, talent reviews, or workforce capability building.
• Meaningful experience with HR technology, people analytics, workflow automation, digital transformation, or AI-enabled HR practices.
• Experience redesigning operating models, simplifying processes and building scalable systems rather than only managing existing programs.
• Ability to lead through senior functional leaders by setting direction, clarifying ownership, developing leadership capability, and creating accountability without becoming the execution bottleneck.
• Strong executive partnership skills, with the ability to connect People investments to business outcomes, productivity, employee experience, risk and ROI.
• Change leadership experience in a complex, growing, global, PE-backed, technology, or transformation-oriented environment.
• Comfort operating through ambiguity, shifting priorities, direct feedback, and high expectations while building trust through judgment, transparency, and follow-through.

AND IT'S GREAT TO HAVE

• Experience in SaaS, software, payments, HR technology, professional services or another technology-enabled business.
• Experience working in a PE-backed, g