People Operations Manager

Role overview

This role sits within a family-owned construction business with a global footprint, focused on delivering dependable outcomes, strong value and innovative approaches across its projects. The organisation is looking for a People Operations Manager who can operate confidently in a complex environment spanning multiple countries, and who can lead HR service delivery across Ireland, the UK and Europe.

You will guide a capable team across several locations and ensure the People function runs smoothly, remains compliant, and delivers a positive employee experience. The position is strongly hands-on and combines people leadership, process refinement and evidence-based decision-making to improve the full employee journey.

This is a hybrid position requiring three days each week at the Citywest HQ, along with regular travel to the UK approximately every two weeks.

Key responsibilities

• Lead, coach and develop the People Operations team across Ireland and the UK.
• Work closely with People Business Partners and other internal stakeholders so operational HR support aligns with wider people strategy.
• Strengthen operational resilience through cross-training, flexible support arrangements and proactive planning of workload.
• Ensure adherence to employment legislation, GDPR and changing EU requirements across several jurisdictions.
• Maintain HR and payroll data that is accurate, complete and ready for audit, while improving the quality of reporting.
• Keep HR systems, checks and procedural records robust and up to date.
• Drive standardisation, simplification and automation of HR processes to improve service quality.
• Use data to spot inefficiencies, correct issues and put preventative controls in place.
• Improve digital HR tools and workflows so they are scalable and easy to use.
• Oversee onboarding, offboarding, rewards administration and other lifecycle processes with attention to both compliance and engagement.
• Support employee relations matters and provide accessible HR support to a dispersed workforce.
• Promote a culture of accountability, responsiveness and service excellence within the People team.

Experience and qualifications

To be successful, you should bring at least 5 years’ experience leading an HR operations team in a multi-site, multi-jurisdiction setting. The role calls for a strong background in HR service delivery, process improvement and data quality, plus working knowledge of HR systems, reporting, payroll data flows and compliance requirements across Ireland, the UK or Europe.

You should also be comfortable influencing stakeholders and driving operational performance. Experience from construction, engineering or similarly complex professional services environments would be an advantage. Additional exposure to continuous improvement methods, process mapping, RACI models, or large-scale HRIS/payroll transformation programmes would be beneficial.

Academically, the role requires a degree in HR, Business or a related discipline at NFQ Level 8 or equivalent, along with CIPD Level 7 or a postgraduate HR qualification. Certifications in Lean, Six Sigma, process improvement or continuous improvement are desirable, as is training in employment law, GDPR/data protection or HR analytics.

Additional information

• Competitive salary package.
• 26 days of annual leave plus extra company days.
• Pension and benefits package.
• Unlimited learning and development opportunities.
• Other benefits also apply.

Recruitment and equal opportunity information

All vacancies are handled directly by the internal recruitment team. Applications from unapproved agencies or speculative CV submissions will not be accepted, and no introductory fees will be paid.

The employer is committed to equal opportunity and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, disability, age, sexual orientation, religion or any other protected characteristic. Reasonable adjustments can be provided during the recruitment process.

Candidates are encouraged to apply even if they do not meet every requirement, as skills and potential are valued. Recruitment materials are prepared in line with legal and regulatory obligations, including the EU Pay Transparency Directive and the Equality Acts in the UK and Ireland.