Head of HR Operations & Compliance

This is a key HR leadership role within a dynamic and growing international construction business, operating across Ireland, the UK and Europe.

The Head of HR Operations & Compliance will lead the delivery of a best-in-class people operations function, ensuring the organization has the people processes, governance, systems and compliance frameworks required to support continued growth, operational excellence and workforce mobility across multiple jurisdictions.

The role combines strategic oversight with operational delivery and will play a critical role in enabling the business to attract, retain, develop and deploy talent safely, efficiently and compliantly.

Duties and Responsibilities

General:

• Developing and implementing robust people policies, procedures and governance frameworks.
• Ensuring consistent HR service delivery across all business units and regions.
• Driving operational excellence and standardization while maintaining local compliance requirements.
• Support strategic recruitment, employment offers, workforce planning and the selection of appropriate employment structures across multiple countries.
• Leading and continuously improving HR operational processes across the company.
• Providing accurate workforce reporting, analytics and people insights to support strategic decision-making.

 Payroll, Compensation & Benefits:

• Providing governance and oversight of payroll practices across multiple countries.
• Ensuring compliance with social security, payroll and employment tax requirements.
• Managing employee benefit schemes including pensions, health insurances, life assurance and income protection.
• Supporting annual salary review and remuneration programs.
• Coordination of Fleet allocations.

International Mobility & Employment Compliance:

• Leading the company international mobility program.
• Managing employment structures for posted workers and internationally mobile team members.

• Act as the company representative for labour inspections, tax audits, social security reviews, regulatory investigations and engagement with external authorities (ad hoc or infrequent basis).

• Overseeing immigration, work permits, visas and right-to-work compliance.

• Support workforce budgeting, labour cost governance and forecasting activities, ensuring alignment between people strategy, operational needs and financial objectives.

• Providing compliance support to sub contractors and other key stakeholders.

HR Systems & People Analytics:

• Leading the continuous development of the company HRIS (BambooHR) and associated people systems.
• Driving data quality, reporting capability and workforce analytics.
• Ensuring HR systems effectively support managers and employees across the business.
• Identifying opportunities to automate, simplify and improve people processes.

Employee Relations & Workforce Compliance:

• Providing expert guidance to managers and leadership teams on employment law and individual case management.
• Monitoring legislative developments and ensuring ongoing compliance with employment laws and regulations across all operating jurisdictions.
• Leading the Group's employee relations agenda, ensuring fair, consistent and legally compliant management of disciplinary, grievance, absence and performance matters.
• Managing workforce compliance audits and corrective action programs.

Qualifications & Experience

Required

• Degree qualification in Human Resources, Business, Law or a related discipline.
• Minimum of 10 years experience in a senior HR Operations, Employee Relations or HR Business Partnering leadership role.
• Strong knowledge of employment law and workforce compliance.
• International mobility experience.
• Strong understanding of payroll governance, benefits administration and employment compliance.
• Experience implementing and managing HR technologies and people data initiatives.
• Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills.

Desirable

• Chartered CIPD qualification or equivalent.
• Construction, engineering, manufacturing or project-based industry experience.
• Experience supporting organisations operating across multiple European jurisdictions.
• Experience leading organisational change and integration projects.

People Responsibilities

Responsible for all aspects of leadership and people management within the HR Operations function (5 direct reports, within a HR team of 10 professionals), including:

• Developing, mentoring and coaching team members.
• Driving employee engagement and high-performance behaviours.
• Supporting career development and succession planning.
• Setting clear objectives and performance expectations.
• Creating a collaborative, inclusive and supportive working environment.
• Promoting a culture of continuous improvement, learning and operational excellence.