Head of People & Culture

We are delighted to be partnering exclusively with a leading Financial Services organisation to recruit for their new Head of People & Culture. This role is instrumental in delivering a high-performing, inclusive culture and a people strategy that aligns with the broader business objectives, while ensuring compliance within a regulated financial services environment.

Hybrid Policy: 2 days in office, 3 days from home

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide strategic leadership across the People function to align people initiatives with business priorities.
• Lead the localisation of global HR strategies and frameworks to ensure relevance, compliance, and cultural fit within the Irish market.
• Manage complex organisational change including restructures, operating model design, and cultural transformation programmes.
• Oversee the implementation of a new HRIS platform, improving employee experience and enabling more data-driven decision-making.
• Align the People & Culture team structure and capabilities with business needs, ensuring agility and effective service delivery.
• Act as a key advisor to senior stakeholders, building influence and trust across all levels of the organisation.
• Drive the design and delivery of effective change management strategies that support transformation and employee engagement.
• Ensure all HR practices and processes comply with local employment legislation and financial services regulation.
• Lead the compensation and benefits strategy to maintain competitiveness, equity, and alignment with business goals.
• Oversee recruitment, workforce planning, and succession initiatives to ensure a future-ready workforce.
• Champion internal communications, wellbeing, and employee engagement strategies to create an inclusive and collaborative culture.
• Act as a senior escalation point for complex employee relations issues, delivering resolution and minimising risk.
• Use people analytics to inform leadership decision-making and monitor HR effectiveness.
• Manage the HR and facilities budgets, including headcount planning, payroll, and overheads.
• Oversee the facilities and office administration function, ensuring an efficient and professional working environment.
• Continuously review and optimise HR policies, procedures, and systems to enhance compliance, performance, and employee experience.
• Develop and implement a learning and development framework to support employee growth, leadership development, and capability building across the organisation.

Requirements:

• Degree-qualified, ideally in Human Resources, Business, or a related field.
• A recognised HR qualification or CIPD membership is preferred.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in a senior HR leadership role, ideally within a regulated or financial services environment.
• Proven experience in managing complex stakeholder groups and navigating matrix structures.
• Demonstrated ability to influence and build credibility with senior leadership and external partners.
• Strong strategic mindset with the ability to align people initiatives to business goals.
• Experience in leading large-scale change, HR transformation, and the implementation of new systems (e.g. HRIS).
• Excellent knowledge of Irish employment legislation and experience ensuring regulatory compliance.