Interim Head of HR

Role Overview

The HR Director is a strategic leader responsible for shaping and executing the human resources agenda to support business objectives. This role will oversee the people strategy for the Irish operations of a financial services organization, ensuring alignment with both local and group-level goals. The HR Director is also a key player in fostering a high-performing, inclusive workplace culture across the organization.

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic Leadership & People Agenda

• Act as a trusted advisor to the Executive Committee (ExCom), proactively influencing the people strategy to drive business growth.
• Develop and deliver scalable HR strategies and annual plans, clearly communicated and aligned with organizational goals.
• Lead organizational design and structure refinement to support innovation and operational efficiency.
• Ensure a robust approach to talent management, succession planning, and resource planning.

2. Employee Engagement & Culture

• Champion a positive and inclusive workplace culture, both internally and within the broader community.
• Deliver an employee engagement and internal communication strategy, empowering staff to influence the organization’s direction.
• Drive initiatives to enhance leadership effectiveness and employee development.

3. HR Operations & Risk Management

• Provide strategic oversight of HR services and compliance with Irish employment legislation, including the Irish Individual Accountability Framework (IAF).
• Partner with group-level HR to ensure alignment with broader organizational frameworks.
• Lead HR involvement in M&A activities, including due diligence, negotiations, and post-deal integration.
• Manage people risks and deliver comprehensive reports to the board on HR-related KPIs and risks.

Expertise Required

• Extensive HR leadership experience, with a strong track record in business partnering and commercial strategy.
• Proven ability to drive organizational design and optimize the employee lifecycle.
• Expertise in Irish employment law and experience in financial services or regulated environments is highly desirable.
• Strong leadership, resilience, and ability to deliver through others while fostering team growth.
• Comfortable operating at pace and managing change in a high-performing environment.

Impact & Influence

• Lead the Irish people strategy and contribute to group-level HR initiatives.
• Influence and align leadership on key HR priorities to foster a high-performance culture.
• Maintain strong external relationships and act as a representative of HR leadership within the group.