People & Culture Director

The People & Culture Director will play a central role in shaping and driving a people strategy that nurtures a vibrant organisational culture, fuels performance, and creates an environment where everyone can thrive. Reporting directly to the CEO, you'll ensure HR initiatives align with business goals while focusing on attracting, developing, and retaining exceptional talent. You will champion key areas such as employee relations, engagement, performance management, succession planning, rewards and recognition, talent acquisition, retention, learning and development, organisational effectiveness, and change management.

In 2025, the People & Culture Director will refine performance and reward frameworks, implement impactful L&D programs, and strengthen succession planning to secure the organisation's long-term success. You will also lead efforts from a People & Culture perspective to achieve Gold accreditation in Diversity & Inclusion, building on the Silver award earned in 2024, and further embedding inclusivity in all people practices.

The Position

As a member of the Executive Leadership Team and the Remuneration, Succession, and Nominations Committees, you will be a trusted HR leader who inspires confidence and fosters collaboration. You'll endorse an inclusive, diverse, and fair work environment, influencing with ease and bringing people along on the journey with your empathetic approach.

Key Responsibilities include:

• Collaborate with the CEO, Executive Team, and Board to align the People & Culture strategy with business goals, ensuring the attraction, development, and retention of diverse talent and a robust leadership pipeline.
• Implement performance management frameworks that align with business objectives and foster a culture of engagement, recognition, and development for all employees.
• Led and nurtured a high-performing People & Culture and Health & Safety team (eight members, including four direct reports), fostering collaboration, inclusivity, and a sense of belonging.
• Oversee the integration and optimisation of HR systems (e.g., Cezanne HRIS and Gradar) to enhance operational efficiency and strategic alignment.
• Champion a culture of inclusivity by embedding diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, ensuring that all employees feel valued and empowered while supporting the organisation's mission and values.
• Design and implement leadership development, coaching, and talent management programmes to build a pipeline of diverse and capable leaders.
• Provide coaching and support to managers to develop their people management skills and cultivate a positive, inclusive work environment.
• Ensure legal compliance and uphold best HR practices to maintain a fair, ethical, and inclusive workplace.
• Provide insightful HR updates to the Board and committees, sharing key metrics and initiatives to inform decisions related to talent, succession, and compensation.
• Play a strategic role in shaping organisational culture during a transformative period, driving meaningful change that reflects the organisation's commitment to inclusion and equity.
• Build on the strong employee engagement score (NPS 8.2), leveraging survey insights to further enhance inclusivity and employee satisfaction.
• Actively contribute to strategic Board discussions on succession planning, compensation, and people strategy, advocating for a people-centric, inclusive approach.
• Drive organisational change through targeted talent strategies that promote inclusion, diversity, and long-term success.

The Person

• Third-level degree in HR or a related discipline (Masters preferred but not essential), with full membership of a recognised professional body (e.g., CIPD).
• 8-10+ years of HR experience at senior leadership level.
• Proven experience in devising and executing a People & Culture agenda
• Deep understanding of Reward & Performance, DEI, Leadership Development, Employee Relations, Employee Engagement, Talent Management, and HR systems (e.g., Cezanne, Gradar), with the ability to effectively apply HR policies, including reward systems, performance management frameworks, job evaluation, and relevant employment legislation.
• Experienced in driving change initiatives that foster an inclusive, welcoming atmosphere aligned with organisational goals and values.
• Experience in the non-profit or housing sectors is an advantage but not essential for this highly commercial and purpose driven organisation.

The Benefits

• Purpose-driven and passionate about advocating for fairness and equality, dedicated to fostering a diverse and inclusive culture that aligns with the values and mission of this living wage organisation, while maintaining the highest service standards.
• Commercially focused, with a proven track record of aligning people strategies with business objectives to drive performance and achieve organisational goals.
• Strong leader with a passion for coaching and guiding teams through cultural transformation, achieving meaningful results in diverse environments.
• Data-driven decision-maker, creating people strategies that balance commercial objectives with a commitment to diversity, inclusion, and social justice.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with experience presenting at Board level and advising on strategic HR initiatives.
• Solutions-oriented, always prioritising inclusivity alongside commercial success.
• Collaborative and influential, dedicated to implementing HR initiatives that produce tangible results while strengthening the organisation's core values and supporting long-term commercial goals.

To discover more contact Sinead Connolly in HRM Search Partners on +353 87 4672251 or click to apply.