Description

The Opportunity This is a rare opportunity to lead ESB’s business-critical People Operations function, shaping the employee experience for a large, complex and purpose-led organisation at the heart of Ireland’s energy transition. Reporting within Enterprise Services Directorate, the Senior Manager, People Operations provides strategic and operational leadership across a broad portfolio of services that support employees and leaders across the organisation. The role offers significant scale, senior visibility and the opportunity to further modernise how People Operations is delivered across ESB. Leading a multidisciplinary team of approximately 100 people, the successful candidate will have end-to-end responsibility for operational delivery across talent acquisition, onboarding, reward and benefits, learning and development, payroll/expenses, HR administration, systems, data and service governance. The role will suit a senior HR leader, ideally with experience in HR operations or shared services, who can combine strong service delivery discipline with a transformation mindset. The successful candidate will simplify processes, strengthen governance, improve employee and manager experience, and use data, technology and insight to create a scalable, responsive and future-focused People Operations function. Candidate Profile We are looking for a high-calibre, commercially aware People Operations leader with experience operating in a complex, high-accountability environment. You will bring a strong track record of leading large teams, managing critical HR services, influencing senior stakeholders and delivering measurable improvements in service quality, efficiency, compliance and employee experience. You will be confident balancing operational delivery with strategic change, able to bring clarity to complexity, and skilled at building trusted relationships across HR, Finance, Technology, senior leadership and operational business areas. You will also bring the judgement, resilience and leadership presence required to lead through change while maintaining strong day-to-day service performance. Key Responsibilities Strategic Leadership • Set the strategic direction for People Operations, ensuring the function is aligned with ESB’s business priorities, workforce strategy and Net Zero ambitions. • Lead the integrated service model across recruitment, onboarding, reward and benefits, learning, payroll/expenses, HR administration, systems and employee lifecycle services. Innovation & Continuous Improvement • Modernise People Operations through best-in-class process simplification, automation, digital enablement, self-service and data-led decision-making. • Identify opportunities to improve service quality, reduce complexity, strengthen controls and create capacity for higher-value work across the function. Employee Experience & Engagement • Champion a consistent, responsive and high-quality employee and manager experience across all People Operations touchpoints. • Use feedback, service metrics and workforce insight to improve employee journeys, strengthen engagement and support a positive, inclusive culture. Transformation & Change Leadership • Lead large-scale operational and organisational change across People Operations, ensuring clear governance, strong communication, practical delivery plans and sustained adoption. • Build a culture that is adaptive, improvement-focused and confident in using technology, insight and collaboration to deliver better outcomes. People & Team Leadership • Provide clear, visible and inclusive leadership to a large multidisciplinary team, setting direction, standards and priorities across a broad service portfolio. • Develop leadership capability, strengthen succession plans and foster a collaborative, high-performing team culture built on accountability, care and continuous learning. Stakeholder Engagement & Influence • Act as a trusted senior partner to leaders across ESB, ensuring People Operations priorities are understood, supported and connected to wider business needs. • Influence decision-making through credible advice, clear insight, strong relationships and a practical understanding of operational realities. Operational Excellence & Governance • Ensure robust governance, compliance and controls across all People Operations activities, including employment legislation, data protection, audit readiness and internal policies. • Maintain high standards of service delivery performance, HR data integrity, reporting discipline, risk management and issue resolution. Systems & Data Ownership • Act as Data Owner for People Operations systems and data, ensuring strong governance, GDPR compliance, reliable reporting and continued optimisation of HR technology platforms. Financial & Vendor Management • Manage the People Operations budget effectively, ensuring resources are aligned to priority work and deliver strong value for the organisation. • Oversee key vendor relationships, ensuring service quality, value for money, clear accountability and effective partnership working. Experience and Qualifications Essential • Minimum 10 years’ experience in People Operations, HR operations, HR shared services or a related senior HR leadership role, including at least 5 years in a senior leadership capacity. • A relevant third level qualification in HR, business, management or a related discipline. • Proven experience leading large, multidisciplinary HR service delivery teams in a complex organisation. • Strong strategic thinking and execution capability, with the ability to translate priorities into practical delivery plans. • Demonstrated experience leading transformation, process improvement, technology adoption or service model change. • Excellent communication, stakeholder management and influencing skills, including experience engaging with senior leaders. • Strong data, reporting and analytical capability, with experience using insight to improve service performance and decision-making. • Strong understanding of governance, compliance, employment legislation, data protection and operational risk in an HR environment. • High emotional intelligence, cultural awareness and a visible commitment to employee experience, inclusion and continuous improvement. Desirable • CIPD membership or equivalent professional HR accreditation. Location This position will be based at 27 Lower Fitzwilliam Street, Dublin 2. Smart Working at ESB is designed to make ‘in-person’ time together as purposeful as possible while also enabling the effective use of digital tools and hybrid arrangements to preserve our commitment to flexibility. The successful candidate may work flexibly within the jurisdiction where they have been employed, with attendance at the workplace for in-person collaboration at least two days per week . All Smart Working arrangements are subject to regular review based on the operational requirements of the role, the team, and the business. Reporting To Head of Business Operations, Enterprise Services Why Work with Us? • A senior leadership role with real scale, influence and visibility across ESB. • The opportunity to shape People Operations in a purpose-led organisation supporting Ireland’s transition to a net zero carbon future. • A broad transformation agenda focused on service excellence, digital enablement, simplification and employee experience. • Career development through mentoring, training and access to wide-ranging professional networks. • A strong values-based culture guided by ESB’s Core Values: Courageous, Caring, Driven and Trusted. • A collaborative team environment with a strong commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. • A generous pension and broad ESB benefits package. • Access to wellbeing programmes, sports and social clubs, Corporate Social Responsibility opportunities and the ESB Credit Union. • Generous parental leave entitlements and a supportive approach to flexible working. Closing Date Friday, 17th July 2026 Interview Candidates who are shortlisted for interview will complete a Behavioural Interview based on each of the following Behaviours, which underpin how we work at ESB and are critical to delivering our strategy: • Accountable and Ethical • Collaborative • Growing and Adaptive • Proactive • Respectful and Supportive More information is available on Our People Promise . Notes • Your application will be held in reserve for 6 months should you be suitable for the role. • Psychometric assessment will be a feature of this process. • The successful candidate will be required to evidence their right to work in the Republic of Ireland prior to commencement of employment.