Job Introduction
Compass Ireland is part of Compass Group, the world’s leading food and support services organisation.
At Compass Ireland, our people are our business. We are committed to developing strong leadership, inclusive cultures and modern workforce practices that enable our teams to deliver exceptional service while remaining compliant, agile and commercially focused.
The Role
The People Business Partner is a critical strategic role, combining HR Business Partnering expertise with workforce planning, productivity and system optimisation.
Partnering closely with senior leaders and operational managers, you will drive the delivery of the People Strategy while ensuring workforce management practices support operational efficiency, legal compliance and a positive colleague experience. You will utilise data, insights, and modern workforce tools to inform decision-making, manage risk, and unlock productivity across the business.
This is a flexible role based at Parkwest Business Park, requiring regular travel across the island of Ireland, with the ability to work confidently in fast-paced, multi-site operational environments.
Strategic People & Business Partnering
- Partner with senior leaders to deliver people plans aligned to Compass Ireland’s business strategy.
- Build leadership capability through coaching, mentoring and targeted development interventions.
- Lead and support organisational change initiatives, including restructures, redeployment, TUPE-related activity and communications.
- Provide expert advice on employee relations matters, including disciplinary, grievance, absence management and performance processes.
- Manage redundancy and consultation processes in line with Irish employment legislation and best practice.
- Represent the business at external bodies such as the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC), Labour Court and other third-party forums as required.
- Ensure HR policies and practices remain compliant with Irish employment law, including Working Time legislation, employment permits, equality legislation and data protection obligations (GDPR).
- Drive succession planning, talent development and local capability-building initiatives.
- Embed a high-performance culture with consistent approaches to goal setting, feedback and performance management.
- Lead the adoption and optimisation of workforce management systems and processes across Compass Ireland.
- Support operational teams with workforce planning, scheduling, time and attendance and system compliance through on-site engagement.
- Partner with Sales and Operations teams to ensure workforce assumptions in tenders are compliant with Irish labour legislation and TUPE requirements.
- Promote flexible workforce solutions that support colleague engagement, operational resilience and cost control.
What we are looking for:
- 5–8 years’ experience in a senior HR Business Partner or People Partner role within a multi-site or operational environment.
- A natural leader who knows how to build trust and connect with people at every level
- Strong working knowledge of Irish employment legislation, including employee relations, redundancy processes and WRC engagement.
- Experience supporting organisational change, workforce planning and productivity initiatives.
- Confident using people and workforce data to influence senior stakeholders and drive commercial outcomes.
- Commercially switched on, confident with budgets and numbers, and always thinking about how to balance people's needs with business goals.
- Experience leading people projects and know how to turn strategy into action, whether it’s launching new initiatives or supporting teams through change.
- Willing and able to travel regularly across the island of Ireland; occasional overnight stays may be required.
- Third-level qualification in HR, Business or a related discipline (or equivalent experience).
- Full clean driving licence
You must be legally authorised to work in Ireland. Visa sponsorship is not available for this role.
Some of the benefits we offer:
- Competitive salary and full company benefits
- 27 days' annual leave plus bank holidays, and a holiday purchase scheme
- Company Car (Electric) or Car Allowance
- Flexible working to support work-life balance
- Perks & discounts: Shopping, entertainment, and travel discounts
- Healthcare & wellbeing: VHI, 24/7 Employee Assistance Helpline
- Financial wellbeing: Pension scheme, Life Assurance, preferred rates on salary finance products
- Development opportunities: Professional subscriptions, ongoing training and structured career pathways
- An inclusive culture where diversity is celebrated, and colleagues are supported to thrive
About Us:
At Compass Ireland, our people are our business. When you join the Compass Group you will be joining a supportive network of incredible individuals, each united by their passion for going the extra mile for the organisations we partner with. We are building a team who care about providing a great customer experience and want to grow and develop as we do. We are dedicated to investing in every colleague joining us and pride ourselves on being an equal opportunity employer; we celebrate diversity and are committed to building an inclusive environment for all our colleagues. We consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements.
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