Job Description
An exciting opportunity as an Associate Director, People Partner to take a leading role in driving cultural transformation and business performance. This role is ideal for a strategic yet hands-on HR professional who excels at partnering with leadership teams to deliver meaningful organisational, behavioural, and operational change. This is a fixed term contract that will run until end of the year.
Key Responsibilities
* Partner with senior leaders to design and deliver people strategies that drive culture, capability, and performance.
* Act as a trusted advisor and coach to business leaders, connecting insights to business priorities and ensuring accountability for outcomes.
* Lead consistent talent assessment and succession planning, identifying and developing future leaders and building a strong, diverse talent pipeline.
* Coach leaders to embody the desired culture and enhance team effectiveness, leadership capability, and engagement.
* Drive the understanding and application of fair and consistent performance management, reward, and recognition processes across the organisation.
* Provide expert guidance on employee relations, including disciplinary, grievance, and performance issues, ensuring compliance with legislation and company values.
* Work with functional heads to proactively plan recruitment needs and develop cost-effective, high-quality talent acquisition strategies.
* Collaborate across the People team to align initiatives, leverage synergies, and maximise impact on business results.
* Monitor and analyse key people metrics (e.g. retention, turnover, absence) to influence and inform business decisions.
* Support organisational design, change management, and employee engagement initiatives that strengthen culture and performance.
* Ensure consistent and fair application of pay, reward, and mobility practices across the organisation.
* Coordinate payroll processes with internal stakeholders and external partners, ensuring accuracy and compliance.
* Champion diversity, inclusion, and continuous improvement in all areas of people and culture.
Requirements
* Robust experience in a generalist HR leadership role supporting a diverse and fast-paced business.
* Proven experience in project delivery.
* Strong background in employee relations, including dismissals, grievances, and restructuring.
* Demonstrated success in leading change management and organisational transformation.
* Payroll management experience and familiarity with external providers.
* Commercially astute, with the ability to balance strategic priorities with hands-on operational execution.
* Excellent communication, influencing, and stakeholder management skills.
* Flexible, adaptable, and collaborative approach with a proactive, solutions-focused mindset.
Ideal Profile
A highly energised, credible, and resourceful HR leader with a passion for driving business performance through people. You’ll combine strategic insight with a pragmatic, hands-on approach — confident influencing at all levels, leading by example, and shaping a culture of accountability, inclusion, and excellence.
eireann.evans@meetlifesciences.com