We are Cunningham. We are one of Ireland's award-winning building and civil engineering contractors with an extensive track record in delivering projects across multiple sectors in Ireland, including mission critical, healthcare, education, fit out and residential. The company has recently expanded into new markets and business sectors, particularly in the infrastructure and specialist areas and has gained a reputation as a leading and reputable contractor who delivers quality assured solutions to its wide-ranging customer base. Our people are at the heart of everything we do, and we're committed to delivering an exciting career with learning, development and progression potential. We are currently seeking an experienced and talented Head of People to join our high performing team. REPORTING TO: Finance Director LOCATION: Based in Newry, Co. Down CONTRACT TYPE: Permanent HOURS: Monday – Friday 40 hours per week with early finish on Fridays Role Overview The Head of People role is to shape the performance and development systems for all employees, designing and supporting the company talent frameworks including performance management, succession planning and workforce/people planning whilst guiding and managing the People team for the Company. The Head of People will lead all the People team’s practices and objectives that will provide an employee-oriented high performance culture emphasising quality, productivity, goal attainment and empowerment and is responsible for the development of processes and reporting metrics that support the achievement of the Company’s business goals as well as acting as talent expert across the Company. Reporting directly to the Finance Director and working closely with colleagues to ensure all People team duties are undertaken in accordance with employment law, company policy and ensuring any risk to the business is minimised. Role Responsibilities People Strategy at the Core : Set and lead a people strategy that aligns with our business goals—practical, focused, and built for impact. Leading the People Team: Lead and develop our People function—covering People Operations (3), Recruitment (1), and Learning & Development (1). Set direction, build capability, and ensure high performance across the team. Building & Retaining Top Talent : Lead full-cycle talent management—from recruitment to development and retention—ensuring we have the right people in the right roles, growing with us. Learning & Development for Emerging Talent: Support the business in designing and delivering a structured Learning & Development programme for Graduates, Apprentices, and Placement students, ensuring they’re set up for success and long-term progression within Cunningham. Bringing Our Values to Life: Drive a values-led culture built on trust, respect, a team-player mindset, and a can-do attitude. It’s not just about posters on the wall—it’s how we show up every day. Leadership & Employee Relations : Be a trusted advisor to leaders and a steady hand for employees—clear, fair, and always solution-focused. Compliance & Risk Management : Stay ahead of employment law and policy, keeping us compliant without slowing us down. Performance That Delivers : Design and embed performance systems that drive accountability, support development, and recognise contribution. Change Leadership : Lead the people side of organisational change—whether we’re growing, restructuring, or evolving how we work. Budget & People Operations : Own the HR budget and drive efficiency in all people-related operations. Insight-Driven Decisions : Use data to inform strategy and support decisions that move the business forward. Collaborative Leadership : Partner across departments—from site to boardroom—to ensure alignment and shared success. The Candidate Qualifications & Skills: At least 5 years of HR leadership experience, most recently at a senior management level. Commercial awareness and experience working with senior and executive stakeholders to align people strategy with business objectives. Experience of leading a busy HR/People function, with multiple direct reports including managing and developing HR professionals across functions (recruitment, L&D, people operations). Strong knowledge of labour laws and regulations relevant to the industry, particularly in Ireland and the NI. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to manage employee relations effectively. Strong problem-solving and conflict resolution abilities. Experience in HRIS management and driving process improvement within HR systems. ER case management essentials. Experience leading or developing Learning & Development programmes, ideally for early careers (graduates, apprentices, placements) – desirable but not essential. A track record of leading HR through high-growth phases or major operational transformation. Benefits As part of the Cunningham team, you will be offered the following employee benefits in addition to your market leading salary: 32 days Annual Leave Life Assurance Policy Pension Scheme Employee Assistance Programme Flexible Working Policy Wellbeing Events Company Occupational Health Social Events Team Development Days Ongoing Training & Development Bespoke career pathways Support for Chartership Pathways State-of-the-art office facilities On-Site Car Parking Professional Membership Support Branded clothing