HR Operations Manager at Brown Bag Films (Dublin, Ireland)

The HR Operations Manager will play a strategic and operational leadership role across the entire employee lifecycle. The position is responsible for managing HR operations, leading the HR Operations team, supporting employee relations, maintaining HR systems, overseeing payroll activities, managing HR reporting, and driving continuous process improvements.

The successful candidate will act as a trusted advisor to business leaders while ensuring HR policies, procedures, and employee experiences align with organizational objectives and legal requirements.

This hybrid position requires employees to work at least two days per week in the Dublin studio.

Job Overview : HR Operations Manager

Information

Job Title HR Operations Manager

Department / Function Human Resources (HR)

Company Brown Bag Films

Business Unit Brown Bag Studio

Employment Type Full-Time, Permanent

Work Location Dublin, Ireland

Work Model Hybrid (Minimum 2 days per week in the studio)

Salary Range €60,000 - €65,000 per annum

Reports To Vice President (VP) of HR

Team Leadership HR Operations Team

Industry Animation & Entertainment

Experience Required Minimum 3 years in a Senior HR Generalist or similar HR Operations role

Company Size Experience 250+ employee organization preferred

Qualification CIPD Level 3 or equivalent HR/Employment Law qualification

Eligibility Applicants must have the legal right to work in Ireland

Brown Bag Films is one of the world's leading animation studios, renowned for producing award-winning animated television series and films for children and family audiences. Guided by its motto, "We Love Animation," the company places creativity, collaboration, and innovation at the heart of everything it does. The studio is committed to nurturing artistic talent while providing an inclusive, supportive, and inspiring workplace where employees can thrive professionally and personally.

Brown Bag Films is currently seeking an experienced and motivated HR Operations Manager to join its Human Resources team in Dublin. This is an excellent opportunity for an HR professional who enjoys leading people, improving HR processes, supporting business leaders, and driving operational excellence within a creative and fast-paced environment.

Working closely with the Vice President of HR, HR Generalists, recruitment and administration teams, Learning & Development, Facilities, Payroll, and senior management, the successful candidate will oversee all HR operational activities while ensuring compliance with employment legislation and best HR practices.

Key Responsibilities as HR Operations Manager Stakeholder Management

Develop and maintain strong professional relationships with stakeholders across all levels of the organization. Conduct regular one-to-one meetings with managers and department heads to understand business needs, provide HR guidance, and support strategic workforce planning initiatives.

Employee Relations

Provide expert advice on employment legislation, HR policies, and employee relations matters. Support managers in handling complex employee issues through early intervention, informal resolution techniques, conflict management, and appropriate escalation where required.

HR Operations Leadership

Lead, coach, and develop the HR Operations team by providing guidance, performance feedback, and professional development opportunities. Foster a collaborative team culture while ensuring high-quality HR service delivery across the organization.

HR Administration

Oversee all HR operational activities, including:

• Employment contracts
• Employee documentation
• HR records management
• Work permits and visa administration
• Recruitment administration
• Employee correspondence
• HR tracking systems

Work closely with the HR Generalist to ensure all administrative processes are completed accurately and efficiently.

Employee Lifecycle Management

Manage and continuously improve employee experiences throughout every stage of employment, including:

• Recruitment
• Onboarding
• Performance management
• Internal movement
• Offboarding

Ensure all HR processes remain efficient, compliant, and employee-focused.

Take ownership of the company's HR Information System (currently MILO), ensuring accurate employee data, timely updates, and reliable reporting capabilities. Maintain system integrity while identifying opportunities for automation and process enhancement.

Prepare regular HR reports for the Vice President of HR, including workforce metrics, turnover analysis, absence reporting, recruitment statistics, compliance updates, and workforce planning insights. Provide meaningful analysis and actionable recommendations that support informed business decisions.

Lead continuous improvement initiatives across HR operations by identifying opportunities to streamline workflows, improve efficiency, and introduce innovative solutions. Encourage the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools and digital technologies to automate administrative tasks and enhance employee services.

Review, develop, and maintain HR policies and procedures to ensure compliance with Irish employment legislation and industry best practices. Minimize employment risk through effective governance, policy implementation, and proactive employee relations management.

Support compensation planning by participating in salary benchmarking exercises, annual salary reviews, and reward initiatives. Manage and maintain employee benefits programmes designed to attract, engage, and retain high-performing talent.

Oversee payroll processes for both Ireland and the United Kingdom, ensuring payroll accuracy, compliance with statutory requirements, and effective coordination with payroll providers and finance teams.

Health & Safety

Collaborate with the Facilities team to support workplace health and safety initiatives, ensuring required risk assessments, compliance measures, and employee wellbeing standards are maintained.

Learning & Development

Work alongside the Learning & Development team to coordinate management development programmes, mandatory compliance training, leadership initiatives, and employee learning opportunities that support business growth.

Cross-Functional HR Projects

Actively participate in local and global HR initiatives while collaborating with wider HR teams to support organizational transformation, employee engagement programmes, and continuous improvement projects.

Essential Qualifications

Applicants should possess:

• CIPD Level 3 qualification or an equivalent Human Resources or Employment Law qualification.
• Strong knowledge of Irish employment legislation and HR best practices.
• Excellent understanding of employee relations and HR operational processes.
• Ability to work independently while contributing effectively within a collaborative team environment.

Why Join Brown Bag Films?

Joining Brown Bag Films offers the opportunity to become part of one of the animation industry's most respected studios. Employees enjoy working alongside talented creative professionals while contributing to a collaborative culture that values innovation, diversity, and continuous improvement.

The HR Operations Manager will have the opportunity to influence strategic HR initiatives, enhance employee experiences, modernize HR processes through technology and AI, and play a key leadership role in supporting the company's continued growth and success.

This position is ideal for an experienced HR professional who combines operational excellence with strong people leadership skills and is passionate about creating a positive, engaging, and high-performing workplace.

HR Operations Manager - Brown Bag Films (Dublin, Ireland)