HR Generalist

COPE Galway has been providing essential social services in Galway for 60 years.We respond to the needs of people experiencing homelessness, women and children subjected to domestic abuse, and we support older people towards healthy, independent ageing. Our vision is for a community where every person is valued, cared for, and supported at every stage of life.

COPE Galway is deeply embedded in the Galway community. We are founded on the belief that together we can make a positive difference in the lives of the people we serve and our community.

Our People

Our People, COPE Galway staff and volunteers, are the driving force behind everything we do. Their passion, commitment, and professionalism enable us to deliver a wide range of services, support more people, and make a real impact in the community.

We have a diverse range of roles, from frontline support workers and social care professionals to catering, community engagement and other professional roles. Each role is crucial in ensuring we deliver our services effectively and make a positive impact in the community.

Working with COPE Galway

Joining our team means you will make a lasting, positive impact on the lives of the families and individuals we support and contribute to driving meaningful social change in the community. Whether you are a frontline worker directly supporting clients or in an administrative role, you are vital to our efforts to address critical issues like homelessness and domestic abuse and to ensure that older people are valued and supported.

At COPE Galway, we prioritise the development and wellbeing of our people. We offer a supportive work environment, with opportunities for ongoing training, personal and professional growth, and leadership development.

Our Culture

We foster an inclusive, supportive and respectful workplace, where diversity is valued. Our team is united by a shared mission and a genuine passion for empowering people and creating meaningful change. We take a trauma informed approach to the way we work and foster this culture in every aspect of the organisation, including a focus on the health and wellbeing of our staff.

The Role

COPE Galway are seeking a HR Generalist to join our team. Reporting to the HR Manager and working closely with another HR Generalist this role will support various HR functions including internal communications, recruitment, employee engagement, onboarding, employee relations, supporting employees and managers in provision of day to day HR guidance across the organisation. This role is hands on, people focused, and requires strong judgement, confidentiality, and a practical understanding of Irish employment law and HR best practice.

This is a key role that will reach 400+ employees and volunteers across 12 COPE Galway locations.

Main Duties and Responsibilities HR Operations

• Be the organisational "go to" function in relation to the HR system
• Ensure the effective operation of HR administrative functions, supporting an excellent employee experience across a range of HR processes including recruitment, onboarding, internal move and leaver processes, payroll, sick leave, performance management, learning and development, invoices processing.
• Update employee contracts and set up a system of continuous tracking, ensuring data is ready to import into new HRIS.
• Update training records and track expiry dates, ensuring data readiness for the new HRIS.
• Assist with booking training sessions 6 months in advance, organising data, and tracking new starters/leavers.
• Track exit interview data to identify trends and assist with purging old data
• Maintain administrative functions for new employees and leavers, ensuring integration with payroll systems.
• Manage employee records, holiday days, sick leave, and parental leave with accuracy and timeliness.
• Provide HR reports and presentations for meetings as requested.
• Manage the HR inbox; provide timely and accurate advice to queries and requests within agreed SLAs to ensure positive stakeholder experience.

Recruitment and Selection

• Coordinate recruitment efforts with service managers, ensuring compliance with relevant legislation.
• Participate in interviews and coordinate pre employment and post employment processes.

Onboarding and Induction

• Administer the onboarding and induction process, working with relevant service managers.
• Organise cross service inductions and ensure individual service inductions for new employees.

Training and Development

• Coordinate scheduling, tracking attendance and maintaining records of employee's training
• Coordinate training needs assessment, training plans, and the annual training budget.

Internal Communications & Engagement

Devise and deliver accurate, timely, creative and engaging communications that have a positive impact on the flow of information to our employees and volunteers. This will be delivered via multiple channels including staff/team meetings, email bulletins, internal communication website, digital media, regular newsletters and employee surveys, that will have a positive impact on colleague engagement, culture, wellbeing and productivity, ensuring that all colleagues are informed about our work and impact throughout the organisation.

• Promote employee well being programs, analyse employee survey data, and develop action plans with managers.
• Record metrics and ensure the follow through of employee engagement initiatives.
• Contribute to the design and ongoing changes required to ensure internal employee communication initiatives are working and collect feedback on current initiatives from staff.
• Lead/support management of employee engagement events, including social events and annual staff Gathering
• Support COPE Galway branding via internal and external communications, and with recruitment partners and third level institutions. Support ad hoc events including charity fundraising and other team events, as required in support of the Development Team.

Other

• Assist in the implementation and monitoring of HR policies
• Support HR Manager in conducting investigations and disciplinary or grievance meetings, as required
• Actively contribute to the continuous development of the team by offering suggestions and feedback ensuring effective and efficient administrative processes.
• Any other tasks that may be assigned based on organisational requirements

Person Specification

The person will have a proven record of working in a similar role and will have an interest in and commitment to working for an organisation involved in working with and supporting people who are disadvantaged. The person will have strong interpersonal skills and an ability to foster a warm and welcoming environment.

• A minimum of 12 months' experience in a busy administrative role and a thorough understanding of operational HR processes, practices and systems
• Professional training in Administration related to HR, Business or equivalent area
• Experience of the non profit sector would be an advantage
• Excellent organisational skills with particular attention to detail.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage deadlines and competing priorities
• Excellent/strong writing and editing skills
• Ability to manage and maintain highly sensitive and confidential information and to use discretion, diplomacy and tact.
• A team player, a professional approach with a can do attitude and collaborative style.
• An interest in and an empathy with the work of COPE Galway
• In all aspects of work to act professionally, and to be a strong fit with the culture and ethos of COPE Galway in order to best represent our work.

Key Terms & Conditions

• Hours per week: 37 hours per week (Monday to Friday)
• Type of Contract: Permanent
• Methody of pay: Monthly by credit transfer
• Annual Leave: 24 days per annum

Equal Opportunity Employer

COPE Galway is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive recruitment process and working environments for all our employees.