HR Manager -Global People Operations

Job Description Global People Operations Manager About Global People Operations Global People Operations (GPO) is the firm's centralised global function within People & Culture, delivering integrated People services through specialised service pillars, including HR Generalists, Leave Administration, and Onboarding. GPO combines operational service delivery with functional expertise, owning the design, governance, and execution of core employee lifecycle processes to provide consistent and scalable employee experiences across the globe.

Position Summary The Global People Operations Manager serves as the regional lead for the function across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia (EMEA), ensuring the effective delivery of People & Culture programs, processes, and services within the firm's global framework. This role cultivates strong relationships across EMEA entities and collaborates closely with the Director of Global People Operations, HR Business Partners, business leaders, and cross-functional stakeholders to align regional execution with global priorities and business objectives.

Leveraging deep regional expertise, the GPO Manager advises on local employment practices, regulatory requirements, and market-specific considerations across the employee lifecycle. The role ensures global programs, policies, and processes are implemented effectively while balancing local requirements and business needs. Serving as a trusted partner to leaders and employees, the manager delivers practical guidance, resolves complex issues, and drives a consistent colleague experience across the region.

The GPO Manager leads regional operational initiatives, including process optimisation, automation, and integration efforts that strengthen service delivery and support organisational growth. As a key member of the Global People Operations leadership team, this role promotes scalable practices, operational discipline, and continuous improvement while partnering across People & Culture to advance business objectives.

Core Responsibilities

• Lead the implementation and governance of People & Culture policies and programs by establishing scalable processes, controls, and operational standards that ensure consistency, compliance, and an exceptional employee experience across the firm.
• Provide strategic guidance on regional employment practices, regulatory requirements, and market-specific considerations, ensuring alignment between local needs and global standards.
• Serve as a trusted subject matter expert and escalation point across the employee lifecycle, providing oversight and guidance on complex People Operations matters, including onboarding, employment changes, promotions, leaves of absence, separations, and other workforce-related processes.
• Drive cross-functional projects and transformational initiatives that enhance operational effectiveness, improve employee experience, and support Global People Operations and firm-wide priorities.
• Leverage workforce data, metrics, and insights to identify trends, inform decision-making, and support the development and execution of people-related programs, strategies, and initiatives.
• Partner strategically with global stakeholders, including HRBPs, Capacity & Resource Management, Learning, Talent Acquisition, Legal, Culture, Payroll, and business leaders, to deliver integrated People & Culture solutions and ensure operational alignment across the employee lifecycle.
• Lead, coach, and develop team of HR Generalists and Associates, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous learning and operational excellence.
• Serve as the regional People Operations lead for EMEA, building strong partnerships across the region ensuring local business needs are effectively reflected in with global programs, processes, and service standards.
• Support strategic initiatives including entity integrations, organisational change efforts, technology implementations, and operating model enhancements that strengthen the Global People Operations function.
• Maintain a deep understanding of firm strategy, business objectives, and regional priorities, translating evolving business needs into effective and sustainable People Operations solutions.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in human resources, Business Administration, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 5 - 7 years of experience in an HR Generalist, HR Operations, People Operations, or shared services environment.
• Experience administering complex employee lifecycle processes across multiple jurisdictions, including workforce changes, employee documentation, employee data management, and compliance activities.
• Strong business acumen with the ability to balance employee experience, operational requirements, and business priorities.
• Demonstrated ability to interpret policies, exercise sound judgment, and resolve complex employee matters with professionalism and discretion.
• Excellent customer service, communication, relationship building, and problem solving skills.
• Strong organisational, project management, and prioritisation skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities in a fast paced environment.
• Proven ability to collaborate effectively across global, cross functional, and geographically distributed teams.
• Experience leveraging HR technology, service management platforms, and reporting tools to support process execution, service delivery, and continuous improvement.
• Analytical mindset with the ability to utilise data and insights to identify trends, solve problems, and drive operational excellence.
• Self motivated and accountable, with a strong sense of ownership, initiative, and follow through.
• A natural coach and mentor with an approachable, engaging style, able to build trust and collaborate effectively with individuals at all levels-from front line employees to senior leadership.
• Commitment to continuous learning, continuous improvement, and delivering high quality employee experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in human resources, Business Administration, or related field.
• HR certification or professional designation (e.g., HRCI, SHRM or CIPD) preferred.
• Experience within a consulting, professional services, or similarly fast paced environment preferred.
• Experience working with HRIS and case management platforms, such as Oracle Fusion, Oracle Help Desk, ServiceNow, or similar technologies.
• Strong technical proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel, with experience leveraging reporting, automation, and analytics tools such as Power BI, Power Automate, and macros to support operational efficiency and data driven decision making.
• Exceptional verbal, written, and presentation skills.
• A reputation for integrity, sound judgment, discretion, responsiveness, and attention to detail.
• A continuous improvement mindset with a passion for enhancing processes, service delivery, and employee experience.

About Us We are Grant Thornton Grant Thornton Ireland is rapidly approaching 3,000 people, in 9 offices across Ireland, Isle of Man, Gibraltar and Bermuda. With a presence in over 149 countries around the world and a global network of 73,000 people, we bring our clients the local knowledge, national expertise and global presence to help them succeed - wherever they're located.

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