HR Operations Manager

Job Title: HR Operations Manager

Fitness & Probity Classification: CF2

Role Type: Full-Time, Permanent

Reporting Line: Head of HR & Communications

Department: Human Resources

Location: Maple House, Temple Road, Blackrock, Co. Dublin

Purpose of Role:

The HR Operations Manager is accountable for the effective delivery and control of HR operations across the employee lifecycle, ensuring processes are executed consistently, accurately and in line with Company policies, employment law and regulatory requirements. The role owns HR operational governance, payroll oversight, HR data integrity, documentation, reporting and the day-to-day coordination of the HR Operations team. The role enables the delivery of core HR cycles and employee relations processes from an operational perspective; however, accountability for people outcomes, complex/high-risk case decisions and strategic HR judgement remains with the HR Business Partner and/or Head of HR, with overall HR governance retained by the Head of HR. The role ensures HR processes are controlled, standardised, audit-ready and supported by clear escalation of risks and issues.

Key Performance Measures:

• Ownership and delivery of HR operational processes in an accurate, timely and consistent manner.
• HR processes operate in a controlled, standardised and audit-ready manner, with clear ownership of documentation and controls.
• Consistent application of HR policies, governance and regulatory requirements within operational delivery, with escalation where judgement or outcome decisions are required.
• Effective coordination and oversight of HR operational activity across the team.
• Ownership of HR data integrity, employee records and supporting documentation to a high standard.
• Effective identification, management, and escalation of operational risks and issues.
• Continuous improvement, enhancing efficiency, consistency, and control.

Key Responsibilities:

• Own and deliver HR operational processes across the employee lifecycle, ensuring activities are completed accurately, on time and in line with defined standards.
• Ensure HR processes are controlled and audit-ready, including documentation, audit trails, and alignment with internal governance and regulatory requirements.
• Ensure consistent application of HR processes, policies, and governance standards across all operational activity.
• Coordinate and allocate work across the HR Operations team, ensuring effective coverage of administrative and judgement-based activities.
• Own the operational management of employee relations processes, ensuring cases are administered in line with Company policies and employment law. Escalate complex or high-risk ER matters, employee outcome decisions and policy interpretation issues to the HR Business Partner and/or Head of HR, who retain decision accountability.
• Resolve escalated HR operational queries and process issues, ensuring timely closure or appropriate escalation where required.
• Own the operational delivery of core HR cycles, including recruitment administration, performance cycle coordination, reward cycle support, talent and succession process coordination, and employee engagement administration, while HRBP/Head of HR retain accountability for business outcomes and final decisions.
• Own HR data integrity across systems and reporting, ensuring accuracy, completeness, consistency and timely correction of issues.
• Own payroll input control and oversight, including review and validation of payroll inputs and outputs, and ensuring appropriate sign-off processes are followed.
• Drive continuous improvement across HR operations, standardising templates, workflows, and controls to enhance efficiency, consistency, and resilience.

Decision Making Authority:

As delegated by the Head of HR & Communications within the framework of Company policies and procedures. The role has authority to make operational decisions relating to workload allocation, process execution, data quality, payroll input controls, issue resolution and enforcement of agreed HR operational standards. The role does not have final decision authority for complex or high-risk employee relations outcomes, material policy interpretation, reward decisions, succession/talent outcomes or other people decisions with business or regulatory impact; these are escalated to the HR Business Partner and/or Head of HR as appropriate.

Direct Reports: 3

Key Customers:

Internal: Allianz Group HR, AGL HR, AGL Management Team.

External: Payroll provider, HR vendors and other service providers.

Business Competencies:

Education & Qualifications:

• Third-level qualification in HR, Business or related discipline
• CIPD qualification (or working towards) desirable

Professional Competence:

• Proven experience in HR operations or generalist roles
• Experience delivering end-to-end HR processes
• Experience in a regulated environment desirable

Product & Technical Knowledge:

• Strong understanding of HR processes and employee lifecycle
• Knowledge of employment law and governance requirements
• Experience with HR systems and data management

Management

• Demonstrated experience managing and coordinating team workload, ensuring effective delivery of operational activities
• Ability to prioritise, allocate, and oversee work across a team in a structured and controlled manner
• Strong organisational and planning capability

Commercial Awareness:

• Understands links between HR operations, risk and business
• Balances efficiency with control and governance requirements

Personal Competencies:

Personal Impact:

• Takes ownership for delivery and resolves issues effectively
• Works in a structured, detail-oriented manner
• Remains resilient under pressure

Intellectual Effectiveness:

• Applies structured thinking to solve problems
• Identifies risks and areas for improvement
• Exercises sound judgement in decision-making

Communications:

• Communicates clearly and concisely
• Provides structured updates to stakeholders
• Challenges appropriately when required

Dealing with People:

• Builds effective stakeholder relationships
• Provides direction and support to team members
• Works collaboratively across HR and the business

Fitness & Probity:

Honesty, Ethics & Integrity 

• Act honestly, ethically and with integrity at all times.

Financial Soundness

• Maintain financial soundness.

This job description shall not limit the duties which may be assigned to this role. The successful candidate shall be required to perform on a temporary or permanent basis such additional or different duties that the Company may reasonably assign to them from time-to-time.

Allianz Group is one of the most trusted insurance and asset management companies in the world. Caring for our employees, their ambitions, dreams and challenges, is what makes us a unique employer. Together we can build an environment where everyone feels empowered and has the confidence to explore, to grow and to shape a better future for our customers and the world around us.

We at Allianz believe in a diverse and inclusive workforce and are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We encourage you to bring your whole self to work, no matter where you are from, what you look like, who you love or what you believe in. We therefore welcome applications regardless of ethnicity or cultural background, age, gender, nationality, religion, disability or sexual orientation. Great to have you on board. Let's care for tomorrow.