dnata Catering and Retail is one of the world’s leading inflight hospitality providers, delivering world-class culinary services and innovative products that enhance our passengers’ experience.
Since 2018, we have significantly expanded our operations in Ireland, starting with a 2,700 sqm catering facility at Dublin Airport Logistics Park, employing over 60 people. In 2020, we opened a state-of-the-art 6,300 sqm facility in Dublin, quadrupling our capacity to deliver 40,000 inflight meals daily, supported by an agreement with Aer Lingus to provide catering at four Irish airports. Additionally, we operate a bonded store in Cork and a last-mile logistics center in Shannon. These developments demonstrate our long-term commitment to Ireland’s aviation industry, driven by our teams dedication to quality and service excellence.
As the Head of HR, you will shape and execute the HR strategy, aligning local programs with company-wide goals and ensuring compliance with local legislation. You will support key business initiatives with significant people implications, fostering effective employee engagement through HR best practices and compliance. By providing creative and flexible HR solutions, you will balance business needs with company interests to drive growth.
Your role will include leading country-level HR functions, collaborating with the global HR network to ensure consistency in talent acquisition, compensation and benefits, talent development, training, and HR operations, while promoting an employee experience aligned with dnata’s values. You will manage employee relations, maintain strong union relationships, and oversee HR aspects of mergers and acquisitions, mitigating legal risks. As a key member of the local leadership team, you will support business decisions and contribute to organizational success.
In this role, you will
- Develop and drive the delivery of effective HR strategies and work plans aligned with Group and country / business level strategic priorities.
- Anticipate organisational and people opportunities and challenges and contribute to both readiness and action plans for operational performance.
- Lead, plan, schedule and formulate the recruitment schedule for the year liaising with the business on the various selection and recruitment methods in order to attract and retain the best candidates. Manage the recruitment process including shortlisting, interviews, references, salary negotiations and the on-boarding process.
- Act as a trusted advisor to the business, providing strategic HR expertise and counsel to the leadership team at a country / business level.
- Lead talent management and succession planning for business continuity, ensuring development plans for all high potential talent and succession plans in place for critical roles.
- Oversee the on-going development and maintenance of the HR shared services provision locally, along with the various HR information system requirements.
- Ensure appropriate HR services, documentation and compliance across all elements of the employee lifecycle.
- Define and implement the local culture and engagement plan, including establishment of local champions to help promote and drive initiatives locally, with a focus on wellbeing, they community, the environment and diversity and inclusion. Liaise with the Group culture and engagement network to share best practice and align / cascade initiatives where appropriate.
- Provide leadership, guidance and motivation to the team, setting cascading goals, providing regular feedback and coaching and ensuring a culture of continuous professional development.
- Lead at a country / business level in driving and promoting company’s values.
- Coach, guide and manage Human Resources professionals (where applicable) to ensure compliance of all Human Resource standards with a key stakeholder focus. Ensure budget accountabilities that fall under HR are well managed and resources are optimally utilised.
- Partner with leaders on structural and organisational changes (including change management, communications, job evaluation etc) at a business or department level to ensure an efficient and optimal organisation design to deliver to the future needs, actively liaising with other key internal stakeholders as required.
- Responsible for end to end HR functions at a country / business level locally, championing HR best practices; keep abreast of existing and new legislations and ensuring compliance to regulatory requirements.
- Review and provide first line approvals of manpower submissions prior to these being submitted for approval by head office, including all replacement, budgeted and unbudgeted positions as required.
- Anticipate and respond to business challenges, ensuring the implementation of HR solutions which drive business performance and continuous improvement.
- Identify, monitor and review compensation and benefits, including grading structures and salary scales, proactively presenting recommendations along with the appropriate justification, for any adjustments to ensure internal equity and external competitiveness.
