Director of Human Resources (DoHR)

Role overview

Children’s Health Ireland is seeking a senior HR leader to help shape the organisation’s culture, values, and future direction as it transitions to a new site. This is a strategic executive position and forms part of the Executive Management Team.

The successful candidate will oversee the Human Resources business function and its day-to-day operations, making sure the service remains effective, proactive, efficient, and aligned with the needs of stakeholders across the full Human Resources and Organisational Development agenda. A key part of the role is to model CHI’s values and promote a workplace culture built on compassion, inclusion, and civility.

You will lead the overall HR function, directly manage the HR team, and drive the strategic change programme for HR. In partnership with the DP&C, you will also help design and deliver a People Strategy that strengthens culture and performance across the organisation, ensuring the right resources, leadership capability, and organisational structure are in place to meet agreed performance standards.

Essential qualifications and experience

• A Level 8 NFQ qualification, or an overseas equivalent, in Human Resources or a related area.
• At least 10 years of post-graduate Human Resources experience at executive level in a large healthcare environment.
• At least 7 years of executive management experience in a large organisation.
• Evidence of strong achievement in Human Resources at a senior level, including delivery in demanding settings with regulation and public accountability.

Personal attributes and leadership capability

• Proven senior leadership experience across large-scale, multi-site operations or networks.
• Strong capability in leadership, partnership working, project delivery, problem-solving, change management, and influence.
• History of delivering major transformation, executing strategy, meeting service level commitments, and managing within budget.
• Experience advising a Chief Executive and executive leadership team.
• Commitment to modern healthcare, high-quality care, and a positive working environment aligned with CHI’s child-centred, compassionate, and progressive values.
• Excellent relationship-building, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to coordinate complex priorities and deliver outcomes.
• Ability to provide strategic and professional leadership to multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong collaboration skills and the ability to engage key stakeholders in a clinician-led, child-centred care environment.
• Demonstrated ability to deliver People and Culture programmes, supported by strong analytical skills and the ability to turn trends into strategy and operational insight.
• Advanced executive-level critical thinking, judgement, and experience contributing to strategy creation, implementation, and review as part of a senior team.
• Strong financial capability and commercial awareness.
• The knowledge, skills, and attributes needed to manage a complex function and carry out the administrative responsibilities of the role.

Application instructions

Applicants must submit a detailed cover letter together with their CV. Applications without a cover letter will not be considered.

The closing date is Friday 10 July at 10:00am. Interviews will take place in person in the corporate offices during the weeks commencing 20 July 2026 or 27 July 2026.

Applications will only be accepted through the designated campaign process. Direct applications for this role will not be accepted.

For informal enquiries, contact the Chief Executive Officer, Ms Lucy Nugent, at CEO@childrenshealthireland.e. For other recruitment queries, contact Head of Talent, L&D Jenny Campbell at Jenny.campbell@childrenshealthireland.ie.

Onboarding and commencement dates

The organisation has moved to one commencement date each month for all new employees, internal transfers, and secondments. This change aligns with monthly/fortnightly payroll arrangements and the launch of a new corporate induction programme.

Mandatory training must be completed at least 7 days before the agreed commencement date so the onboarding team can confirm the start date.

If pre-employment checks and mandatory training are not completed on time, the commencement date will be moved to the next available date.

Planned commencement dates for 2026 are:

• 7 September 2026
• 5 October 2026
• 2 November 2026
• 7 December 2026