Head of Talent Acquisition
Dublin, IE
- Full Time Permanent position
- Hybrid role based in our City Centre offices
What we offer
We have embraced a hybrid working model for most of our positions, which means that you can enjoy a balanced approach of working from home for part of the week and working from the office for the remainder of the week.
We offer a comprehensive benefits package including competitive salaries and bonuses, robust Learning and Development support, excellent Defined Contribution pension and comprehensive Wellbeing initiatives and support to name but a few.
Further details on our benefits package can be accessed here Benefits (life-careers.com)
Role Overview
Irish Life Group is one of Ireland’s largest financial institutions with a presence across a range of financial services markets in Ireland and Europe.
Reporting to the Head of Talent & Organisational Capability, this role will be critical to positioning our organisation as the employer of choice for talented and ambitious people, ensuring we attract, select, and retain the right talent at all levels in line with workforce and succession planning objectives.
This role is a key member of the Talent & Organisational Capability Leadership Team.
More specific responsibilities will include
1. Workforce Planning & Strategic Talent Acquisition (TA) Leadership - Collaborate with Senior Leadership to understand workforce and succession planning objectives and develop proactive demand plans. Develop and integrate talent acquisition and assessment strategies to ensure the organisation attracts, selects, and retains talent.
2. Senior Leader Engagement & External Talent Sourcing - Act as a strategic TA partner for business leaders, collaborating, developing, and implementing recruitment strategies that align with business function talent and capability needs. Proactive relationship building with senior talent in the marketplace.
3. Assessment Processes - Develop and implement comprehensive assessment processes to evaluate candidate skills, cultural fit, and potential. Utilise a variety of assessment tools, skills assessments, and structured interviews. Ensure assessment processes are fair, unbiased, and aligned with the company’s values and competency frameworks. Train hiring managers and recruitment team on effective assessment techniques and tools.
4. Recruitment Process Optimisation & Change Management - Oversee the end-to-end recruitment process, ensuring efficiency and a positive candidate experience. Implement best practices to ensure a diverse and high-quality talent pool. Utilise data and analytics to identify areas for improvement and track the impact of changes. Lead transformational change initiatives to optimize recruitment processes and outcomes and enhance operational and cost efficiencies.
5. Sourcing Strategies - Implement an internal Agency Model which is first port of call for Business Areas, reducing costs and centralizing all sourcing and external agency engagement. Ensure competitive terms and conditions in place for Preferred Supplier List (PSL)
6. Employee Value Proposition (EVP) - Influence, promote and execute the Irish Life employee value proposition (EVP) positioning Irish Life as an employer of choice. Develop and manage initiatives to increase brand visibility and attract top talent. Represent the company at industry events, job fairs, and conferences.
7. Diversity, Equity & Inclusion - Lead efforts to integrate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) into all recruitment processes. Ensure recruitment practices are inclusive and unbiased, promoting a diverse workforce. Develop partnerships with organizations and groups to support DEI recruitment initiatives.
8. Data Analytics & Reporting - Provide actionable insights and drive continuous improvement using data analytics and reporting. Ensure compliance with all relevant employment laws and regulations. Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of recruitment activities and metrics and prepare and present detailed recruitment reports.
9. Technology & Innovation - Champion the adoption of new technologies, methodologies, and practices in talent acquisition. Evaluate, implement, and optimize advanced TA technologies and tools to enhance hiring processes. Leverage applicant tracking systems (ATS), AI-driven recruitment platforms, and other digital solutions for efficient recruitment workflows.
10. Early Careers & Diverse Talent Strategy - Develop and implement an early careers and diverse talent acquisition strategy, that provides a future leader pipeline, enhances organisational capability, and provides employment opportunities to underrepresented & marginalised members of the workforce.
11. Team Leadership & Budget Management - Build, mentor, and manage a high-performing talent acquisition team, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and innovation. Responsible for budgets and the cost-effective use of resources.
What you will need to be successful in the role
· Proven track record of leading and implementing change initiatives in recruitment.
· Strong strategic thinking and leadership capabilities.
· Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
· Proficiency in using advanced TA technologies, including ATS, AI-driven recruitment tools, and data analytics platforms.
· In-depth knowledge of recruitment best practices
· Ability to analyse data and metrics to inform decision-making.
· Experience in developing and implementing candidate assessment processes.
· Experience in employer branding and recruitment marketing
· Strong project management and organizational skills
· Experienced people leader, strong leadership capability
Key Competencies
About us
Irish Life is one of Ireland’s largest financial institutions with a presence across a range of financial services markets. We are one of Ireland’s leading financial services groups with over 1.5 million customers. For over 80 years, we’ve been helping people to look after their life insurance, pension and investment needs, and more recently their health insurance.
It is a subsidiary of Great-West Lifeco and a member of the Power Financial Corporation group of companies.
We are proud of our culture of developing and supporting the growth and professional development of our people. The focus has resulted in a team of top talent with high standards, positioning us at the forefront of our industry.
The company reserves the right to draw up a shortlist as part of the selection process. Where Agency assistance is required the Irish Life Recruitment Team will engage directly with suppliers. Unsolicited CVs / profiles supplied to Irish Life by Recruitment Agencies will not be accepted for this role.
Irish Life is proud to be an Equal Opportunities employer. We have created an environment of inclusion and growth to help people achieve their potential, to ensure they can bring their whole selves to work and to feel valued. We celebrate diversity of thought and perspective and want all of our employees to feel valued, respected and supported.
We have built a culture that promotes equality and inclusion for all of our current and future employees and strive to ensure that our behaviours, processes and practices are aligned to this culture.
If you require any accommodations during the recruitment process please contact lifecareers@irishlife.ie and we will be delighted to ensure you are fully supported to be your best.
ILGL supports Equal Opportunity and is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.