Global People Operations – Senior Associate

About Global People Operations

Global People Operations (GPO) is the firm’s centralized 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 GPO Senior Associate serves as a trusted People & Culture (P&C) resource, providing guidance and operational support across the employee lifecycle. This role partners with employees, managers and key stakeholders to resolve employee matters, administer P&C programs and processes, maintain accurate employee data and timely service delivery.

This position has primary responsibility for leave administration and workplace accommodations, serving as a subject matter expert while also supporting the broader GPO Generalist function. This role manages leave and accommodation cases from initial request through return to work, ensuring accurate administration, timely documentation and compliance with applicable laws, firm policies and procedures.

This position requires strong HR Generalist experience and the ability to navigate a wide range of employee matters while developing deep expertise in leave administration.

Core Responsibilities:

Serve as a trusted P&C resource by addressing inquiries, interpreting policies and programs and providing guidance across a wide range of people matters and jurisdictions.
Serve as the subject matter expert for EMEA leave administration and workplace accommodations, advising employees and managers on leave options, eligibility requirements, policies and available resources.
Manage leave and accommodation cases end to end, from initial request through return to work, including eligibility determination, document review, notifications, leave tracking, case records and return to work coordination.
Process a range of employee and organisation changes, including workforce changes, promotions, compensation updates, employee documentation, and other HR system transactions through the HR Help Desk module and Oracle HCM, ensuring timely and accurate resolution.
Manage employee inquiries and cases across a broad range of P&C matters, researching issues, applying policies and procedures, and escalating complex or sensitive matters as appropriate.
Partner with HR Business Partners and other P&C functional areas, including Benefits, Employee Relations, Immigration, Payroll, Talent Acquisition, and Learning, to resolve cross-functional employee matters and support business priorities.
Develop and maintain process documentation, standard operating procedures, knowledge articles, and self-service resources to promote consistency, scalability, and operational efficiency.
Produce, analyse, and interpret P&C metrics, reporting, and workforce data to support compliance, business decisions and service delivery.
Maintain knowledge of applicable laws, regulations, firm policies, and evolving HR practices relevant to assigned areas of responsibility.
Identify opportunities to improve processes, controls, technology and participate in broader GPO projects and initiatives.

Required Qualifications (Personal Characteristics, Skills/Abilities, Academic):

Bachelor’s degree in human resources, Business Administration, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Minimum of four years of experience in human resources, leave administration, accommodations, or a related field.
Working knowledge of applicable leave and accommodation laws.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to assess complex situations and recommend appropriate solutions.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate sensitive information professionally and empathetically.
Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
High attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.
Ability to exercise sound judgement and maintain confidentiality when handling sensitive employee information.
Strong customer service orientation and ability to build effective relationships with employees, managers, and stakeholders.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and HR systems; experience with Oracle HCM or similar HRIS platforms preferred.

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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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Global People Operations - Senior Associate

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