EMEA Human Resources Business Partner – 12-Month Contract

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced EMEA Human Resources Business Partner to join our People team on a 12-month fixed-term contract, providing maternity cover from November 2026.

Based in Galway on a hybrid basis, you will partner primarily with Product and Technology leaders and teams across EMEA, while also supporting broader regional and country-specific people priorities. The role has a particular focus on Ireland and the UK, with additional support across Canada and other EMEA locations as and whenq required.

You will act as a trusted adviser to senior leaders and people managers, providing strategic and hands-on support across organisational design, workforce planning, employee relations, performance management, change management, compensation, talent planning and employee engagement.

This is a broad and varied role that requires someone who can move comfortably between strategic business partnering and the practical delivery of complex HR matters. You will work closely with colleagues across HR, Legal, Talent Acquisition, Compensation, Benefits, Payroll and Finance and will report to the VP, Human Resources, based in New York.

Key Responsibilities

• Build trusted relationships with VP leaders and people managers, particularly across Product and Technology, and provide practical, commercially focused advice on organisational and people-related matters.
• Partner with leaders on workforce planning, organisational design, team structures, role changes, succession planning, talent development and broader business transformation initiatives.
• Lead and support complex employee relations matters, including performance management, grievances, disciplinary processes, absence management, probation, workplace accommodations, protected conversations, restructuring, redundancy and termination processes.
• Coach managers through sensitive and complex people matters, ensuring issues are addressed fairly, consistently and in line with local employment legislation and Datavant policies.
• Support organisational change and restructuring activities, including preparing business rationales, consultation materials, manager talking points, employee communications and implementation plans.
• Drive annual and cyclical people processes across the supported business areas, including performance reviews, compensation planning, talent reviews, promotions, engagement activities and workforce planning.
• Use qualitative and quantitative data to identify workforce trends, assess organisational health and support informed decision-making.
• Lead and deliver regional HR projects and policy initiatives, including the development, review and implementation of policies, procedures, manager guidance and operational processes.
• Maintain awareness of employment-law developments and HR best practices across Ireland and the UK as well as other relevant EMEA jurisdictions, working with internal and external legal advisers where appropriate.
• Support regional compliance requirements and people programmes, including working arrangements, leave and benefits practices, employee documentation and local reporting obligations.
• Partner with Talent Acquisition and business leaders on workforce needs, recruitment strategy, role design and offer considerations.
• Work closely with Compensation, Benefits, Payroll and Finance teams to resolve employee matters and support the consistent delivery of regional programmes.
• Support employee engagement, retention, recognition and culture initiatives, including local site and leadership priorities.
• Provide day-to-day leadership and support to local People team resources in Ireland and contribute to the effectiveness of the wider global People team.
• Provide responsive, thoughtful and high-quality support to employees and managers at all levels while maintaining appropriate confidentiality and discretion.

Required Experience and Skills

• Significant experience as an HR Business Partner or in a comparable senior generalist HR role within a complex, fast-paced and internationally distributed organisation.
• Strong experience supporting Product and Technology teams or similarly technical business functions is desirable.
• Extensive experience managing complex employee relations matters in Ireland and the UK. Experience supporting employees in other jurisdictions would be beneficial.
• Strong working knowledge of Irish and UK employment law, together with the ability to identify when local legal or specialist advice is required.
• Demonstrated experience supporting organisational change, restructuring, redundancy, performance management and other sensitive employment processes.
• Experience owning and delivering HR projects, policies and strategic people initiatives from development through implementation.
• Ability to operate as both a strategic partner and a hands-on practitioner, independently managing matters through to completion.
• Strong coaching and influencing skills, with the ability to build credibility and work effectively with senior leaders, managers and employees.
• Excellent judgement and the ability to handle confidential, sensitive and high-risk matters with discretion.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to use workforce data to identify trends and inform decisions.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare clear employee communications, policies, presentations and leadership materials.
• Strong organisational and project-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple and changing priorities in a high-demand environment.
• High proficiency in Microsoft Office or Google Workspace, particularly Excel or Google Sheets and PowerPoint or Google Slides.
• Experience using AI-enabled tools to improve HR processes, communications, workforce insights and operational efficiency, with a strong understanding of responsible AI use, data privacy, confidentiality and appropriate human oversight.

Additional Experience and Attributes

• Experience working within a healthcare technology, software, data or similarly regulated organisation.
• Experience working as part of a global People team and collaborating across different countries and time zones.
• Experience supporting site-level people initiatives and partnering with local leadership teams.
• CIPD qualification, degree in human resources, organisational psychology/behaviour, business, employment law or a related discipline, or equivalent relevant professional experience.
• A collaborative, pragmatic and adaptable working style, with strong attention to detail and a commitment to delivering a high-quality employee and manager experience.