HR Advisor (HR Generalist)

HR Advisor (HR Generalist)

Lir Chocolates, Navan, County Meath, Ireland 

Lir Chocolates is a multi-award-winning Irish chocolate manufacturer, renowned for our innovation and strategic partnerships with famous brands such as Baileys and Guinness. With significant recent investment and a proud history of excellence, we’re looking for a talented HR Advisor (Generalist) to join our fast-paced, hands-on team in Navan.

As our HR Generalist, you’ll be the go-to person for all things people-related on site. You’ll support and coach managers on employee relations, change management, and day-to-day HR operations, while helping to drive engagement. This is a fully site-based role, working closely with our HR Manager and wider team to deliver a first-class HR service to around 150 permanent and 180 seasonal employees across two sites.

Position type: Full time, permanent

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Shift Pattern: Monday - Friday, 08:30 - 16:30 

Employee Relations & Support

• Be the first point of contact for all employee queries, providing competent, respectful, and confidential advice.
• Advise and support managers with grievances, disciplinaries, absence, and performance management, including coaching on HR procedures and challenging non-compliance.
• Write or review all relevant notes and letters, ensuring timely distribution.
• Ensure comprehensive return-to-work interviews and manage all absence cases, including occupational health referrals and formal proceedings.
• Oversee self-certification forms and doctor’s notes for sickness absences.

HR Operations & Administration

• Process all employee data (starters, leavers, changes) and maintain both manual and computerised records.
• Keep weekly and monthly KPI logs up to date.
• Update and input data into HRIS systems (Tensor, Emperform, iCIMS, Papaya).
• Write, review, and distribute HR documentation as required.

Change & Compliance

• Support site reorganisations, department restructures, and change initiatives.
• Interpret and advise on employment legislation, ensuring compliance with Irish law and HSE requirements.
• Prepare for and support audits, especially regarding ethical trading.

Engagement, Communication & Development

• Support employee communications (noticeboards, TV screens, email) and deliver engagement activities, surveys, and follow-up actions within budget.
• Assist with the design and delivery of development activities, including performance reviews, succession planning, and training needs analysis with the L&D team.
• Deliver on recruitment, induction, onboarding, and benefits processes, supporting ICIMS end-to-end.
• Support management of temporary worker agency relationships and bi-annual audits.

General HR Support

• Provide full support to the site management team across all company HR policies and processes throughout the employee lifecycle.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with site managers, attending meetings as needed.

• Proven HR experience in a fast-paced FMCG or manufacturing environment.
• Strong employee relations skills and experience managing complex cases.
• Up-to-date knowledge of Irish employment law.
• Ability to work flexibly, juggle priorities, and thrive in a reactive, ever-changing environment.
• Excellent communication, organisation, and IT skills.
• Able to support change, influence and build relationships at all levels.
• Proactive approach to work and generating ideas - challenges the status quo suggest new ideas/processes of working.
• CIPD qualification (or working towards) is desirable.

• 24 days annual leave (rising to 25), plus public holidays.
• Company pension, death in service, and EAP.
• Family-friendly policies and cycle-to-work scheme.
• Staff shop discounts, monthly recognition awards, and training opportunities.
• Be part of a passionate, innovative team making world-class chocolate!

At Lir, we stand as a forefront provider of premium chocolates to prominent retailers globally. Our ethos revolves around creativity, meticulous attention to detail, and a relentless pursuit of innovation. Operating from two cutting-edge manufacturing plants in Navan, County Meath, we are dedicated to the art and enchantment of crafting hand-finished and hand-decorated chocolates based on both traditional recipes and gloriously unfamiliar new combinations. 

Lir Chocolates are an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. 

Your application will be reviewed and entered into the selection process, if successful you will receive a call or email from a member of our Recruitment or HR Team (PLEASE CHECK YOUR JUNK MAIL), if successful, you will enter a two stage interview process consisting of one online and one on-site interview.