HR Generalist

Who are we? Howden is a global insurance group with employee ownership at its heart. Together, we have pushed the boundaries of insurance. We are united by a shared passion and no-limits mindset, and our strength lies in our ability to collaborate as a powerful international team comprised of 24,000 employees spanning over 56 countries. People join Howden for many different reasons, but they stay for the same one: our culture. It’s what sets us apart, and the reason our employees have been turning down headhunters for years. Whatever your priorities – work / life balance, career progression, sustainability, volunteering – you’ll find like-minded people driving change at Howden. Based in our Dublin or Wexford Office, Howden Ireland are delighted to have a vacancy as a HR Generalist on a permanent basis who will provide day‑to‑day HR support across the Howden Retail division, acting as a key point of contact for employees and managers, and will be an integral part of our wider HR team. The successful candidate will support the HR Advisor, HR Business Partner, and Head of HR in delivering a high‑quality, compliant, and people‑focused HR service. About the Role: As a key contributor, you will thrive in our dynamic and fast-paced environment, you'll embrace the complexity and commerciality that accompanies Howden's growth plans. You will work across the full employee lifecycle, supporting HR operations, employee relations administration & relations, Workday transactions, onboarding, and HR process improvement. This role is ideal for someone with strong HR experience who is ready to grow into a more advisory‑focused position. Key Responsibilities: Support onboarding activities including preparing documentation, guiding new joiners through required steps, and responding to initial queries. Process HR transactions in Workday within agreed SLAs (new hires, job changes, promotions, leavers, etc.). Maintain accurate employee records and ensure data integrity across all HR systems. Respond to HR queries via the HR inbox in a timely and professional manner. Prepare employment letters, contract amendments, and other HR documentation as required. Assist with M&A integration tasks and new business initiatives under the guidance of the Head of HR. Support probation tracking, contract renewals, and compliance‑related documentation. Act as the first point of contact for general HR queries and low‑complexity employee relations matters. Support the HR Advisor with ER case preparation including note‑taking, drafting letters, scheduling meetings, and maintaining case trackers. Serve as the initial contact for general inquiries and address Employee Relations matters, collaborating with the HR Business Partner and Head of HR for significant issues. Ownership of sickness and long-term absence cases, including occupational health assessments, return to work arrangements, group income protection applications and line manager…