HR Recruitment
HR Hiring, Built Around Your People
The right HR hire can steady employee relations, support your managers, lead change and shape how your people experience work. The wrong hire can cost you time, trust and momentum.
Hartley People partners with organisations across Ireland to recruit HR professionals who fit the role, the remit and the reality of your organisation.
- HR Officers & Advisors
- HR Business Partners
- Employee Relations Specialists
- Talent & L&D Specialists
- HR Managers & Directors
Recruitment Built Around Your Organisation
A job title only tells us part of the story. Before we start searching, we want to understand your organisation and its people agenda.
The Role
- Is the remit operational, strategic, or both?
- Who will they report to?
- What does success look like after 6 or 12 months?
The Organisation
- How many employees will they support?
- Is the workforce unionised or multi-site?
- How much ER exposure comes with the role?
The Agenda
- What change is on the horizon?
- Which HR systems are in place?
We use that information to build the search around the HR professional your organisation actually needs. Not simply someone who has held a similar job title.
Human Resources Recruitment Expertise
HR roles can look similar on paper while requiring very different people.
Generalist vs. specialist
An HR Generalist covering the full employee lifecycle needs a different skill set from a specialist in employee relations or reward.
Operational vs. strategic
Running day-to-day HR operations requires a different approach from partnering a leadership team.
Leadership & strategy
Recruiting an HR Director requires us to understand workforce strategy, culture, governance and change as much as HR practice.
We recruit across:
- HR Operations Talk to us about HR Operations recruitment
- HR Advisory Talk to us about HR Advisory recruitment
- HR Business Partnering Talk to us about HR Business Partnering recruitment
- Employee Relations Talk to us about Employee Relations recruitment
- HR Systems & Analytics Talk to us about HR Systems & Analytics recruitment
- Organisational Development Talk to us about Organisational Development recruitment
- Talent Acquisition Talk to us about Talent Acquisition recruitment
- Learning & Development Talk to us about Learning & Development recruitment
- People Operations Talk to us about People Operations recruitment
- Reward & Benefits Talk to us about Reward & Benefits recruitment
- HR Management Talk to us about HR Management recruitment
- HR Leadership Talk to us about HR Leadership recruitment
Across all major industries and at every level of seniority.
Talk to an HR Recruitment SpecialistOur HR Recruitment Team
You're hiring a service delivered by people. Meet the recruiters who could be working your search.
Fergal Hartley
Joint OwnerFergal Hartley
Joint OwnerWith a distinguished career spanning over 25 years, Fergal Hartley is a highly regarded joint owner of prominent recruitment and staffing ventures, including Hartley People Recruitment & Training, Flexiforce, Clannad Care and Burton Sinclair. His entrepreneurial spirit has driven these companies to success, making them leaders in their respective fields. Fergal's comprehensive background in talent acquisition, combined with strategic insight and a commitment to best practices as a Fellow of the National Recruitment Federation, positions him as an invaluable partner for securing top executive talent.
LinkedIn
Pierre Fetat
Head of OperationsPierre Fetat
Head of OperationsPierre is an accomplished B2B International Director who works across functions, with over 15 years of experience across digital marketing, business development, and complex sales. With a strong background in Customer Data Platforms (CDP), Customer Success, and digital transformation initiatives, Pierre brings a wealth of expertise to executive search. His strategic insights, coupled with his commitment to driving innovation and operational excellence, make him a valuable partner for clients seeking visionary executive talent.
LinkedIn
Damien McCleane
Head of Strategic RecruitmentDamien McCleane
Head of Strategic RecruitmentWith nearly 30 years of experience across recruitment, training, business development, and customer relationship management, Damien McCleane is an accomplished professional with a versatile background in executive and managerial roles across diverse sectors. Also serving as Regional Manager at Hartley People, Damien combines his expertise in strategic recruitment, client partnership, and team leadership to drive excellence and innovation within the executive search landscape.
LinkedIn
Jessica Maher
Recruitment Team LeadJessica Maher
Recruitment Team LeadJess is responsible for recruitment across supply chain, production, engineering and warehousing. Having previously worked in the hospitality industry, she spent four years in Australia furthering her career before returning home to Wexford. A positive and energetic member of the team, Jess is a keen supporter of Wexford hurling and enjoys baking, going to the gym and spending time with friends.
LinkedIn
Darren O'Connor
Recruitment Team LeadDarren O'Connor
Recruitment Team LeadDarren specialises in recruiting for IT, HR, agricultural and commercial sales roles. With previous experience as an Operations Manager and Partner and Client Relations Manager within the waste technology sector, he brings strong operational and people-focused expertise to his role. Based in Waterford with his wife and dog, Loki, Darren enjoys sport, travel and keeping active.
LinkedIn
Danielle Bohill-Walsh
Senior Partner — Finance SpecialistDanielle Bohill-Walsh
Senior Partner — Finance SpecialistAs an experienced Senior Talent Partner, Danielle brings extensive expertise and a genuine passion for connecting people with the right opportunities. She combines a professional and personable approach with a strong understanding of clients and candidates, building lasting relationships and identifying the right talent. Outside of work, Danielle enjoys home and interior design and spending time with her husband and young daughter.
LinkedIn
Padraig Murphy
Senior Partner — Sales SpecialistPadraig Murphy
Senior Partner — Sales SpecialistPadraig is a Senior Recruitment Partner at Hartley People Recruitment, where he leads the Sales desk and focuses on connecting talented individuals with the right businesses. Before moving into recruitment, he spent 10 years working in Business Operations and holds a BA in Business and Human Resource Management. Outside of work, Padraig is an avid Liverpool supporter and keen golfer.
LinkedIn
Brendan White
Marketing Manager
Nigel Kelly
Talent SpecialistNigel Kelly
Talent SpecialistHailing from Carrick-on-Suir, Nigel is responsible for recruitment across IT, research and development, hospitality, trades and service technician roles. With a strong interest in technology, he is often the first point of contact for technical support within the office. Nigel previously worked in radio, presenting sports news and his own weekly show on WLR. He is also an accomplished photographer, keen runner, rugby fan and enthusiastic gardener.
LinkedIn
Eimear Cox
Recruitment SpecialistEimear Cox
Recruitment SpecialistEimear graduated from WIT with a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology in 2018. Following several years in the insurance industry, including a period in Vancouver working with clients such as Michael Bublé and Nelly Furtado, she moved into recruitment to apply her understanding of people and relationships to helping clients and candidates find the right opportunities. A Waterford native, Eimear enjoys reading, board games, Dungeons & Dragons, pub quizzes and jiu jitsu.
LinkedIn
Hannah Sullivan
Recruitment SpecialistHannah Sullivan
Recruitment SpecialistHannah holds a Diploma in International Human Resource Management, a Bachelor of Commerce and a Diploma in International Hotel Management from Shannon College of Hotel Management. Beginning her career in hotel management, she developed strong communication and problem-solving skills, along with a genuine interest in working with people. Her move into recruitment brings together her experience in business, hospitality and human resources, with a focus on understanding candidates and making the right connections.
LinkedIn
Tamara Fisher
Recruitment SpecialistTamara Fisher
Recruitment SpecialistTamara brings extensive experience in operations management, customer service and team leadership, having worked in fast-paced, people-focused environments. She also holds a QQI Level 6 qualification in Human Resources and has a genuine passion for building relationships and helping people find the right opportunities. Outside of work, Tamara enjoys travelling, keeping active and spending time with friends, family and her pug, Harry.
LinkedIn
Tricia Quinn
Commercial and Operations ManagerTricia Quinn
Commercial and Operations ManagerTricia brings energy and warmth to Flexiforce as Commercial and Operations Manager, Hartley People’s temporary recruitment division. A natural people-person, she ensures every interaction is positive and productive, and helps organise team events that keep morale high. With over 15 years as a trainer on FÁS-funded courses, she placed students into permanent roles before moving into operations with charities including Cycle Against Suicide and Make-A-Wish Ireland. Tricia joined Hartley People in 2021. Outside work, she is an avid sea swimmer along the Copper Coast and a proud Ironman finisher (Barcelona, 2019).
LinkedIn
Ashling Durand
Senior Team Lead & Talent SpecialistAshling Durand
Senior Team Lead & Talent SpecialistAshling started in reception at Flexiforce, quickly becoming the office’s go-to person for all things operational—a role she still holds alongside her work as Senior Team Lead and Talent Specialist. She has grown steadily through the business, gaining experience across multiple functions. Ashling enjoys supporting colleagues and clients, solving problems and providing guidance wherever needed. She takes pride in being a reliable point of contact for both the team and the wider business. Beyond work, she loves spending time outdoors with her young family, with a particular fondness for discovering new beaches.
LinkedIn
Kelley Rothwell
Senior Talent Specialist & Compliance CoordinatorKelley Rothwell
Senior Talent Specialist & Compliance CoordinatorKelley works as Senior Talent Specialist and Compliance Coordinator at Flexiforce. With a diverse background spanning talent management, education, hospitality and the creative sector, she brings strong communication, leadership and relationship-building skills to her role. After eight years in hospitality—including managerial positions in Cork and Waterford—Kelley moved into education, holding a Professional Master of Education in Art from UCC following earlier studies in Fine Art at Crawford College of Art & Design. In her current role, she focuses on candidate engagement, recruitment coordination and compliance, taking a proactive, people-centred approach to connecting talent with opportunity.
LinkedIn
Sean Whelan
Talent Specialist & HR AdministratorSean Whelan
Talent Specialist & HR AdministratorSean supports the Flexiforce Agency Staffing Solutions team as Talent Specialist and HR Administrator. He holds a Master’s degree in HR and is an Associate Member of the CIPD. Sean combines his academic background with a genuine interest in recruitment and HR, bringing both knowledge and enthusiasm to his role. Outside the office, he is a keen soccer fan and reigning champion of the company Fantasy Football League.
LinkedIn
Maureen Flynn
Talent SpecialistMaureen Flynn
Talent SpecialistMaureen is a Waterford native and Talent Specialist with Flexiforce. Before joining the team, she managed the Pandora store in Waterford city and later completed a Diploma in Interior Design. Maureen combines her retail and design experience with a natural ability to connect with people, making her a valued member of the recruitment team. Outside work, she enjoys beach walks, sea swimming and spending time outdoors with her two children. She is also known locally as the lead singer of the band No Hot Ashes.
LinkedIn
Jessica Murphy
Talent SpecialistRecruiting HR for Ireland’s Changing Workplace
Irish employers are asking more of their HR teams. Gender pay gap reporting, pension auto-enrolment, flexible and remote working requests, and pay transparency on the way all land on HR’s desk. We understand what that means for the people you hire — current knowledge of Irish employment practice, sound judgement and the confidence to advise managers.
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Employee Relations Specialists
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HR Business Partners
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Talent Acquisition Partners
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HRIS & People Analytics Specialists
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Reward & Benefits Specialists
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L&D and OD Specialists
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Head of HR / HR Director
Our 3E Approach
Our HR recruitment model is built around three principles that guide every search we run.
Experience
For over 25 years, Hartley People has recruited for organisations across Ireland — giving us an understanding of different industries, workforce structures and the people behind effective HR teams.
Expertise
Our team of 50+ professionals is supported by 2 dedicated Strategic Sourcing Specialists, combining recruitment expertise, market knowledge and an advanced suite of sourcing technology.
Ethics
A successful HR hire needs to work for both sides. We represent your opportunity accurately and assess candidate motivation carefully, so candidates understand the role, expectations and organisation they're considering joining.
The HR Professional You Need May Not Be Applying
Strong HR professionals are often already employed, trusted by their leadership team and in the middle of their own people projects. Waiting for them to apply is not enough. Our search can combine:
- Direct candidate sourcing
- Passive candidate engagement
- LinkedIn Recruiter
- Advanced sourcing technology
- Market mapping
- Referral networks
- Targeted advertising & leading job boards
Our two Strategic Sourcing Specialists work alongside our recruiters to identify relevant professionals and create routes into candidate markets beyond traditional job advertising.
We Look Beyond the CV
HR experience needs context. When assessing a candidate, we want to understand:
How broad is their HR experience?
What ER cases have they handled?
Do they know Irish employment law?
Which stakeholders have they influenced?
How sound is their judgement?
How well do they communicate?
What change have they helped deliver?
Which HR systems have they used?
Have they led people or HR teams?
Why are they considering their next move?
This helps your hiring team spend time interviewing candidates with genuine relevance to your people requirement.
Talk to an HR Recruitment SpecialistEvery HR Search Is Different
You might need someone to:
We don’t start with a standard search. We start with what you need the person to achieve — and build the recruitment approach from there.
Your People Team, Supported by Ours
With offices in Dublin and Waterford, Hartley People supports organisations recruiting HR and people professionals across Ireland.
- Dublin
- Waterford
You understand your people, your culture and where your organisation is going. We understand how to search, engage and qualify the HR professionals who can help you get there.
HR Recruitment Questions, Answered
A few of the questions employers ask us most often about hiring HR professionals in Ireland.
What HR roles does Hartley People recruit for?
We recruit across the full HR function — from HR Administrators, Coordinators and Officers through HR Generalists, Advisors and Business Partners to HR Managers, Heads of HR and HR Directors. We also recruit specialists in employee relations, talent acquisition, L&D, organisational development and people operations.
Do you recruit for HR roles outside Dublin?
Yes. With offices in Waterford and Dublin, we recruit HR professionals across Ireland, not just in the capital — including regional, multi-site and hybrid roles.
How do you find HR candidates who aren't actively job hunting?
Many strong HR professionals are already employed and in the middle of their own people projects, so we don't rely on job ads alone. Our two Strategic Sourcing Specialists use direct sourcing, LinkedIn Recruiter, market mapping and our 150,000+ candidate network to reach passive candidates who fit your specific requirement.
How do you assess an HR candidate beyond their CV?
We look at the breadth of their HR experience, the employee relations work they've handled, their knowledge of Irish employment practice and the change they've helped deliver — not just job titles. This helps your hiring team spend time only with candidates who have genuine relevance to your requirement.
Can you find HR candidates with employee relations or unionised experience?
Yes. We ask about ER exposure, union presence and multi-site context at briefing stage, then assess candidates against it — including experience of grievances, disciplinaries, consultation with employee representatives and Workplace Relations Commission matters.
How long does a typical HR recruitment search take?
It depends on the seniority of the role and how specialised the requirement is — an HR Officer search moves faster than an HR Director search requiring specific sector or change experience. We'll give you a realistic timeline once we understand what you need the hire to achieve.
What does it cost to use Hartley People for HR recruitment?
Fees depend on the seniority and complexity of the role. Get in touch and we'll talk you through pricing for your specific requirement — no obligation.
Who Does Your People Team Need Next?
Tell us about the role and what you need that person to deliver. We'll talk you through the market, the search and how we can support your hiring team.
- 25+ years recruiting talent across Ireland
- Access to a 150,000+ candidate network, active and passive
- A search built around what your hire needs to achieve
Request More Information
Fill in a few details and a member of our HR recruitment team will be in touch.
