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Brightbeam

Head of People

4 x 8hr days€100k - €120kHybrid · Waterford, Ireland

PERMANENT/FULL-TIME

€100,000 - €120,000

IRELAND-BASED, REMOTE – MONTHLY TEAM MEETINGS DUBLIN/WATERFORD

This is a rare opportunity to define what a Head of People role looks like in the AI era. At Brightbeam, every role is being reimagined by AI – and that includes this one. You will join our Senior Management Team, report directly to the CEO, and build people systems for a company where the traditional HR playbook simply does not apply. The focus is 80% coaching, L&D, and retention – 20% hard HR. At 50 people, you are the team.

You will equip managers, design learning programmes, build performance systems, and drive the organisation through continuous transformation. If you have built people infrastructure at a scaling services company before and want to build again – from scratch, at speed, in an environment where AI is reshaping what every role means – this is the role for you.

What you will deliver in the first 12 months:

  • An onboarding system where new hires grasp how Brightbeam works – including how AI shapes the way we operate

  • AI-augmented role definitions and career paths for every role, with people equipped for the transition

  • A lightweight performance system focused on development, clear indicators, and firm action on underperformance

  • A retention strategy where people become more valuable the longer they stay – targeting retention of high performers

  • Cross-functional infrastructure that maintains 'one Brightbeam' while scaling from 50 to 200+

Key requirements:

  • Deep expertise in coaching, L&D, and manager enablement – you work through managers, not around them. L&D background strongly preferred

  • Has personally managed transformation where roles fundamentally changed – not just participated in one, and not just digitised

  • Has built people infrastructure during scaling (50-200 people), ideally in a services business

  • Designs lightweight processes that create clarity without bureaucracy

  • Naturally aligns with our cultural mantras: outcome-focused, deliberately fair, continuous improvement, and showing not telling

  • Uses AI daily and sees their own role as being transformed by it

  • Personable, direct, and genuinely invested in people – prioritises coaching and retention above all else

This role is for you if:

You want to write the book on what a Head of People does in the AI era. You find the blank canvas exciting. You get stuck in and build from scratch. You thrive in chaos, prioritise friction removal over perks, and bring calm confidence to grey areas.

This role is probably not for you if:

Your experience is primarily in large, established organisations. Your strength is in hard HR rather than people development. You need structure and predictability. You have moved past getting into the weeds. You see AI as just a tool.

How to apply:

Submit your details via and include your CV with a brief cover note on why this role interests you and what you would bring to Brightbeam. Quality over length.

Diversity & inclusion:

Brightbeam is committed to building a diverse and inclusive team. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and are happy to discuss accommodations or adjustments to our process.