Senior Manager, People Operations and Total Rewards

Job description

Role Overview Location: Cork, Ireland (Hybrid) Based in our Cork office, this role sits at the intersection of people operations and total rewards, with global scope and genuine ownership. You will manage the systems, processes, and programmes that underpin how we attract, retain, and reward our people worldwide bringing operational rigour and strategic thinking in equal measure. You will work closely with HR leadership, Finance, and Legal, acting as a trusted partner to HRBPs and business leaders globally. You will play a central role in driving the AI-enabled transformation of the People function - identifying opportunities to automate workflows, augment decision-making, and redesign how the team operates day to day using emerging AI tools and capabilities. Responsibilities People Operations - Lead the AI transformation of People Operations evaluating, piloting, and embedding AI tools across the employee lifecycle, from onboarding and policy management to compensation modelling and people analytics, and building the team's capability to work effectively alongside AI. - Own and continuously improve global HR operations including HRIS (UKG) administration, data integrity, process documentation, and AI-enabled workflow automation - ensuring a seamless employee experience at every stage of the lifecycle. - Manage and evolve HR policies globally, ensuring compliance with local employment law across multiple jurisdictions while maintaining consistency in global people practices. - Build and maintain people analytics reporting to support data-driven decisions by HR leadership and business partners. - Own the People team's technology stack, working closely with IT and Data teams to integrate systems, safeguard data, and unlock new capabilities. - Manage and develop a small global team, setting priorities and building capability across time zones. Total Rewards - Lead the design, administration, and communication of global compensation programmes - including salary structures, bonus plans, and equity ensuring they are competitive, equitable, and aligned to business strategy. - Own the global benefits portfolio, managing vendor relationships, renewals, and regional programme design, with sensitivity to local market norms and regulatory requirements across EMEA, Americas, and APAC. - Own and evolve the benefits portfolio with responsibility for managing vendor relationships, renewals, and regional programme design. As the company continues to grow, this role will play a key part in extending our benefits offering into additional regions ensuring local market norms and regulatory requirements are met at every stage. - Drive the annual compensation review cycle end-to-end, from market benchmarking and budget modelling to manager guidance and employee communications. - Conduct and interpret compensation benchmarking surveys (Radford) to keep pay ranges current and defensible, and advise on offer competitiveness and internal equity. - Lead pay equity analysis and gender pay gap reporting. Required Qualifications - Deep expertise in total compensation design and strategy, including salary structures, bonus plans, equity (RSUs, stock options), and benefits with the ability to architect, communicate, and govern total reward frameworks in a global, multi-jurisdiction environment. - 10+ years of progressive HR experience, with meaningful depth in both people operations and compensation and/or benefits. - Experience working within the technology or hardware industry, with familiarity with the compensation structures, equity programmes, and talent dynamics typical of a global tech environment. - Demonstrated experience applying AI tools to HR processes whether through workflow automation, predictive analytics, or process redesign with a practical, hands-on approach to identifying and implementing new capabilities. - Strong working knowledge of global employment law, including Irish employment legislation, GDPR, and the EU Pay Transparency Directive. - Hands-on experience with compensation benchmarking methodologies and salary structure design, including familiarity with job evaluation frameworks (Radford, Mercer, or similar). - Proficiency with HRIS platforms (UKG, Workday, SAP SuccessFactors, or equivalent) and strong analytical skills - comfortable building models and presenting data-driven recommendations. - Experience managing global benefits programmes across multiple countries and vendors, with an understanding of regional market norms. - Clear, confident communication - able to translate complex compensation mechanics into plain language for managers and employees, and present recommendations credibly to senior stakeholders. - Strong project management skills - able to lead programmes from design to delivery, manage multiple workstreams, and follow through consistently. - Collaborative and inclusive working style - effective across time zones, able to build trust with distributed teams. - Proven experience managing and developing a small team, with the ability to set direction, coach individuals, and drive performance in a global environment. Preferred Qualifications - A third-level qualification in Human Resources, Business, Finance, or a related field is desirable, though equivalent professional experience and/or CIPD qualification will be equally considered. - Experience in a US-headquartered company with a significant EMEA or international footprint. Company Statement/Values: At NETGEAR, we are on a mission to unleash the full potential of connectivity with intelligent solutions that delight and protect. We turn ideas into innovative networking products that connect people, power businesses, and advance the way we live. We're a performance-driven, talented and connected team that's committed to delivering world-class products for our customers. As a company, we value our employees as the most essential building blocks of our success. And as teammates, we commit to taking our work to the Next Gear by living our values: we Dare to Transform the future, Connect and Delight our customers, Communicate Courageously with each other and collaborate to Win It Together. You’ll find our values woven through our processes, present in our decisions, and celebrated throughout our culture. We strive to attract top talent and create a great workplace where people feel engaged, inspired, challenged, proud and respected. If you are creative, forward-thinking, passionate about technology and are looking for a rewarding career to make an impact, then you've got what it takes to succeed at NETGEAR. Join our network and help us shape the future of connectivity. NETGEAR hires based on merit. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment. All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.