People Systems and Data Manager in Newtownabbey

We are currently recruiting for a People Systems and Data Manager who will be responsible for leading the organisations HR information systems (HRIS), workforce analytics, and data governance functions. This is a permanent opportunity and in this role you will deliver high-quality insight, statutory reporting, and compliance assurance to support strategic decision-making across the organisation. You will have oversight of the Monitoring Officer, ensuring robust governance, transparency, and statutory compliance including duties under Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998. You will oversee the provision of accurate equality, workforce, and governance data required to meet corporate, legal, and regulatory obligations.

Responsibilities:

• HR Systems Management
  • Lead on the selection, optimisation, and development of HR information systems.
  • Oversee system upgrades, testing schedules, user acceptance testing (UAT), and implementation.
  • Manage data structures, user access, permissions and workflows.
  • Work with HR systems and IT teams to improve data structures, reporting capability, and analytics tools.
  • Deliver training and technical guidance to HR and operational colleagues.
  • Lead HR digital transformation and analytics projects.
  • Identify opportunities to enhance processes, automate workflows, and modernise HR systems.
  • Act as liaison with software suppliers and technical support teams.
• Data Management & Workforce Analytics
  • Collecting, analysing and interpreting complex employee data and workforce metrics.
  • Ensure accuracy, completeness, and integrity of HR data across all systems.
  • Produce high-quality workforce dashboards, identifying trends, patterns and anomalies in data for the Leadership Team, Board and People Committee.
  • Analyse organisational data on recruitment, absence, turnover, performance, workforce representation, and equality categories.
  • Provide analytical insight to develop and implement data driven strategies, policy development, resource planning, and organisational plans.
  • Lead collaboration between HR, governance, ICT, and senior management teams to strengthen organisational assurance.
• Advisory Lead
  • Act as a trusted advisor to senior HR leaders and the Leadership Team, providing clear, evidence-based insights and recommendations.
  • Support the evaluation of HR initiatives and organisational change programmes through data-led impact assessment.
  • Contribute to the development of the People Strategy by grounding proposals in insight and analysis.
  • Engage with internal stakeholders including ICT, Finance, senior leaders, operational managers, and governance teams.
  • Provide expertise on HR data, reporting, equality monitoring, and system capabilities.
• Monitoring Officer Oversight & Statutory Compliance
  • Work in collaboration with the Equality Officer to ensure compliance with statutory reporting requirements, proper handling of governance queries, robust evidence provision for internal and external audits, adherence to corporate risk, assurance, and governance frameworks.
  • Ensure the Equality Officer receives accurate and timely HR data and analytical support.
• Section 75 (NI Act 1998) Oversight
  • The People Systems and Data Manager is accountable for ensuring that Section 75 duties are supported through accurate HR data, systems, and governance processes, delivered through and with the Recruitment Team.
  • Responsibilities include ensuring HR systems capture complete and accurate equality monitoring information aligned to Section 75 categories.
  • Oversight of equality data reporting, including trend analysis and workforce-based insights.
  • Co-ordinating the Equality Officer in the production of statutory Section 75 annual progress reports.
  • Supporting screening exercises and Equality Impact Assessments (EQIAs) with robust workforce data.
  • Monitoring workforce representation, recruitment outcomes, and progression trends to identify inequalities or areas requiring intervention.
  • Contributing to the development and monitoring of the organisations Equality Scheme and Section 75 Action Plan.
  • Ensuring all HR data-related processes meet the requirements of equality legislation and good relations duties.
• HR Policy, Compliance & Governance
  • Provide data-driven insights to inform the development and review of HR policies.
  • Ensure organisational compliance with GDPR, FOI, Section 75, and all HR-related statutory obligations.
  • Support audit processes by providing validated data, evidence, and analytics.

About Us: The Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery is an independent organisation that has been established to recover information about Troubles/Conflict-related deaths and serious injuries to families, victims, and survivors and to promote reconciliation. We are building a values-led organisation. We operate with integrity, impartiality, openness, accountability, and respect, as set out in our Code of Conduct. This is reflected in our fair and open recruitment processes. We encourage people to join us across all backgrounds, communities and faiths to help us deliver. The Commission is based in Belfast, with further operational sites in Northern Ireland and London. Travel to all locations will be required, but hybrid working arrangements will help us support a range of flexible working patterns. This is an exciting opportunity to join an organisation with a unique and vital remit. The Commission is formed of seven Commissioners, the Chief Commissioner, Sir Declan Morgan, the Chief Executive Officer, Louise Warde Hunter, and the Commissioner for Investigations, Peter Sheridan, as well as four Non-Executive Commissioners to provide challenge and scrutiny to the executive team. We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. We welcome applications from all communities and backgrounds, including underrepresented groups. We value diversity in our workforce as it enhances our ability to serve the communities of Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom.

Closing date is the 31st May at 11:59pm.