Lead Employee Relations Specialist

McKesson is an impact-driven, Fortune 10 company that touches virtually every aspect of healthcare. We are known for delivering insights, products, and services that make quality care more accessible and affordable. Here, we focus on the health, happiness, and well-being of you and those we serve – we care.

What you do at McKesson matters. We foster a culture where you can grow, make an impact, and are empowered to bring new ideas. Together, we thrive as we shape the future of health for patients, our communities, and our people. If you want to be part of tomorrow’s health today, we want to hear from you.

Lead Employee Relations Specialist (Cork, Ireland)

Role Summary:

Provides subject matter expertise for Employee Relations, Labor Relations, and Workforce Compliance issues to McKesson business leaders. Responsible for investigating and responding to internal and external complaints, supporting employment law compliance, and managing complex, high-risk or sensitive employee relations and labor relations matters. Partners closely with HR, Legal, Compliance, and business leaders to ensure fair, consistent, and compliant employment practices.

Reports to VP, Employee Relations

Key Responsibilities:

Serve as subject matter expert in employment law in Ireland, Employee Relations, Labor Relations, and Workforce Compliance practices in the European Union.

Investigate and respond to internal employee complaints, external claims, and other sensitive ER matters, ensuring alignment with Irish employment legislation and company policy.

Lead and manage complex employee relations investigations, including disciplinary, grievance, dignity at work, and workplace conduct matters.

Provide consultation, guidance, and coaching to People Leaders on employee behavior, performance management, and application of disciplinary processes under Irish law.

Partner with Legal and Compliance to respond to Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) complaints, Labour Court matters, and potential litigation.

Lead labor relations activities under the direction of the VP, Labor Relations, including engagement with employee representative bodies such as works councils, employee forums, or trade unions where applicable.

Ensure compliance with European Union and Irish employment legislation, including but not limited to:

Unfair Dismissals Acts

Employment Equality Acts

Organisation of Working Time Act

Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act

Provide guidance on workforce compliance requirements, including statutory leave, working time, accommodations, and local regulatory obligations.

Deliver training to managers and HR partners on employee relations, labor relations, and compliance topics relevant to the Ireland workforce.

Maintain accurate and complete documentation within case management systems, including intake, investigation notes, and final reports.

Identify trends and risks within the employee population and proactively recommend mitigation strategies to reduce risk and enhance employee experience.

Critical Knowledge & Competencies:

Deep knowledge of Ireland employment law and employee relations practices

Labor relations and employee representative engagement

Investigation expertise (complex, high-risk cases)

Compliance and risk mitigation focus

Influencing and stakeholder management

Decisiveness and sound judgment

Conflict management and resolution

Credibility and executive presence

Quality and detail orientation

Strong written and verbal communication

Problem solving and analytical thinking

May be required to travel up to 25-30%

Education and Experience:

Bachelor’s degree required (HR, Business, Industrial Relations, Law, or related field preferred)

Minimum 6–8 years of progressive Employee Relations experience, including significant investigation experience

Demonstrated experience supporting Ireland-based employee populations required

Strong working knowledge of Irish employment law and regulatory environment required

Experience managing Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) cases and/or Labour Court matters preferred

Experience in labor relations or working with employee representative bodies preferred

Experience supporting workforce compliance programs in Ireland (e.g., working time, leave, accommodations)

Experience in a multinational or matrixed organization preferred

Career Level

IC-Professional-P5

Compensation & Benefits

Compensation and benefits will be aligned with local market practices in Ireland and may include base salary, annual bonus, and comprehensive benefits offerings designed to support employee well-being.

At McKesson, we care about the well-being of the patients and communities we serve, and that starts with caring for our people. That’s why we have a Total Rewards package that includes comprehensive benefits to supportphysical, mental, and financial well-being. Our Total Rewards offerings serve the different needs of our diverse employee population and ensure they are the healthiest versions of themselves.

As part of Total Rewards, we are proud to offer a competitive compensation package at McKesson. This is determined by several factors, including performance, experience and skills, equity, regular job market evaluations, and geographical markets. The pay range shown below is aligned with McKesson's pay philosophy, and pay will always be compliant with any applicable regulations.In addition to base pay, other compensation, such as an annual bonus or long-term incentive opportunities may be offered.

Our Base Pay Range for this position

€86,300 - €143,800

McKesson has become aware of online recruiting-related scams in which individuals who are not affiliated with or authorized by McKesson are using McKesson’s (or affiliated entities, like CoverMyMeds or RxCrossroads) name in fraudulent emails, job postings or social media messages. In light of these scams, please bear the following in mind:

McKesson Talent Advisors will never solicit money or credit card information in connection with a McKesson job application.

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McKesson job postings are posted on our career site: careers.mckesson.com.