1. What inspired you to pursue a career in talent advisory with Barden?

Having worked for 13 years in recruitment with fabulous people and companies, I had the feeling that there might be a way to do recruitment a little differently. Myself, Elaine Brady and Jonathan Olden, while very different people, shared the same moral compass and why when it came to recruitment. It was just a natural thing when we started Barden back in 2014.

2. What’s the most valuable lesson you’ve learned in your career so far, and how has it impacted your work?

No matter what the situation, be it internal or external, the thing that guides me most, and I say almost every day to people, is “it doesn’t matter what you say or do, it’s about how you make people feel”.  It is a simple sentence, but it has a deep, resonating meaning when it comes to life and business.

3. What’s one piece of advice you’d give to someone considering a career change?

Career change is kinda like a diet – there is usually never a good time to just do it.  Most people procrastinate for their entire lives, “wait till next year”, and never end up making that change.  That said, it’s not something to do lightly and requires lots of planning – you will usually take a financial hit (earning follows learning, and if it’s a career change, you’ll be doing more learning than earning for a while), so you need resources to see you through that.  Also, it has impacts on those around you, so you need to be sure you have the support and backing of those who matter.  Sometimes,  it’s not a complete career change that people need, but rather a repositioning – be it a different team, a company with a different purpose or a different-sized company where the roles are broader or indeed narrower.  Changing Career does not need to be about moving straight from “Banking to Lion taming” (Monty Python quote there for anyone who fancies a bit of that) – it can just be about understanding what you enjoy in your role and seeking somewhere that you can do more of that.

4. Can you describe a project or accomplishment at Barden that you’re particularly proud of?

Look, it has to be the people who choose to work here, their personal and professional growth, their achievements, and how, for them, Barden is a vehicle to both do good for themselves and for others.  Nothing I have ever done in Barden myself comes even close to that in terms of pride for me.

5. What aspect of your work at Barden excites you the most?

The people – getting to work hard and take our jobs seriously, but not ourselves – that’s the single most important thing for me!  Sure, I love a bit of marketing, and I love the opportunity I am afforded to think about how recruitment could be different and how we can go about designing that future.  But that’s zero fun unless you’ve got people around to do it with.

6. What’s a hobby/ interest you have that might surprise us?

I love strategic board games or card games. I love history, maths, and all things science. I love “ideas” and concepts and things that wise people have said in ages past that resonate so strongly in life today – things that make me think and discover new perspectives.  I actually love recruitment too, but that might be a bit sad to put out in the public domain!

7. If you could master a new skill instantly, what would it be and why?

Piano. I have been self-teaching myself for 2 years, much to the disdain of my family, so as a relief for them as much as a joy for me, it would have to be Piano.

8. If you could swap jobs with anyone for a day, who would it be and what would you do?

There is a certified mad genius who works in Barden as Creative Lead – I’d love to try my hand at that at some stage!

(editor: Watch out Luke!)

9. What’s one thing you’d like to accomplish, personally or professionally, in the next year?

I’m on a bit of a mission at the moment (and have been for 10+ years) to try and define recruitment as an actual professional service.  If there were one thing that would be bucket list ticking on that front, it would be to have made progress in that regard.  But let’s just say getting more fit and doing a 10K, because that is a more normal thing to want to achieve 😊

10. What’s the best piece of advice you have ever received? 

“Never attribute to malice, that which can be explained by incompetence” – Hanlon’s Razor. This has helped me so much in situations that could have been stressful and frustrating otherwise.  Keeping calm, not reacting to information but getting curious instead – it’s a good way to exist!

We are delighted to be partnering with our client a leading large Irish business with a strong heritage and culture of innovation, in their search for a Sourcing Manager to join the team.

Do you want to be a part of a dynamic team driving positive change in the food industry? This company is committed to providing a supportive and rewarding workplace where you can grow and thrive.

About the Role:

This business is seeking a dynamic and experienced Sourcing Manager to join their central Sourcing team, reporting directly to the Head of Sourcing. In this role, you will collaborate with a number of different teams across the business to procure products for various ranges. This position presents a unique opportunity to delve into the intricacies of sourcing and value chain management, overseeing projects spanning multiple categories, developing strategies, and identifying new opportunities while driving cost efficiencies.

• Identify and deliver the most cost-effective solutions for products across retail and wholesale.
• Develop and execute the annual Sourcing Plan, ensuring timely and budget-conscious delivery.
• Lead tendering, negotiation, and contracting processes for products, focusing on quality and cost optimisation.
• Manage Buying Group lead projects to secure required products at the lowest cost.
• Challenge existing processes to foster a culture of continuous improvement.
• Cultivate collaborative relationships with stakeholders and suppliers.
• Act as a subject matter expert in sourcing for respective categories.
• Analyse market intelligence and trends to inform sourcing strategies.
• Generate and implement efficient category sourcing strategies.
• Participate in ad-hoc commercial projects and explorations.
• Ensure compliance with company policies and procedures.

About the Person:

• Relevant degree.
• Minimum of 3 years of Sourcing/Procurement experience.
• Sound understanding of market dynamics and business judgment.
• Strong project management and leadership skills.
• Attention to detail with excellent data analysis skills.
• Ability to work in and lead cross-divisional and cross-functional teams.

We are delighted to to partnering with our client, a leading FMCG business in West Cork, in their search for an Inventory Controller to join the team.

As a well-established Irish food producer with a strong footprint in both domestic and international markets, this business supplies premium fresh and frozen products to retailers, export partners, and hospitality customers alike. What sets them apart? A commitment to quality, creativity, and continuous innovation.

With ongoing investment in R&D and product development, the business continues to made strides in its sector and now they’re looking for a detail-focused Inventory Controller to support their next phase of growth.

ABOUT THE ROLE:

The Inventory Controller will sit at the heart of the operations team, playing a key role in maintaining optimal stock levels across the business. You’ll be responsible for tracking inventory movements, supporting planning teams, and ensuring accurate and timely reporting. This is a hands-on, systems-driven role where collaboration, problem-solving, and attention to detail are essential. You’ll be working closely with colleagues across supply chain, warehousing, logistics, and sales to ensure the right stock is in the right place, at the right time and that it’s all tracked seamlessly.

• Maintain up-to-date and accurate inventory records across multiple sites
• Coordinate with supply chain, warehouse, and sales teams on stock movement
• Conduct regular physical inventory audits and cycle counts
• Resolve discrepancies between system data and physical stock
• Forecast future inventory needs based on seasonal and sales trends
• Process and report on damaged goods or stock adjustments
• Optimise inventory flow with logistics and operations colleagues
• Utilise ERP/inventory software to track and analyse stock levels

ABOUT THE PERSON:

• At least 2-3 years’ experience in inventory control, warehousing, logistics or supply chain
• Relevant qualification in Supply Chain, Logistics, or Business Administration
• Proficiency with ERP/inventory management systems
• Strong Excel and MS Office skills
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving capabilities
• Solid understanding of inventory control principles
• Strong communication skills and ability to work collaboratively

Inventory Controller – Leading Irish Food Producer – West Cork

We are delighted to to partnering with our client, a leading FMCG business in West Cork, in their search for an Inventory Controller to join the team.

As a well-established Irish food producer with a strong footprint in both domestic and international markets, this business supplies premium fresh and frozen products to retailers, export partners, and hospitality customers alike. What sets them apart? A commitment to quality, creativity, and continuous innovation.

With ongoing investment in R&D and product development, the business continues to made strides in its sector and now they’re looking for a detail-focused Inventory Controller to support their next phase of growth.

ABOUT THE ROLE:

The Inventory Controller will sit at the heart of the operations team, playing a key role in maintaining optimal stock levels across the business. You’ll be responsible for tracking inventory movements, supporting planning teams, and ensuring accurate and timely reporting. This is a hands-on, systems-driven role where collaboration, problem-solving, and attention to detail are essential. You’ll be working closely with colleagues across supply chain, warehousing, logistics, and sales to ensure the right stock is in the right place, at the right time and that it’s all tracked seamlessly.

• Maintain up-to-date and accurate inventory records across multiple sites
• Coordinate with supply chain, warehouse, and sales teams on stock movement
• Conduct regular physical inventory audits and cycle counts
• Resolve discrepancies between system data and physical stock
• Forecast future inventory needs based on seasonal and sales trends
• Process and report on damaged goods or stock adjustments
• Optimise inventory flow with logistics and operations colleagues
• Utilise ERP/inventory software to track and analyse stock levels

ABOUT THE PERSON:

• At least 2-3 years’ experience in inventory control, warehousing, logistics or supply chain
• Relevant qualification in Supply Chain, Logistics, or Business Administration
• Proficiency with ERP/inventory management systems
• Strong Excel and MS Office skills
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving capabilities
• Solid understanding of inventory control principles
• Strong communication skills and ability to work collaboratively

arden are excited to assist a mulitnational Irish tech company in inviting a commercial finance professional to join their team as Finance Business Partner.

As a key hire for the finance team this opportunity would suit an ambitious accounting professional who is looking to take a step up in terms of responsibility with direct exposure to senior leadership in a commercial role.

ABOUT THE ROLE:

Main duties and responsibilities will include:

• Strategic Financial Support: Partner with business leaders to provide financial insights that support strategic decision-making, improve performance, and drive business growth.
• Performance Analysis: Monitor and analyze financial performance, identifying key trends, variances, and opportunities for improvement across revenue and cost drivers.
• Business Case Development: Support the development of robust business cases for new initiatives, investments, and projects, providing financial modeling and return on investment (ROI) analysis.
• Decision Support: Provide actionable financial advice and challenge to senior stakeholders, enabling data-driven decision-making and prioritization of initiatives.
• Cost Management: Identify cost-saving opportunities and efficiencies across the business while ensuring value for money in all expenditures.
• Reporting & Insights: Deliver timely and accurate management reports, KPIs, and dashboards that translate complex financial data into clear business insights.
• Continuous Improvement: Drive improvements in finance processes, systems, and tools to enhance reporting, forecasting, and business partnering effectiveness.

ABOUT THE PERSON:

• Qualified accounting professional with circa 3 years PQE;
• Must have previous business partnering and budgeting experience;
• Strong attention to detail and ability to take ownership;
• Excellent problem solving and analytical skills;
• Strong interpersonal and business partnering skills;
• Ability to manage multiple priorities effectively;
• Excellent IT skills, particularly Microsoft Excel;

Please get in touch with Bernie Duffy on (bernie.duffy@barden.ie) for further information.

We are delighted to be partnering with our client, a leader in their field, in their search for a Purchasing Administrator.

This is an ideal opportunity for someone with strong administration experience and an interest in procurement, compliance, and vendor management, who wants to build a career in a growing, purpose-led organisation.

This role reports directly to the Procurement and Contracts Manager and collaborates closely with multiple internal teams including Finance, Compliance, Legal, IT Security, and Privacy. You’ll also engage regularly with external stakeholders such as legal advisors, vendors, and consultants.

This is more than just an administrative position, it’s an opportunity to get hands-on experience in procurement and third-party risk within a fast-paced, values-driven organisation.

ABOUT THE ROLE:

Working as part of a centralised Procurement & Third Party Risk Management team, you’ll play a key role in supporting robust processes around the selection, onboarding, and oversight of third-party vendors. This is a varied and detail-focused role, where your organisational and communication skills will help maintain best-in-class records, ensure ongoing compliance, and enable smooth cross-functional collaboration.

• Maintaining and organising documentation related to procurement, contracts, and third-party risk assessments
• Keeping supplier records and procurement data accurate and up to date across systems and trackers
• Supporting internal teams in vendor contract monitoring and risk assessments
• Drafting correspondence and coordinating updates with both internal and external stakeholders
• Supporting procurement policy reviews and contributing to ongoing process improvement initiatives
• Assisting with project-based tasks and ensuring adherence to key regulations

ABOUT THE PERSON:

• At least 2-3 years of relevant administrative experience, ideally in a regulated or process-driven environment
• Excellent organisational skills and a strong eye for detail
• A proactive, team-oriented mindset with the ability to manage multiple priorities
• Strong communication skills
• Comfortable working with standard office tools (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)
• Experience in procurement, compliance, or vendor management is a bonus, but not essential

Barden is delighted to partner with a tech start-up to support them in hiring a Software Engineer to join their team.

This is a unique opportunity to join a company that’s building smart, data-driven software for a complex and globally significant industry. With a strong product already in place, they’re now focused on scaling, expanding features, and enhancing the platform’s performance – and they’re looking for someone to join them on that journey.

ABOUT THE ROLE

You’ll work closely with a senior developer to improve the platform’s structure, reliability, and usability. Your work will focus on:

• Refactoring and cleaning up existing code
• Writing unit tests and contributing to automation testing
• Implementing validation logic and controls
• Enhancing user feedback and error messaging
• Making targeted improvements across the product to ensure a smoother, more predictable experience for users
• You’ll be tackling meaningful, user-focused problems – helping ensure the product is not only functional, but also intuitive and resilient as it grows.

Tech Snapshot:

• Language: Python (core stack)
• Frameworks: Django (prior experience not required)
• Cloud: Azure experience preferred, but AWS/GCP experience is also welcome
• Data & APIs: SQL, AlchemyAPI
• Frontend: Minimal involvement – backend-focused with some UX impact

ABOUT THE PERSON

• 3–5 years of experience in backend development using Python
• Strong focus on writing clean, maintainable, and testable code
• Experience with unit testing, automation, and version control
• A practical understanding of user flows, edge cases, and meaningful error handling
• Collaborative, detail-oriented, and driven by the quality of the user experience
• Bonus: Exposure to domains such as finance, fintech, or mathematics/statistics

Location: Hybrid, Dublin city centre (3-4 days/week to start, can be very flexible once settled into the role)

Type: Full-time, permanent

Benefits: Competitive salary, bonus, pension, and healthcare

If you’re someone who enjoys smoothing out the rough edges of a growing product and making a real impact on how users experience software, we’d love to hear from you.

Apply now or contact Rachel at rachel.mcguckian@barden.ie to learn more.

Are you an experienced planner looking to make a significant impact in the supply chain space? We are delighted to be partnering with our client, a global leader in the FMCG sector, in their search for a skilled Planning Specialist. This is an exciting 17-month contract role where you’ll have the chance to work with cross-functional teams and drive key business operations in a fast-paced, innovative environment.

This is your opportunity to contribute to a company that thrives on collaboration, innovation, and sustainable growth, while working in an industry with global recognition. Join an ambitious, forward-thinking team and help shape the future of the FMCG space.

ABOUT THE ROLE:

• Analyse demand data to identify trends, bottlenecks, and risks, and propose effective solutions.
• Provide timely, accurate reports to key stakeholders to maintain smooth demand planning operations.
• Collaborate with supply planning teams to ensure seamless production scheduling based on demand plans.
• Participate in local and global S&OP processes, presenting data and solutions at monthly meetings.
• Manage demand plan data and forecast production and packaging needs.
• Work with Finance teams to align projections and meet budget targets.
• Maintain and monitor bulk production plans, ensuring alignment with seasonal trends and supply.
• Develop and nurture professional relationships across departments to support seamless planning operations.

ABOUT THE PERSON:

• Degree level qualification preferably in supply chain or related area.
• Proven experience in demand planning and data analysis.
• Expertise in ERP systems and advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to manage multiple stakeholders effectively.
• Demonstrated problem-solving abilities and a proactive approach to identifying and resolving challenges.
• Strong leadership capabilities in driving change and strategic planning.

Barden is working as the exclusive partners to a boutique law firm seeking to hire an “all rounder” Solicitor to work on a wide range of areas of law, with a focus on commercial law and matters.

This is a law firm with 10 Solicitors and a fantastic work culture, very tight-knit team, and an open door approach where knowledge sharing is the norm. This is evidenced by a very high staff retention rate / low turnover.

THE ROLE

The firm has a variety of public and private sector clients which rely on them for a variety of matters, including corporate transactions and commercial contracts, commercial litigation, data protection or freedom of information advice, property transactions, company law, employment law, etc.

In this role, you will work closely with the partners and autonomously on these and potentially several other areas of law.

THE PERSON

• Qualified Solicitor in Ireland with circa 1 year’ PQE.
• Experience in a variety of areas of law, ideally such as commercial litigation, corporate/commercial, commercial property, employment law, etc.
• Very adaptable, keen to learn and develop experience as a generalist and to turn their head to a wide range of legal topics.