At Network Rail, we're part of a large family serving millions of passengers and freight users throughout the UK every day. Our service impacts millions of people and we strive to become more efficient as we enhance, maintain and operate our network. Now is a fantastic time and join our team in Wales and Western region as we finalise the reforms to our maintenance organisation which will deliver:
- A safer and more reliable and punctual service for passengers and employees - quicker fault fixes by more agile multi-disciplined response teams.
- Individual rostering - enabling us to send the right number or people to fix a fault.
- Multi-skilling - investing in the knowledge and skills of our people so they are better equipped to fix the most common faults themselves.
- Accelerated and improved technology deployment - we have a raft of labour and life-saving technology ready to be rolled out.
Our passengers and freight users are at the heart of everything we do. We help connect people to their friends and families and get goods to their destination safely and efficiently. We're an organisation where people matter. When your part of our team, you matter to us and you matter to millions. Watch our video to find out more!
About our people and the recruitment process - We're an inclusive employer of choice and we welcome applications from everyone! We look for opportunities to offer great opportunities to learn and grow through personal and professional development. And, if you make the grade then you can look forward to a rewarding and fulfilling career with a company that joined the top 50 in the Glassdoor's 2021 Best Places to Work.
We want to help deliver a railway which is safe, reliable, affordable and that provides great customer service to everyone. For more information about Network Rail click here
Overview
A Senior HR Employee Relations and Industrial Relations Business Partner serves as a strategic advisor to the business, leading on complex and high risk employee relations cases through to employment tribunal where required. The role combines deep expertise in employment law, internal policy, and organisational processes to provide pragmatic, commercially focused guidance to senior leaders. With a strong emphasis on industrial relations, they act as the organisation's lead expert on union engagement, collective bargaining, and workforce strategy, proactively managing relationships with trade unions and employee representatives to maintain a stable and constructive industrial climate. They provide strategic oversight and hands on leadership during collective disputes, including ballots, negotiations, and potential industrial action, ensuring risks are anticipated, mitigated, and managed in line with legal and reputational considerations.
The role involves analysing ER and IR data to identify emerging trends, hotspots, and systemic risks, translating insight into targeted interventions that strengthen organisational resilience and employee experience. They advise on and shape IR strategies aligned to business objectives, including organisational change, restructures, and transformation programmes, ensuring effective consultation and compliance with statutory obligations. Acting as a trusted partner, they coach and influence senior leaders on complex people matters, balancing commercial priorities with legal risk and employee impact. Through deep knowledge of internal processes and governance, they ensure consistent, fair, and legally compliant practices while driving continuous improvement in how the organisation manages complex employee and industrial relations challenges.
Your Main Responsibilities will be to
- Working closely with the supported business area/s to develop, drive and implement the HR Strategy/People Plan to include; talent, succession planning and change management, in order to support the delivery of business objectives and drive a high performance culture.
- Act as an integral member of the business leadership team, building strong relationships with senior business leaders and other relevant stakeholders. Coach, advise and challenging thinking in addition to co-development, design and execution of integrated medium to long term people initiatives to meet current and future business needs.
- Act as a change agent; lead, support and contribute to change programmes, driving and championing the implementation of HR solutions within the supported business area, gaining acceptance from key stakeholders.
- Proactively manage trade union relationships, working with the Employee Relations team, appropriate HR Business Partners and managers across the business.
- Reinforce and support the ownership of people management by the business and line managers and the HR Business Partner model.
- Influence the centres of expertise development of strategy and policy through sharing business/functional requirements and inputting into development and execution planning.
- Work in collaboration with; Centres of Expertise, HR Shared Services, HR Direct and HR Business Partner teams to proactively identify and influence changes that improve HR service.
- Liaise with HR Business Partners in other areas of the business in order to work collaboratively on cross business/geographical issues.
Pay and Rewards
Salary: This role is a Band.3.C. -£55,596 - £65,966 per annum.
As a Network Rail employee, you will enjoy a wide range of benefits!
- Privileged staff travel - Leisure travel discount of 75% on all leisure travel and includes family members.
- A subsidy of up to 75% on rail and underground season tickets if you travel to work on the train.
- GWR ticket alliance, Heavily discounted all day passes for you and up to 3 friends and family to use across the GWR network (48 passes per year)
- Benefits package including healthcare offers, a cycle to work scheme, discounted healthcare club membership, and a discounted offers and benefits including childcare, healthcare and online shopping site.
- A range of Pension schemes to choose from
- Effectively manage work-life balance with a 35hrs per week contract, hybrid working, flexible working, flexible leave, a nd enhanced family friendly support .
- 5 days paid volunteering leave.
- 2 weeks paid reserve leave for the Armed Forces community.
- In Wales and Western region, you will have the opportunity to join PROUD, our reward and recognition scheme where you can say thanks and recognise colleagues across the region who have demonstrated outstanding values and behaviours.
To find out more about the benefits at Network Rail, click here .
More about the role and your application
Closing date: 11th June 2026. Late applications will not be accepted.
This role requires working in the office for a least 60% of the working week, and requires some travel across the Wales Route from time to time.
To submit your application, click apply now . For tips to help you prepare and apply click here
We want to ensure everyone has an equal opportunity. Therefore, s hould you require any reasonable adjustments/modifications, please do let us know by conta cting Elisabeth Holmes on 07395 387432
Should you wish to have a chat about this role, please contact Gemma Thomas on 07922 009777
