Job Description

Are you ready to make a difference in people\'s lives? At Network Rail, we connect passengers and freight customers, ensuring safe and efficient transportation across the country. We\'re an organisation where people truly matter, and when you join us, you matter to us and millions of others. Click here to watch our inspiring video to learn more about us!

We\'re dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive organisation that reflects the passengers we serve. To achieve this, we\'re committed to becoming an open, diverse, and inclusive workplace, leveraging the skills and expertise of our talented workforce. Together, we strive to create a safe and accessible railway for everyone. Discover more about the importance of Diversity and Inclusion at Network Rail by clicking here.

Investing in our people is key to enhancing the safety, reliability, and efficiency of our railway system. If you\'re passionate about making a meaningful impact, then this opportunity is for you!

About our people and the recruitment process - We\'re an inclusive employer of choice and we welcome applications from everyone! We encourage our colleagues to work flexibly, as we know traditional working patterns don\'t always fit. If you want to consider working flexibly, just let us know and we\'ll do our best to help and invest in your career with us, whilst you have a healthy work life balance. We\'re also a Disability Confident Leader employer and we\'ll try our best to adapt the process and offer a reasonable alternative to help support people with disabilities access, apply and interview for roles.

Brief Description

Who are we looking for?

Join Our Team as an Industrial Relations Business Partner!

Are you passionate about making a positive impact within the Human Resources community? Do you have expert knowledge of Industrial Relations and a desire to provide guidance and support? If so, we have an exciting opportunity for you! We are seeking a dynamic Industrial Relations Business Partner to join our team in Milton Keynes. As a valued member of our organization, you will play a crucial role in bridging the gap between the Industrial Relations team and the wider Human Resources community. You will lead small to medium-scale projects and provide vital support to larger initiatives, acting as a key link to Network Rail Shared Services

About the role (External)

What does the average day look like?

So, what does an average day look like in this multifaceted role? Let us give you a glimpse:

\xc2\xb7 You will be the go-to person for expert guidance, addressing Industrial Relations queries from Route & Functional Human Resources colleagues. By resolving issues and increasing the knowledge of HR Business Partners, you will ensure a harmonious work environment.

\xc2\xb7 Maintaining up-to-date template contracts of employment will be one of your responsibilities. You will collaborate with relevant HR teams and Shared Services to ensure that terms and conditions remain relevant and comply with legislation and collective agreements.

\xc2\xb7 Our terms & conditions matrix will be in safe hands with you. By diligently updating and improving it, you will provide the HR community and employees with an accurate reference tool for their current Terms & Conditions.

\xc2\xb7 As the liaison with Network Rail Shared Services, you will facilitate new contract requests and other payroll system changes. Your efforts will ensure smooth and effective integration into our payroll systems, recording all necessary adjustments.

\xc2\xb7 In addition, you will manage small to medium-scale Industrial Relations projects on behalf of our specialists, utilizing your deep understanding of Terms & Conditions of Employment and Employment Law to achieve desired outcomes.

\xc2\xb7 Research, data gathering, and analysis will be a part of your routine as you support the Industrial Relations team in various projects. Your input will contribute to the development of well-informed position papers, enabling effective decision-making.

\xc2\xb7 With your proactive approach, you will stay updated on employment law, organizational awareness, and Industrial Relations issues and trends. This knowledge will allow you to provide expert advice and guidance to the team and the wider organization.

\xc2\xb7 Your organizational skills will shine as you maintain the Industrial Relations team tracker and reporting protocols. This will include preparing periodic scorecards and quarterly business reviews, meeting our organizational requirements.

\xc2\xb7 Last but not least, you will support the Industrial Relations Specialists in delivering the agenda for National Councils. Your research and preparation will contribute to our company\'s responses in these important forums.

What essential skills and experiences are required?

The successful candidate for this role will be required to be/have: -

1. Successful experience in HR, IR or Payroll within a large multisite complex unionised organisation

2. CIPD qualified or equivalent or relevant experience

3. In depth knowledge of terms and conditions of employment

4. In depth knowledge of HR policies and procedures and employment legislation

5. Strong analytical skills and use of databases.

6. Experience of successfully resolving HR related management queries

7. Expert knowledge of Employment Law e.g. TULR(C)A, Employment Rights Act and TUPE

If you are ready to take on this exciting opportunity and be a vital part of our team, we would love to hear from you. Join us and make a difference in the Industrial Relations landscape!

For a full list of the key accountabilities and essential/desirable criteria, please click apply and you will be taken to the network rail external site where you can see the attached Network Rail .

How to apply (External)

Duration: Permanent

Location: This role is based at The Quadrant:MK. For roles based in the Quadrant:MK, you must live within 75/90 minutes of The Quadrant.

Closing date: 31st July. On occasions, we may need to close the advert early based upon application volumes. Late applications will not be accepted.

Interviews will be held W/C 7th August

Band & Salary: Band 4C - \xc2\xa343,588 - \xc2\xa349,036

What can we offer you in return?

We have a range of benefits including:

\xc2\xb7 28 days annual leave entitlement, plus Bank Holidays and five volunteer days

\xc2\xb7 My Benefits - our discounted online shopping site

\xc2\xb7 Flexible and family friendly policies and practices

\xc2\xb7 A range of discounted offers including, Healthcare offers, cycle to work, healthcare club discounted membership and other benefits

\xc2\xb7 Subsidies of up to 75% on rail and underground season tickets

\xc2\xb7 A range of pension schemes

\xc2\xb7 Two weeks paid reserve leave for our Armed Forces community

\xc2\xb7 Training, development and employee assistance programme available

\xc2\xb7 To learn about the benefits we offer please .

About our people and the recruitment process\xe2\x80\xa6

We\'re an inclusive employer of choice and we welcome applications from everyone!

We encourage our colleagues to work flexibly, as we know traditional working patterns don\'t always fit. If you want to consider working flexibly, just let us know and we\'ll do our best to help and invest in your career with us, whilst you have a healthy work life balance.

We\'re also a employer and we\'ll try our best to adapt the process and offer a reasonable alternative to help support people with disabilities access, apply and interview for roles.\'

Visit should you need accessibility support to apply or should you require any reasonable adjustments/modifications, please contact and have your IRC number ready as this will be required.

As an arm\'s length department of the UK Government, Network Rail is required to comply with a well-established pre-employment vetting process for all prospective employees. Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks require prospective employees of Network Rail to meet the following requirements.

• Provide eligibility to work in the UK and identity documentation

• Complete a satisfactory 3-year employment history check

• Complete a satisfactory unspent criminal conviction disclosure check for more information regarding BPSS pre-employment related checks, please visit the UK Government website for further information - UK Government - BPSS Checks

Network Rail welcomes applications regardless of age, disability, marital status (including civil partnerships), pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, transgender status, sex (or gender), employment status, trade union affiliation, or another factor.

We will interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria.

Safe behaviour is a requirement of working for Network Rail. Applicants should be able to demonstrate their awareness of our Safety Vision

Network Rail positively embraces flexible working recognising that employees may wish to balance work and family/home life.

We\'re delighted to have been named as one of .

Drugs and Alcohol Standard:

Our Drugs and Alcohol Standard is changing as of 16.01.2023. All prospective candidates who have not been offered a conditional role by 16.01.2023 will be required to undergo and pass a drugs and alcohol test. Your application will be rescinded if you record a positive test. All positive drugs and alcohol test results for prospective candidates will be securely held on database and a 5 year suspension from applying for a safety critical role, a role which requires PTS certification or a Key Safety role on Network Rail Managed Infrastructure will be enforced.

Network Rail