Network Rail Hiring for Employee Relations Advisor at Milton Keynes Full Time

Milton Keynes, GB

Department Name

HR Support Customer Services (348120) G5

About Network Rail

We at Network Rail are dedicated to becoming one of Britain’s best employers and believe this starts with placing the candidate at the heart of everything we do.

Brief Description

Human Resources (HR) provides support on all people-related issues for Network Rail. We’re responsible for creating an environment that attracts and engages high-performing individuals to deliver engineering and operational excellence for Britain’s railway. Our approach is a pragmatic one, challenging where appropriate and professional in all areas of delivery.

We’re looking for an Employee Relations Advisor to provide geographical, face-to-face support to line managers in relation to highly complex employee relations cases, in line with formal Human Resources policies and procedures in addition to targeted line manager development.

You’ll work closely with HR Direct and the HR Business Partners to deliver an effective, consistent and collaborative HR service.

About the role (External)

What will you be doing?

• Provide professional, expert, face-to-face Human Resources advice, coaching and support to cross functional line managers when dealing with escalated complex Employee Relations cases across a defined geographical area and in line with Network Rail policies and procedures.
• Provide clear guidance to managers regarding their responsibilities within a process or procedure and the elements the HR function will undertake.
• Proactively manage and develop relationships and communication channels with Business Partner teams and HR Direct regarding complex ER cases and development requirements.
• Development and delivery of targeted line manager up-skilling working closely with the HR Business Partner and broader HR Direct team on company wide initiatives.
• Maintain and track case records and documentation through HR Direct and Network Rail systems in a timely manner.
• Provide coaching, guidance and support to enable line managers to formulate pragmatic and business focussed solutions which are balanced with policy application and broader employment legislation.
• Responsible for the provision of consistent advice to line managers and therefore required to liaise across the broader HR function and share knowledge proactively.
• Proactively maintain own knowledge on Employment Legislation and Organisational awareness.
• Provide support to the ER Operations Manager or HR Business Partner team/s as required/requested.

What skills and experience are we looking for?

• A proven track record in a previous HR Advisory role, in particular experience of dealing with numerous and highly complex Employee Relations cases, up to and including Tribunal stage across a number of organisation functions within a large complex organisation.
• Demonstrates strong commercial approach and understanding of business needs.
• Experience of development and delivery of manager up-skilling both individually and through workshops/formal development interventions.
• Up to date Employment Law knowledge and practical application of legislation.
• Passionate about customer service and delivering professional HR support to the business.
• Capability to establish professional credibility quickly.
• Experience of coaching and influencing line managers and senior business leaders.
• Strong time management, organisation and prioritisation skills and the ability to work under pressure and to deadlines.
• Ability to travel and work across a geographical area covering numerous locations.
• Strong analytical and diagnostic skills.
• Experience of working within a Unionised environment.
• Resilient, Adaptable and Flexible.
• CIPD qualified or relevant experience to demonstrate level of competence.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and the ability to communicate effectively across a broad spectrum of managers with varying levels of capability.

We would also like, but it isn’t crucial:

• Experience of advising managers and others on a variety of Network Rail terms and conditions of employment.
• Experience of providing advisory support across a number of Network Rail functions.
• Experience of working in a remote capacity, independently and on own initiative.

What can we offer you in return?

We have a range of benefits including:

• 28 days annual leave entitlement, plus Bank Holidays and five volunteer days.
• My Benefits – our discounted online shopping site.
• A range of discounted offers including cycle to work, healthcare club discounted membership and other benefits.
• Subsidies of up to 75% on rail and underground season tickets.
• A range of pension schemes.
• Two weeks paid reserve leave for our Armed Forces community.
• Training, development and employee assistance programme available.

All offers of employment are conditional upon satisfactory completion of pre-employment checks.

A message from our Chief Executive, Andrew Haines:
“We want to be on the side of the passengers and demonstrate our leadership across the rail industry. We will be an organisation that is easy to do business with, and one where our people are proud to work. To achieve these ambitions, we will work to increase the diversity of our workforce so that we represent the passengers that we serve up and down the country – because everyone matters.” (2020)

Salary: £40,107 to £45,120 plus benefits.

Closing date: 24th December. – Late applications will not be accepted.

For this role you need to live within 90 minutes of The Quadrant in Milton Keynes, the hiring manager may consider other base locations on a case by case basis.