Head of Investigations (Employee Relations)

Head of Investigations (Employee Relations)

IRC

Who We Are

Join Network Rail - Where People and Connections Matter

At Network Rail, we're dedicated to keeping passengers and freight moving safely and efficiently across the country. When you join us, you're not just part of a team - you're part of something that matters to millions. We believe that our people are at the heart of what we do, and every role plays a vital part in building a better, more connected railway. Click here to learn more. We're committed to creating a diverse, inclusive workplace that reflects the communities we serve. To discover more about our ED&I commitments click here. We value flexibility and understand the importance of a healthy work-life balance. As a Disability Confident Leader, we'll do everything we can to accommodate any needs throughout the recruitment process. You can visit Evenbreaks Career Hive for advice on accessibility support. If you're ready to make a real difference, we'd love to hear from you!

Some of our great benefits:

Flexible/hybrid working arrangements considered.

Generous annual leave (28 days plus statutory days), with the option to buy/sell days.

Discounts at stations with your Network Rail pass.

Defined benefit pension scheme.

75% subsidy on train tickets.

Interest-free travel loan for train and car park season tickets.

Volunteer leave to make a positive impact.

About the role

Duration: Permanent

We're looking for an experienced employee relations professional to become our Head of Investigations (Employee Relations).

This is a senior leadership role with the opportunity to lead how employee relations investigations are conducted across Network Rail. You'll lead a specialist team, set clear professional standards, and help ensure that investigations are independent, credible, consistent, and robust. In addition, you'll provide assurance and oversight of our employee relations landscape identifying risks and opportunities to continually improve and create a learning organisation.

As our organisational authority on employee relations investigation practice, you'll provide expert guidance on complex and sensitive cases, mentor Investigation Managers and help build confidence and capability across our HR community. Your work will support fair decision-making, strengthen organisational learning, and give employees, senior leaders, and external bodies confidence in the quality of our investigations.

This role offers the opportunity to influence investigation standards at an organisational level. You'll help create a consistent approach to sensitive and complex casework, strengthen the professional capability of colleagues, and ensure that learning from investigations leads to meaningful improvement.

You'll be joining a role where sound judgement, professional independence, and the ability to build trust will be essential. If you're passionate about fair, high-quality employee relations practice and want to make a difference across a large and complex organisation, we'd welcome your application.

Key responsibilities

• Provide professional leadership for employee relations investigations across Network Rail, setting expectations for quality, consistency, and independence.
• Define and oversee the standards and assurance model used for employee relations investigations.
• Lead the organisational approach to auditing and assuring investigations, working with Business Ethics and other key stakeholders.
• Use national reporting, data, and insight to identify trends, risks, and opportunities for improvement.
• Provide professional oversight and direction to Investigation Managers as a Designated Competent Person.
• Lead the development of investigation capability, including structured learning and development interventions for Investigation Managers and HR teams.
• Build a strong national Investigation Managers community that supports shared learning, professional confidence, and consistent practice.
• Turn the outcomes of complex investigations into practical organisational learning and improvements.
• Review investigation practice and challenges, translating findings into targeted improvement activity.
• Represent Network Rail at Employment Tribunals when required, including providing witness testimony in relation to investigations you have undertaken.

Next Steps

CV shortlisting will take place after the advert closes, with interviews planned from the week commencing 12th October, subject to business needs. Early applications are encouraged, as we may close the advert early due to high application volumes.

We encourage you to review our Safety Vision , as safety is an important part of the culture at Network Rail

• Chartered CIPD membership, or equivalent experience, together with significant employee relations expertise.
• Experience of leading complex disciplinary and grievance investigations and hearings.
• Proven employee relations experience within a complex business environment.
• Experience of assuring investigation quality and applying ACAS principles and guidance.
• The credibility and confidence to advise, coach and mentor Investigation Managers, directors and senior leaders on complex and sensitive matters.
• Experience in designing, delivering and assuring employee relations or investigation training and capability-building programmes.
• Strong analytical skills, including the ability to assess evidence, monitor meaningful measures, identify trends and reach well-reasoned conclusions.
• Highly developed communication, stakeholder engagement and relationship-building skills.
• High levels of emotional intelligence and the ability to manage difficult conversations and serious allegations with sensitivity, objectivity and awareness of bias.
• A track record of delivering change and continuous improvement, with a strong focus on customers and best practice.

It would also be beneficial if you have

• Substantial stakeholder management experience and a strong record of collaborative working.
• An understanding of project management principles and experience of delivering complex projects to agreed quality and timescales.
• Experience of working within a unionised environment.

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