Human Resources Business Partner - 12 month FTC (Part Time, 3 days/21 hours a week)

Who We Are

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

About the role

Overview

You will work with the supported business leadership team, under the direction of the Senior HR Business Partner to deliver the business aligned People Plan/HR strategy and provide coaching and support to members of the supported leadership team.

You will provide pro-active; value add HR support to the supported business leaders across the function/route on medium term and operational people issues.

Your Main Responsibilities will be to

• Working closely with the supported business, to implement and deliver 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.
• Work closely and building strong relationships with members of the supported business senior leadership team and other relevant stakeholders. Coach advise and challenge, where appropriate, business leaders on short and medium term HR issues as required.
• Provide operational HR support on (for example) organisation change, senior appointments, salary and bonus, graduate or apprentice programmes.
• Successfully deliver client responsive, cost effective and integrated people solutions that address key business objectives, gaining acceptance from key stakeholders.
• Reinforce the ownership of people management by the business and line managers and support the HR delivery model.
• Work with the broader HR function, including Centres of expertise, HR Direct and HR shared services teams to provide the best solutions for the business.
• Work with appropriate Union representatives to support the business in delivering business solutions.
• 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 4C, £43,588 - £53,167per annum (pro rated).

This role is part time - 3 days/21 hours a week. Hybrid working is available for this role.

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 hybrid working, flexible working, flexible leave, and 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

• Our diverse and inclusive place to work where our people are developed and feel valued.
• Meet some of our team
• Careers at Network Rail
• More about this role
• The application and selection process specific to this role, and support available during your application
• More Rewards and Benefits specific to Wales & Western Region, and transparency in salaries

This is a 12 month fixed term opportunity and has the potential for extension/to become permanent.

The successful candidate can be based in Cardiff, Newport or Baglan, with an expectation of time being spent in the Cardiff office on a weekly basis.

Closing date: 17th September 2026. Late applications will not be accepted.

This role requires working in the office for a least 60% of the working week.

We want to ensure everyone has an equal opportunity. Therefore, should you require any reasonable adjustments/modifications, please do let us know by contacting Recruitment team.

Your experience and skills

You will ideally have

• Demonstrates strong business/commercial approach and understanding of business needs.
• Proven experience of working in partnership and building strong working relationships with senior managers in order to improve people management.
• Passionate about customer service with ability to articulate previous achievements through business deliverables.
• Knowledge and experience of implementing best practice HR solutions to drive a high performance culture.
• Experience of coaching and influencing senior managers.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to negotiate and influence effectively with all levels of an organisation.
• Understands how to work with the business to identify, develop and retain talent.
• Excellent technical HR Knowledge - CIPD qualified or relevant experience to demonstrate level of competence.
• Proven track record of operating in a complex working environment.
• Involvement in organisation change programmes e.g. TUPE, Organisation re-design,redundancy programmes, etc
• Graduate calibre
• Keeping people safe on the railway is at the heart of everything we do. Safe behaviour is therefore a requirement of working for Network Rail. You should demonstrate your personal dedication to safety within your application.

What could set you apart

• MCIPD/post-graduate human resources qualification.
• Understanding of project management principles and experience of managing complex projects to successful conclusion.
• Experience of managing projects to successful conclusion.
• Experience of working within a unionised environment.

Key Leadership Capabilities

• Influencing others
• Creating solutions
• Understanding others
• Making things happen
• Thinking flexibly
• Customer focus

Not sure if you meet all the requirements? Let us decide. Some of these criteria may be learnt in role. Therefore, if you do not meet all the criteria, please submit your application. We will screen your application against these criteria to assess the best match.

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