Senior Industrial Relations Business Partner

About Network Rail

About Network Rail...

Join Our Team at Network Rail!

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 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.

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!
Brief Description

About the team..

Join Our Team as a Senior Industrial Relations Business Partner!

Are you passionate about fostering positive relationships and driving effective collaboration between employers and employees? Are you experienced in navigating the intricacies of industrial relations and employment policies? If so, we have an exciting opportunity for you!

Who are we looking for?

We are looking for a Senior Industrial Relations Business Partner to fill a Permanent opportunity to manage the development of a constructive relationship between Network Rail, its Trade Unions and employees and act as a centre of expertise to the business on appropriate bargaining and consultation approaches and on the application of employment policy and legislation, to enable Network Rail's objectives to be achieved.
About the role (External)

What does the average day look like?

In this multifaceted role, you will be the driving force behind our industrial relations initiatives. Your responsibilities will include:

• Leading the industrial relations aspects of the business efficiency agenda enabling the agenda to be achieved whilst minimising risk

• Acting as change agent in supporting delivery of business objectives through developing a clear understanding of business strategy and close relationships with business-facing HR, senior business leaders and other specialist functions

• Developing positive relationships with business leaders and trade union representatives to provide a platform for the achievement of business aims.

• Developing and implementing appropriate bargaining and consultation strategies and tactics to achieve business objectives

• Managing the bargaining and consultation agenda at national level and lead on the employee relations aspects of the agenda

• Modernising existing agreements so that they are fit for purpose and enable business aims to be met

• Providing industrial relations leadership when disputes arise to ensure that the company's interests are protected and appropriate resolution and/or risk mitigation approaches are adopted

• Contributing to the development of the overall employee relations (ER) and industrial relations (IR) strategy of the company.

• Contributing to the development and implementation of ER and IR policies within the functions.

• Advising on ER and IR implications of business initiatives and act as a centre of knowledge and interpretation on policies, procedures and legislation.

• Providing specialist input and leadership in collaboration with business representatives and other specialists (e.g. legal; R&) to enable resolution of collective legal claims and actions

Person Specification / Essential Criteria

• Significant ER and IR experience of a large multisite complex unionised organisation

• CIPD qualified or equivalent or relevant experience to demonstrate level of competence

• In depth knowledge of HR policies and procedures and employment legislation

• Demonstrates strong business/commercial approach and understanding of business needs.

• Ability to establish professional credibility quickly

• Ability to manage trade union negotiations on collective bargaining issues

• Broad experience of advising on the ER/IR implications of large scale complex organisational changes (eg TUPE, Organisation re-design, redundancy programmes etc)

• Change agent experience

• Passionate about customer service with the ability to deliver successfully against customer requirements

• Excellent communication skills and ability to negotiate and influence effectively at all levels in the organisation

• Proven track record of operating in a large complex unionised environment]]>