Employee Relations Business Partner

**Location**:
Bristol, GB**Department Name**:
EF HR Head of HR Western (109010) G5**About Network Rail**:
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.

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 you're part of our team, you matter to us, and you matter to millions. **Watch our video to find out more**

The Wales & Western region includes more than 2,700 miles of railway and we serve communities and businesses of Wales, the Thames Valley, West of England, and the Southwest Peninsula.
Our ambition to be responsive to passengers and freight users drives us every day and we're empowered to do the right thing for those who use the rail network. We actively challenge unsafe practices and take responsibility for addressing risks, resolving issues, and protecting safety and wellbeing.

**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 (20 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 a 35hrs per week contract, hybrid working 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.

**Brief Description**:
The Employee Relations (ER) Business Partner plays a crucial role in maintaining positive relationships between employees and the organisation. They provide geographical, face to face expert guidance and support on highly complex employee relations cases, in line with Network Rail policies and procedures, in addition to the coaching and development of line managers.

Working closely with HR Business Partners to deliver an effective, consistent and collaborative HR service, this role is essential for fostering a positive work environment and ensuring that employee relations are managed effectively and in compliance with legal and organisational standards.

**About the role (External)**:
**Key Accountabilities**

1. 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.

2. Provide clear guidance to managers regarding their responsibilities within a process or procedure and the elements the HR function will undertake.

3. Proactively manage and develop relationships and communication channels with Business Partner teams and HR Direct regarding complex ER cases and development requirements.

4. 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.

5. Maintain and track case records and documentation through HR Direct and Network Rail systems in a timely manner.

7. Responsible for the provision of consistent advice to line managers and therefore required to liaise across the broader HR function and share knowledge proactively.

8. Proactively maintain own knowledge on Employment Legislation and Organisational awareness.

9. Provide support to the ER Operations Manager or HR Business Partner team/s as required/requested.

**Job Skills, Experience and Qualifications**

Essential
- 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.
- Passionate about customer service and delivering professional HR support to the business.
- Capability to establish professional credibility