DescriptionA little bit about us:
East West Rail is an infrastructure programme linking communities between Oxford and Cambridge. The area is currently let down by a lack of transport choices, and we have a once in a generation opportunity to fix that – improving prosperity for people and places along the way.

East West Railway Company (that’s us) was created by the Department for Transport (DfT) to oversee the delivery of East West Rail from construction through to wheels in motion, making sure the railway comes together in the right way.

Role Summary:
Following the creation of the People and Transformation Professional Community, we require a Head of HR to lead the HR Professional Home.  The Head of HR will be responsible for executing the People Strategy, and for developing the future People Strategies alongside the People and Transformation Director.Currently leading a team of 10 with four direct reports, you will be responsible for overseeing recruitment, employee relations, resourcing, workforce planning, employee engagement, reward and recognition, HR operations, employee experience, people analytics, talent management, succession planning, and HR reporting.

Team dimensions:
East West Rail operates a matrix structure. Reporting directly to the Executive Director Transformation and People.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage the execution of the People Strategy, adapt, and change as necessary
• Accountability for the core areas of HR – recruitment, employee relations, resourcing, workforce planning, employee engagement, reward and recognition, HR operations, employee experience, people analytics, talent management, succession planning.
• Manage the HR budget, including forecasting
• Develop and manage HR reporting and dashboards
• Advise and strategise on the development of effective employment policies across the company.
• Provide professional leadership, support, and development to the HR team, in order to increase knowledge, share best practice and to ensure that relevant professional standards are met.
• Ensure that the company complies with current regulations, accepted professional standards, policies and procedures and legislation (including legislation on data protection, the Equality Act and GDPR)
• Take a lead role in transforming and strengthening the organisational culture, ensuring that the company values and approach are displayed
• Regularly coach, mentor and support senior and high potential colleagues to identify individual strengths and development needs, develop and maintain effective relationships and encourage retention.
• Ensure managers are sufficiently skilled and enabled to access appropriate guidance and information to manage workforce issues. 
• Foster an innovative mindset by proactively seeking and implementing creative solutions to challenges.
• Responsible for managing and supporting direct reports including: coaching and developing team members to drive individual growth and operational excellence. Leading continuous improvement, through regular performance management and ensuring compliance with organisation policies and updating relevant systems.
  
  

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

• Experience of generalist HR, across ER, pay, reward, recruitment, resourcing, L&D, performance, and other HR activities, is essential.
• Experience of leading an HR team and the management of HR functions
• CIPD qualified level 7 or equivelent. 
• Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of UK employment law and EDI
• Budgeting
• The confidence to provide sound professional advice.
• Experience in determining, measuring, and analysing relevant KPIs for incentive schemes
• Proven leadership experience
• The ability to develop and nurture relationships across departments.
• The ability to create people strategy
• Commercial acumen and experience of using metrics for driving performance
• Adaptable to changing circumstances and environments - adjusting priorities, strategies and approaches in response to evolving needs and challenges.
• Resilient with the ability to bounce back from setbacks and obstacles while remaining focussed on goals.
• Proficient in navigating change and periods of transformation while maintaining effectiveness.

• Desirable experience
• Knowledge and understanding of TUPE, ACAS
• Working within a matrix/project environment
• A proactive and agile work ethic
  
  

BenefitsWhat we offer:

•     Competitive base salary •     Up to 12% employer’s pension contribution •     36 days holiday a year (including bank holidays) + up to 2 days to buy •     Life assurance •     Employee Assistance Programme •     Perks platform with hundreds of discounts and freebies •     On-the-spot and annual awards •     Advanced learning and development programmes •     Great work-life balance and flexible working opportunities •     Enhanced family-friendly policies •     Exceptional IT tools

 

EWR Co strives to embrace a flexible working environment, where a degree of flexibility is maintained to accommodate both the needs and preferences of employees and what is required to achieve business objectives. EWR Co will always work with any individual to assess and accommodate an individual’s work life balance and style.

 
Diversity and inclusion:
To discover the best solutions, it’s important we embrace diversity of thought. That’s why we aim to ensure our colleagues feel included, engaged and valued. Inclusiveness is not a buzzword, but a way of being. Our approach to diversity is simple – a workplace where everyone is welcome and everyone is encouraged to be themselves. It helps fuel our innovation and connects us with the customers and communities we serve.

 

East West Railway Company is a new and exciting venture at the forefront of the changing landscape of the rail industry, delivering substantial fast-paced improvement to modernise the railway.

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