A 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.
At East West Railway Company, we’re committed to building an inclusive railway for all. We believe that to do that, we must nurture a diverse team that represents the UK communities that we impact. Our approach is simple – to create an environment where everyone is welcome and able to be themselves. We celebrate diversity and are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We encourage applications of all backgrounds and experiences.

SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE

• Proven experience HR experience a similar fast paced and busy generalist role.
• Demonstrated ability to contribute to and implement HR strategies, programs, or initiatives that align with business objectives.
• Experience supporting the full employee lifecycle – from recruitment through to exit – with a strong understanding of associated processes and legal considerations.
• Strong working knowledge of UK Employment Law.
• Experience of handling and resolving a range of employee relations issues at all levels of the organisation.
• A good understanding of HR practices and data protection.
• Experience developing and delivering training or coaching on HR topics to managers or teams.
• Presentation and facilitation skills, using a range of tools and techniques.
• Ability to build trusted relationships and influence key business decisions.
• Proficient in HRIS Systems and MS Office Suite.
• Up to date knowledge of good practice and emerging trends in HR.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and oral.

Education and qualifications:

• CIPD Level 5 (Desired)

ROLE SUMMARY:

The HR Business Partner plays a key role in supporting the employee experience and lifecycle by providing day-to-day HR guidance and operational support across a range of people matters. As a member of a small team, you will be expected to engage at both strategic and operational levels in a hands-on, sleeves-rolled-up environment. Reporting to the Senior HR Business Partner, this role collaborates closely with the wider People team to deliver consistent, effective HR support aligned with business objectives. The HR Business Partner is a trusted advisor to managers and employees, helping to foster a positive, engaging, and high-performance workplace culture. Key areas of focus include employee relations, performance management, talent development, policy application, and supporting the successful rollout of people initiatives and programs.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide comprehensive operational HR support across the full employee lifecycle, enhancing the overall employee experience and ensuring a consistent, high-quality approach to people matters.
• Identify opportunities to continuously improve HR processes and practices, driving operational excellence and a proactive approach to people support.
• Contribute to the development, implementation, and review of HR policies and procedures, ensuring compliance with legislation and alignment with best practice.
• Support the delivery of People Strategies and initiatives that align with the wider business goals and drive employee engagement, development, and retention.
• Partner with business leaders to understand organisational priorities and challenges, offering strategic HR guidance and insights in order to support the delivery of business objectives and foster a high-performance culture.
• Champion a performance-driven culture by supporting talent recognition, development, and the effective management of underperformance.
• Leverage people data and analytics to identify workforce trends and future needs, supporting informed decision-making and HR planning.
• Manage complex employee relations casework including dispute resolutions, disciplinaries, grievances, performance management, medical capability and redundancy.
• Proactively manage absence cases, including coordination with occupational health and implementing reasonable adjustments to support employee wellbeing and productivity.
• Design and deliver training sessions, workshops, and coaching for managers and leaders on key people topics, enhancing leadership effectiveness and knowledge.
• Enhance managers’ capability within the field of HR and employee relations through business partnering and knowledge sharing of best practice to build confident people-focused leaders.
• Build strong relationships with stakeholders across the business, offering coaching, support, and advice on all people related matters.
• Support the wider People team in recruitment, talent development, workforce planning, and reporting activities.
• Conduct benchmarking and parity reviews to ensure internal equity and competitiveness in reward and employment practices.
• Take responsibility of your own and others’ health and safety by adopting and working to the EWR Co Health and Safety principles.
• Demonstrates a cost-conscious mindset, keeping tax payers’ money at the forefront of decisions.
• Shows a commitment to innovation by proactively seeking creative solutions to challenges and opportunities.
• Act as a role model for EWR Co’s vision and behaviours, working in ways that are aligned with EWR Co’s Ways of Working, as well as encouraging and supporting others to do so too