Head of HR Shared Services

Hitachi Vantara Corporation; Greater London; On-site; GBP 125,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading digital transformation company in Greater London is seeking a Head of HR Shared Services. This role will manage an HR team, ensuring efficient and compliant service delivery across various HR functions. Key responsibilities include team leadership, HRIS oversight, and employee relations management. The ideal candidate should have extensive leadership experience, knowledge of UK employment laws, and proven skills in communication and conflict resolution. The company offers competitive salary and benefits in a dynamic work environment.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Annual performance bonus

25 days holiday

Pension scheme with contributions

Private medical insurance

Employee Assistance Programme

Qualifications

• Proven leadership experience developing HR professionals.
• Strong knowledge of UK employment law in unionised environments.
• Ability to manage complex employee relations cases effectively.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the HR Shared Services team.
• Oversee HRIS management and data accuracy.
• Manage core HR administrative processes.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives.

Skills

Leadership and team management

Knowledge of UK employment law

Employee relations management

Communication skills

Analytical skills

Change management

Proficiency in HR systems

Education

CIPD Level 5 or equivalent HR qualification

Tools

HRIS systems

Case management tools

Job description

About Us

A career at Hitachi Rail will help create a legacy. With operations in every corner of the world, our work goes to the cutting-edge of digital transformation and technology. From the multi-cultural strength of our global organisation to the sustainable and innovative ways we work to bring people together, there’s something for everyone to get stuck into. And that’s where you come in.

Description

Job Title: Head of HR Shared Services

Location: London or Regional site

Your new role

We currently have an exciting vacancy for a Head of HR Shared Services in our UK HR team.

This role will lead the HR Shared Services function, ensuring efficient, compliant, and customer-focused delivery of HR services across HRIS, administration, travel, expenses, management information (MI), and employee relations (ER). This role also provides strategic leadership to the shared services team, fostering a high-performance culture and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities:

Leadership & Team Management

• Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing HR Shared Services team.
• Set clear objectives, monitor performance, and support career development.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and service excellence.
• Manage resource planning, workload distribution, and succession planning.

HRIS & Data Management

• Oversee the HRIS platform, ensuring data accuracy, system optimization, and user support.
• Lead system upgrades, integrations, and reporting enhancements.
• Ensure compliance with data protection regulations (e.g., GDPR).

HR Administration

• Manage core HR administrative processes including onboarding, offboarding, contract management, and personnel records.
• Ensure timely and accurate resolution of employee queries and requests.

Travel & Expenses

• Oversee administration of travel and expense policies and systems.
• Monitor compliance and identify opportunities for cost control and process improvement.
• Collaborate with Finance and Procurement to align policies and systems.

Management Information (MI)

• Deliver HR dashboards, scorecards, and analytics to support strategic decision-making.
• Ensure timely and accurate reporting of HR metrics and KPIs.
• Provide insights and recommendations based on data trends.

Employee Relations (ER)

• Oversee ER case management, ensuring fair and consistent handling of employee issues.
• Partner with the wider HR function and Legal on complex ER matters.
• Maintain documentation and ensure compliance with employment legislation.

Operational Excellence

• Drive continuous improvement across HR operations.
• Implement automation and self-service tools to enhance efficiency.
• Ensure service delivery meets agreed SLAs and KPIs.

About you

Key Skills & Experience

Essential

• Strong leadership and team management skills, with experience developing HR professionals.
• In-depth knowledge of UK employment law and HR policies, particularly in unionised and industrial environments.
• Proven ability to manage complex employee relations cases with professionalism and discretion.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and conflict resolution skills.
• Ability to build effective relationships with stakeholders at all levels, including trade unions and operational leaders.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret data and identify trends.
• Experience in managing change processes such as restructures, TUPE, and organisational development.
• Proficient in HR systems and case management tools.
• Commercially aware with a pragmatic approach to problem solving and decision making.

Qualifications

• CIPD Level 5 or above, an equivalent HR qualification or equivalent experience.
• Evidence of continuous professional development in employee relations or employment law.

What we offer

We value the importance of all of our employees, if you would like to join our fantastic organisation you could be entitled to:

• Competitive salary
• Annual Performance bonus paid on discretionary basis.
• 25 days holiday
• Pension scheme with contributions up to 9%
• Private medical insurance
• Personal Accident insurance
• Group Income protection
• Group Life Insurance
• Employee Assistance Programme

We also offer additional perks for you to choose from within a flexible plan that will meet your specific needs and lifestyle.

Thank you for your interest in Hitachi Rail. If your application is of interest, we will be in contact. Please do not hesitate to discover more about us and our latest jobs at https://www.hitachirail.com/careers.

At Hitachi Rail, there is a place for everyone. We welcome and value differences in background, age, gender, sexuality, family status, disability, race, nationality, ethnicity, religion, and world view. It is our commitment to create an inclusive environment - we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer.

We would be delighted if you would be one of our followers at https://www.linkedin.com/company/hitachirail