Senior Employee Relations Partner & Strategic Advisor

arriva; Thurmaston; On-site; GBP 85,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Arriva UK Bus is seeking a Senior Employee Relations Business Partner to shape and deliver our ER agenda. You will act as a trusted advisor to senior leaders, drive best practice, and ensure compliant outcomes across complex, unionised depots in the UK.

You will partner with operational leaders, coach HR teams, and use data insights to mitigate risk, support change programmes and strengthen leadership capability within the People function.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in a senior Employee Relations, HR Business Partner or ER specialist role.
• Experience in a large, complex, unionised environment.
• Proven track record handling complex, high-profile ER cases (disciplinaries, grievances, absence, change, tribunals).
• Excellent knowledge of UK employment law and ER best practice.
• Experience partnering with senior leadership and influencing strategic decisions.

Responsibilities

• Lead on complex, high-risk ER matters with fair, compliant outcomes.
• Act as senior escalation point for ER teams and operational leaders, provide coaching.
• Partner with senior stakeholders to align ER strategies with business objectives.
• Use ER data/trends to identify risks and drive improvements.
• Develop ER policies, governance, and manager guidance.
• Drive early intervention to reduce risk and improve experience.
• Oversee ER systems, reporting and case management for governance.
• Collaborate with Trade Unions and employee forums to support constructive industrial relations.
• Support organisational change programmes and restructures.
• Coach and mentor HR/ER colleagues to build capability.

Skills

Employee relations

Stakeholder management

Coaching & influencing

Analytical using data

UK employment law

Education

CIPD Level 5 or 7 qualification

Job description

Arriva UK Bus is seeking a Senior Employee Relations Business Partner to shape and deliver our ER agenda. You will act as a trusted advisor to senior leaders, drive best practice, and ensure compliant outcomes across complex, unionised depots in the UK.

You will partner with operational leaders, coach HR teams, and use data insights to mitigate risk, support change programmes and strengthen leadership capability within the People function.