Senior HR Business Partner - North East & Yorkshire

Arriva UK Bus Limited; Tees Valley; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A key bus operator in the UK is seeking a Senior HR Business Partner for the North East and Yorkshire region. This influential position involves shaping and delivering the people strategy, collaborating with senior leaders, and fostering strong relationships with Trade Union partners. Ideal candidates should have significant HR experience, strong leadership qualities, and be proficient in managing employee relations. The role requires a strong on-site presence in the region, possibly based around Wakefield, offering opportunities to make a real impact in a supportive environment.

Qualifications

• Experienced HR professional with a strong generalist background.
• Proven experience in complex, unionised environments.
• Judgement to balance commercial priorities with employee advocacy.

Responsibilities

• Deliver the regional people plan with high quality HR service.
• Influence strategic business planning through HR solutions.
• Lead HR workstreams for business change initiatives.
• Build relationships with Trade Union representatives.
• Drive employee engagement and retention initiatives.

Skills

Strong knowledge of HR practices

Excellent communication skills

Experience in employee relations

Strong IT skills

Negotiation skills

Education

CIPD Level 7 qualification or equivalent experience

Tools

Microsoft Office

HR systems

Job description

Senior HR Business Partner North East & Yorkshire

Location :

Regional North East & Yorkshire

Contract :

Permanent

Salary

Competitive plus benefits

Arriva is looking for a Senior HR Business Partner to play a pivotal role in shaping and delivering the people agenda across our North East and Yorkshire region. This is a complex and high profile operational area at the heart of our UK Bus business.

This is a senior, influential role for a commercially minded HR leader who can balance strategic thinking with operational delivery and who thrives in fast paced, unionised environments.

The Role

Reporting to the HR Director Regions, you will act as a trusted advisor to senior operational leaders, providing both strategic and hands on HR leadership. You will play a central role in delivering an effective people strategy aligned to the UK Bus Medium Term Plan, driving performance, engagement and sustainable change.

You will deputise for the HR Director when required and act as a key escalation point for the Operations leadership team. Working closely with colleagues across HR, Operations and our Trade Union partners, you will deliver pragmatic, risk aware HR solutions that support both our people and commercial objectives.

Key Responsibilities

• Partner with senior leaders to deliver the regional people plan and provide a high quality, consistent HR service
• Influence strategic business planning through insight led HR solutions
• Lead HR workstreams for major business change initiatives, ensuring effective implementation and minimal disruption
• Build strong, credible relationships with Trade Union representatives, fostering a culture of partnership
• Coach and support senior leaders, HRBPs and ER Partners to ensure consistency, capability and risk mitigation
• Drive employee engagement, wellbeing and retention initiatives
• Champion talent management, succession planning and learning to build long term organisational capability
• Promote the effective use of self service via the HR Hub, empowering managers and colleagues
• Deputise for the HR Director Regions as required, providing leadership across the wider HR function

About You

You will be a confident, resilient and experienced HR professional with a strong generalist background and the credibility to influence and challenge at a senior level. You will bring proven experience operating in complex, unionised environments and the judgement to balance commercial priorities with employee advocacy.

You will also have

• Strong knowledge of HR practices, processes and systems at both strategic and operational levels
• Significant experience managing industrial and employee relations
• A track record of leading and delivering business change and transformation
• Excellent communication, influencing and negotiation skills
• The ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast moving environment
• CIPD Level 7 qualification or equivalent experience
• Strong IT skills including Microsoft Office and HR systems

Location Requirement

This role requires a strong on patch presence across the North East and Yorkshire region. Ideally you will be based around Wakefield, however candidates local to other Arriva locations within the region will also be considered.

Why Arriva

At Arriva, we connect communities and make a meaningful difference every day. You will join a supportive and collaborative environment where your expertise will have real impact across a key region of the business. We are committed to developing our people and offer genuine opportunities to shape the future of HR at Arriva.