Strategic HR Business Partner

Avanti West Coast; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Final salary pension

Free travel on Avanti West Coast

Privilege Travel card

30 days holiday

Job summary

Avanti West Coast is looking for a Strategic HR Business Partner to enhance its people agenda across a diverse operational network. This role involves building strong relationships at all levels, providing pragmatic HR advice, and ensuring compliance with employment laws.

The ideal candidate will be an experienced HR generalist with a customer-focused approach, capable of influencing management decisions and working collaboratively with trade unions. Strong organisational skills and the ability to adapt to changing priorities are essential.

Benefits include a final salary pension, free travel and discounts for family, and up to 37 days holiday.

Qualifications

• Experience in an operational and ideally unionised environment.
• Ability to influence and challenge senior managers.
• Highly organised and resilient.

Responsibilities

• Build strong relationships with leaders and managers.
• Provide practical advice on employment matters.
• Contribute to business objectives through workforce planning.

Skills

Customer-focused approach

Strong employment law knowledge

HR generalist experience

Coaching senior managers

Building trust quickly

Education

Degree-level education or CIPD Level 7 qualification

Job description

Are you an HR expert who loves balancing strategic thinking with hands on operational impact?

We are seeking a confident and capable Strategic HR Business Partner to join our team and play a key role in supporting our people agenda across a diverse operational network.

About the Role

As an HR Business Partner, you will:

• Build strong, effective relationships with senior leaders, operational managers, colleagues, and trade union representatives
• Provide clear, pragmatic advice on a full range of employment matters, highlighting risks and guiding managers towards sound, compliant decisions
• Work closely with our HR Services team and subject matter experts to deliver a consistent, high quality HR service
• Support the implementation and embedding of organisational and industry-wide changes, working collaboratively with trade unions
• Maintain a strong presence across our stations, depots, and offices, ensuring HR remains visible, accessible, and aligned to the needs of the business
• Contribute directly to the delivery of key business objectives through proactive workforce planning, engagement, and problem-solving

Please see the role profile for more information.

This role requires regular travel across our network and a commitment to being in the workplace for the majority of the working week. One day per week you will be required to work from our Head office located in Birmingham.

About You

We are looking for someone who:

• Has experience in a customer-focused, operational, and ideally unionised environment
• Is a well-rounded HR generalist with strong employment law knowledge
• Can confidently challenge, influence, and coach senior managers
• Is highly organised, resilient, and able to adapt to changing priorities
• Builds trust quickly and acts as a reliable, professional advisor at all levels

Qualifications

• Degree-level education or CIPD Level 7 qualification (preferred)

Benefits include:

• Final salary pension
• Free travel on Avanti West Coast for you/spouse/partner/dependents
• Privilege Travel card (75% off other train operators fares for leisure travel)
• 30 days holiday rising by 1 for every completed year of service to a maximum of 37 days (inclusive of bank holidays)
• 10 free journeys on other First Group Train Operator