Human Resources Business Partner (6-month FTC/secondment)

Who We Are

About the role

Overview

This role will support business leadership team in Capital Delivery and Regional Functions, under the direction of the Senior HR Business Partner to deliver the People Plan and objectives, and provide coaching and support to members of the supported leadership team. 

You will also provide pro-active, value add HR support to the supported business leaders across Capital Delivery and Regional Functions on medium term and operational people issues.

Base location is Swindon but can be located anywhere in the Wales and Western Region (Paddington, Reading, Swindon, Bristol, Exeter, Shrewsbury or Cardiff), with some travel across the Region to customer meetings.

Your Main Responsibilities will be to 

• Working closely with the supported business, to implement and deliver the HR Strategy/People Plan to include talent, succession planning, employee engagement action planning, and change management, in order to support the delivery of business objectives and drive a high performance culture.
• Work closely and building strong relationships with members of the supported business senior leadership team and other relevant stakeholders. Coach advise and challenge, where appropriate, business leaders on short and medium term HR issues as required.
• Provide operational HR support on (for example) organisation change, senior appointments, salary and bonus, graduate or apprentice programmes.   
• Successfully deliver client responsive, cost effective and integrated people solutions that address key business objectives, gaining acceptance from key stakeholders. 
• Reinforce the ownership of people management by the business and line managers and support the HR delivery model.
• Work with the broader HR function, including Centres of expertise, HR Direct and HR shared services teams to provide the best solutions for the business. 
• Work with appropriate Union representatives to support the business in delivering business solutions. 
• Liaise with HR Business Partners in other areas of the business and in Train Operating Companies in order to work collaboratively on cross business/geographical issues.

Pay and Rewards

Salary: Advertised in Zone 1 of Band 4C: the range £43,588 - £53,167 per annum.

As a Network Rail employee, you will enjoy a wide range of benefits!   

• Privileged staff travel - Leisure travel discount of 75% on all leisure travel and includes family members. 
• A subsidy of up to 75% on rail and underground season tickets if you travel to work on the train.
• GWR ticket alliance, Heavily discounted all day passes for you and up to 3 friends and family to use across the GWR network (48 passes per year)
• Benefits package including healthcare offers, a cycle to work scheme, discounted healthcare club membership, and a discounted offers and benefits including childcare, healthcare and online shopping site.
• A range of Pension schemes to choose from
• Effectively manage work-life balance with a 35hrs per week contract, hybrid working, flexible working, and enhanced family friendly support. 
• 5 days paid volunteering leave.
• 2 weeks paid reserve leave for the Armed Forces community.
• In Wales and Western region, you will have the opportunity to join PROUD, our reward and recognition scheme where you can say thanks and recognise colleagues across the region who have demonstrated outstanding values and behaviours.

To find out more about the benefits at Network Rail, click here.

More about the role and your application

This is a 6-month fixed term contract opportunity. 

Closing date: 16th October 2026. Late applications will not be accepted. 

This role requires working in the office for a least 60% of the working week 

To submit your application, click apply now. For tips to help you prepare and apply click here

Interviews will take place 27^th October 2026 via Teams

We want to ensure everyone has an equal opportunity. Therefore, should you require any reasonable adjustments/modifications, please include within your application.

All offers of employment are conditional upon satisfactory completion of pre-employment checks. Click here for more information

Our Drugs and Alcohol Standard has changed. All prospective candidates will be required to undergo and pass a drugs and alcohol test. Your application will be rescinded if you record a positive test. All positive drugs and alcohol test results for prospective candidates will be securely held on Sentinel database and a 5-year suspension from applying for a safety critical role, a role which requires PTS certification or a Key Safety role on Network Rail Managed Infrastructure will be enforced. 

Your experience and skills

You will ideally have

• Excellent technical HR Knowledge - CIPD qualified to Level 5 or above, or relevant experience to demonstrate level of competence.
• Proven experience of working in partnership and building strong working relationships with senior managers in order to improve people management.
• Demonstrates strong business/commercial approach and understanding of business needs.
• Passionate about customer service with ability to articulate previous achievements through business deliverables.
• Knowledge and experience of implementing best practice HR solutions to drive a high performance culture.
• Experience of coaching and influencing senior managers.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to negotiate and influence effectively with all levels of an organisation.
• Understands how to work with the business to identify, develop and retain talent.
• Proven track record of operating in a complex working environment.
• Involvement in organisation change programmes e.g. TUPE, Organisation re-design,  redundancy programmes, etc
• Keeping people safe on the railway is at the heart of everything we do. Safe behaviour is therefore a requirement of working for Network Rail. You should demonstrate your personal dedication to safety within your application. 

What could set you apart

• MCIPD/post-graduate human resources qualification.
• Understanding of project management principles and experience of managing complex projects to successful conclusion. 
• Experience of managing projects to successful conclusion. 
• Experience of working within a unionised environment.

Not sure if you meet all the requirements? Let us decide. Some of these criteria may be learnt in role. Therefore, if you do not meet all the criteria, please submit your application. We will screen your application against these criteria to assess the best match.