Metroline Ltd
Senior HR Business Partner - South (Coach & Bus Operations)
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Job Title
Senior HR Business Partner – South (Bus & Coach Operations & Business Support)
Line Manager
Chief Human Resources Officer
Department
Human Resources
Location
Approx. 2 days/week at the coach Operations in Perivale & Hayes approx. / a couple of days in Cricklewood as needed and Regular travel to Cardiff, in Wales (travel expenses covered);
Job Summary
We're looking for a credible, visible, and commercially minded Senior HR Business Partner to lead HR delivery across the Coach Division and Head Office Support Services in the South. This is not a desk-bound role - you'll be embedded in the business, building trusted relationships with leaders and employees, and acting as a proactive partner rather than a reactive service.
You'll bring strong employee and industrial relations experience, a genuine interest in the transport industry, and the confidence to act as a sounding board for senior stakeholders on the full range of people matters - from complex casework through to engagement and organisational change.
Main Responsibility
- Own the full employee life cycle for the Coach Division and Support Services, from recruitment through to exit
- Manage end-to-end ER/IR casework, including grievances, disciplinaries, and union engagement
- Lead end-to-end recruitment for the business area, working closely with hiring managers
- Advise on and manage TUPE transfers, ensuring compliant and well-handled transitions
- Act as a trusted, visible partner to leaders - coaching and challenging them on people decisions rather than simply processing requests
- Build and maintain strong working relationships with recognised trade unions, drawing on genuine collective bargaining and industrial relations experience
- Identify and drive opportunities to improve employee engagement, embedding initiatives rather than running them from a distance
- Spend the majority of time in the business - on depots, sites, and with frontline leaders - rather than at a desk
- Bring an innovative, forward-looking approach to HR delivery, anticipating issues before they escalate
- Lead / support organisational restructuring, including consultation, and build succession plans for key roles
- Empower line managers to own day-to-day people management, coaching them to handle employee relations, performance and engagement with confidence – this may include delivering training sessions
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Essential Criteria
- CIPD qualified to Level 7 (MCIPD), or working towards(or equivalent experience).
- Willingness and ability to travel regularly and spend the majority of time on-site, not only in the support office.
- Proven senior HR Business Partner experience in a unionised, operational environment
- Strong, demonstrable trade union and collective bargaining experience
- Sound working knowledge of TUPE
- Track record of managing complex ER casework end-to-end
- Genuine interest in and understanding of the transport/logistics industry
- Visible, proactive operating style - comfortable spending most time with the business rather than in the office. Travel to Cardiff, Wales bi-weekly basis at the very least.
- Warm, personable, and approachable, while credible enough to challenge senior stakeholders
Competencies & Skills
- Ability to work collaboratively with Senior leaders to drive organisational goals
- Excellent communication, interpersonal and negotiation skills
- Excellent attention for detail
- Ability to operate as a team player
- Strong problem-solving and decision making skills, with a strategic mindset
- Excellent interpersonal and organisational skills
- Must be proactive, methodical and results orientated
- Highly organised, motivated and able to prioritise workload
- Ability to manage own workload effectively and work to strict deadlines
- Exceptional customer service skills with a natural flair of providing support and guidance and going ‘the extra mile’
- Process driven and able to deliver results in a high volume
- Ability to use initiative and identify solutions when a problem or difficult situation arises
- Must be able to demonstrate credibility to build professional relationships with both employees and managers
- Discreet when managing confidential matters
- Ability to collate and interpret statistical data
- Able to build lasting relationships with internal and external stakeholders/suppliers
- An understanding/appreciation of the service requirements and the management of day to day operational issues
- Ability to influence and persuade key decision makers
- Must be a team player and willing to develop others to increase team and individual performance
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Hours of Work
38 Hours per week
The Equality Act
ComfortdelGro is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment with due regard to legal obligations for protected characteristics i.e. age, disability, marriage and civil partnership, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion and belief, sex and sexual orientation.
Applications
Applications Should Include
- the reasons you are applying for the post
- why you believe you are a suitable candidate
- any relevant qualifications or experience
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