Job Description

Group HR Business Partner

Who are we?

FirstGroup plc is a leading provider of transport services in the UK and Ireland, and a member of the FTSE 250. Our 30,000 colleagues work across the UK to provide easy and convenient mobility, improving quality of life by connecting people and communities. Our First Bus division is one of the largest bus operators in the UK, serving two thirds of the 15 largest cities. We are also one of the country\'s largest and most experienced rail operators, running four train companies, GWR, SWR and Avanti West Coast, and other rail businesses as part of our First Rail division. Our ambition is to accelerate the transition to a zero-carbon world and be the partner of choice for innovative and sustainable transport.

We\'re looking for a Group HR Business Partner to join our HR Team at head office. This role is providing effective HR support to the Group Corporate Functions on tactical people issues to allow Group Functions to operate effectively and ensuring Managers and Function Heads are equipped with appropriate tools, support and knowledge to effectively manage and develop their people.

What will you be doing?

• Working closely with the Group HR team on people strategy and employee experience across the Group
• Providing a responsive and professional HR business partnering service to leaders of Group Functions
• Ensuring our Group Functions have in place the technical and leadership skills they need to achieve their business goals, together with strong succession plans and performance management arrangements
• Providing expert advice on effective change management, business reorganisation and building a culture of innovation and high performance
• Leading the planning and delivery of HR change initiatives
• Ensure HR policies required by the Corporate Functions are up-to-date and legally compliant, and new policies are developed as required
• Ensure that effective, compliant and user-friendly HR processes are documented and in operation; identify opportunities to improve the employee experience and efficiency through simplification and automation as appropriate
• Review and approve Corporate Functions monthly payroll, ensuring that all starters, leavers and payroll changes are communicated to payroll and actioned accurately and on time
• Ensure all Corporate Functions people data is accurate and maintained on PDS system in line with GDPR guidelines
• Ensure the effective induction, management, performance appraisal and continued development of all direct reports

What are we looking for?

• Strong HR generalist experience in a corporate environment, including successful track record in supporting senior executives on performance management, skills and succession planning, senior level resourcing, driving culture change and complex case management.
• Experience of design and delivery of Learning and Development initiatives at senior level
• Understanding of relevant UK employment legislation and its practical application.
• Can analyse situations and individuals and come up with simple, practical, pragmatic solutions appropriate to our business context
• Excellent influencing and relationship skills at senior levels
• The professional expertise and credibility to be trusted as an expert advisor, and to inspire confidence with Executive Committee-level executives
• Clear, concise communicator orally and in writing
• Able to operate at both strategic and tactical levels; and comfortable switching between strategy and dealing with detailed practical issues.
• Comfortable rolling their sleeves up, as well as getting things done through others.
• Personally well-organised, flexible and able to \'keep many plates spinning\'
• Track record of working collaboratively as part of a team with other senior HR professionals
• Tenacious and resilient
• Calm under pressure
• Excellent attention to detail
• Analytical and tech savvy
• Able to use knowledge of external best practice to continuously improve service and performance
• Coaching skills at senior level

What can we offer you?

• 25 days Annual Leave + Bank Holidays
• First Xclusives - Discounts on many high street brands, supermarket\'s, holiday and cinema tickets, to name a few
• First My Rewards - Discounted train travel for you and your family after 6 months service - travel as far as London or Edinburgh for \xc2\xa36!
• Free bus travel on our First Bus network after 6 months service
• Generous pension and shares scheme
• Private healthcare
• Life assurance
• Employee Assistance Programme - 24hr, 365 days a year mental health support
• Support to obtain relevant professional qualifications

This is an exciting opportunity for someone to make a significant and valuable contribution to our Company\'s mission and success, while developing their career with a FTSE 250 listed company.

We aspire to be a diverse and inclusive employer because we believe that diversity brings benefits for our customers, communities and our people. Valuing our differences and drawing on our collective knowledge and experience helps us develop new services, open up new markets and broaden our customer base. We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome everyone regardless of social background, gender or gender reassignment, pregnancy or maternity, marriage or civil partnership status, race, religious beliefs, disability, sexual orientation, sex or age.

We consider all requests to work flexibly in line with our established Flexible Working Policy and other related policies and guidance. We are committed as a Disability Confident employer to making appropriate reasonable adjustments to address a disadvantage you may be facing at work as a result of a disability.

Apply now! We look forward to receiving you application.

FirstGroup