HR Business Partner

HR Business Partner

3-Month Contract | Inside IR35 | Up to £300 per day

About the Opportunity

Morson Edge is exclusively partnering with a major UK passenger rail operator to appoint an interim HR Business Partner to lead HR support for its Driver community. This is a senior, strategic partnering role within a safety-critical, unionised environment, working closely with Driver functional leaders to shape workforce planning, industrial relations and organisational development across depots nationally. Full client details will be shared with shortlisted candidates.

Purpose of the Role

To act as the senior strategic HR partner for the Driver function, providing expert people leadership across Driver depots, Driver management teams, and Driver capability operations. The role ensures the delivery of safe, reliable and high-performing Driver operations through proactive workforce planning, robust industrial relations and strategic organisational development.

Key Responsibilities

• Build strong, influential relationships with Driver functional leaders to understand operational priorities, safety requirements and workforce challenges.
• Lead the development and delivery of people plans aligned to Driver operations, including route competence, training pipelines, fatigue management and resource resilience.
• Provide senior HR insight into Driver performance reviews, depot management boards and operational readiness forums.
• Oversee strategic workforce planning for the Driver function, including headcount modelling, training throughput, succession planning and competency-based deployment.
• Lead HR support for major Driver-related change programmes (e.g. timetable reform, new traction introduction, productivity initiatives).
• Collaborate closely with resourcing, rostering, Driver Resource Managers and operational control to ensure Driver availability and compliance.
• Provide effective line management to the HR Partner and Talent Acquisition Partner for Drivers.
• Develop and maintain strong industrial relations with recognised trade unions, leading high-level negotiations, dispute resolution and consultation.
• Ensure consistent application of HR policy and procedure across all Driver locations and management teams.
• Strengthen Driver leadership capability through coaching, targeted development and succession planning.
• Lead engagement initiatives tailored to Drivers, reflecting operational constraints and frontline working patterns.
• Champion equality, diversity and inclusion within the Driver community.
• Oversee HR support for organisational design across the Driver function, including depot structures and management frameworks.
• Promote and embed a safety-first culture through Driver-specific initiatives and safety dialogue with Driver leaders.
• Maintain high standards of workforce data accuracy, reporting and analytics to support operational decision-making.
• Support internal and external audits, regulatory compliance and safety assessments relevant to Driver operations.
• Significant experience as a Senior HR Business Partner (or equivalent) within a safety-critical, unionised or operational environment.
• Deep understanding of UK employment law, HR best practice and complex industrial relations frameworks.
• Strong credibility working with frontline/operational teams in rail, transport, logistics or another regulated industry.
• Proven experience leading strategic people programmes, change initiatives and workforce planning in a safety-critical context.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills at all organisational levels.
• CIPD Level 5 or above (Level 7 desirable), or equivalent professional accreditation.
• Familiarity with HRIS platforms (e.g. Workday) and operational resource planning / rostering systems.
• 3-month initial term, Inside IR35
• Day rate: up to £300 per day, dependent on experience
• Regional coverage — travel to Driver depots required; some flexibility on hours and location may be needed
• Client identity disclosed to shortlisted candidates prior to interview