Employee Relations & Industrial Relations Business Partner

Employee Relations & Industrial Relations Business Partner

About DFT Operator

DFTO is the government's public sector rail owning group. Its purpose is to bring all currently privately-owned train operators into public ownership in advance of the creation of Great British Railways in 2027 - and deliver improvements in the here and now by unifying and integrating train operations under common public ownership.

DFTO has over 23,000 employees, runs over 6,000 services a day and delivers over 450 million customer journeys across its networks every year. This accounts for 26% of total UK passenger journeys and 30% of passenger miles.

Major improvements are being delivered by DFTO train operators (TOCs) that are already under public ownership - these are LNER, Northern, TransPennine Express (TPE), Southeast, South Western Railway (SWR) and c2c.

Primary Purpose of Job:

The role provides specialist ER and IR expertise across the organisation, developing and embedding a robust ER framework that strengthens current practice and prepares the business for future change, including the transition to GBR. Working closely with HR Business Partners and the Group Head of Industrial Relations, the postholder builds management capability, analyses ER/IR data to identify risks and emerging issues, and ensures the organisation remains informed, compliant, and strategically positioned in relation to employment rights and TULRCA developments.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Develop and maintain the organisation's ER framework, ensuring it delivers consistent, fair, and legally compliant practices and supports future readiness for GBR.
2. Support the deployment of the IR strategy through analysis, insight, and coordination with the Group Head of Industrial Relations.
3. Lead analysis of ER and IR data to identify emergent themes, hotspots, systemic issues, and areas of risk, translating findings into targeted interventions.
4. Act as the organisational owner for employment rights and TULRCA developments, assessing real-world implications, advising leaders, and developing education and guidance to ensure the business is fully prepared.
5. Design and deliver management capability initiatives to build leadership confidence and competence in handling ER matters, disputes, and policy application.
6. Build positive and influential relationships with business leaders, HR Business Partners, and trade union representatives to enable constructive dialogue and support business aims.
7. Support development, implementation and management of bargaining and consultation approaches that support business objectives while appropriately managing industrial relations risk.
8. Provide specialist ER and IR advice on business change and legislative interpretation, acting as a trusted source of expertise.
9. Support the management of disputes and industrial relations challenges, recommending effective resolution strategies and ensuring appropriate risk mitigation.
10. Contribute to modernising agreements and policies, ensuring they remain fit for purpose, aligned with legislation, and supportive of organisational priorities.
11. Collaborate with legal and other specialist teams to support the resolution of collective matters, including legal claims and negotiations.

Knowledge, Skills, Experience & Technical Qualifications:

Essential

• Significant ER and IR experience of a large multisite complex unionised organisation
• CIPD qualified or equivalent or relevant experience to demonstrate level of competence
• In depth knowledge of HR policies and procedures and employment legislation
• Demonstrates strong business/commercial approach and understanding of business needs.
• Ability to establish professional credibility quickly
• Ability to manage trade union relationships and resolve collective bargaining issues
• Experience of advising on the ER/IR implications of large scale complex organisational changes (eg TUPE, Organisation re-design, redundancy programmes etc)
• Passionate about customer service with the ability to deliver successfully against customer requirements
• Excellent communication skills and ability to negotiate and influence effectively at all levels in the organisation
• Proven track record of operating in a large complex unionised environment

Vacancy Details:

Duration: 2 year Fixed Term contract/secondment Location: London Waterloo/Hybrid Salary: up to £66,400
Closing date: 3rd Marc h 2026

DFTO Benefits:

Annual Leave: Starting at 25 days and rising to an additional day per year of service completed within the first 5 completed years up to a maximum of 5 additional (30 days)

DC Pension Scheme: 10% Employer contribution, 5% Employee contribution

Opportunities to learn and network across the wider industry

Additional Information

Disclaimer: Candidates applying for this position on a secondment basis must inform their line manager prior to submitting their application. This is to ensure transparency and facilitate any necessary discussions regarding workload and responsibilities.

About our people and the recruitment process - We're an inclusive employer of choice and we welcome applications from everyone! We encourage our colleagues to work flexibly, as we know traditional working patterns don't always fit. If you want to consider working flexibly, just let us know and we'll do our best to help and invest in your career with us, whilst you have a healthy work life balance.

Contact: If you have any questions or reasonable adjustments, please contact Name

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