At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead strategic people initiatives for Driver operations, ensuring safety and performance.
- Company: Join CrossCountry, a leader in transport services with a focus on transformation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career development, and a commitment to diversity and inclusion.
- Other info: Be part of a dynamic team driving change and operational excellence.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on workforce strategies that shape the future of transport.
- Qualifications: Extensive HR experience in complex environments and strong leadership skills.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 65000 £ per year.
Closing date for applications: Friday 3rd July 2026
Purpose of the Role
CrossCountry is seeking a highly experienced Senior HR Business Partner to provide strategic people leadership for our Driver operations. This is a critical role supporting one of the most safety-critical and operationally complex areas of the business. You will act as a trusted partner to Driver functional leadership teams across all depots and operational environments, shaping and delivering people strategies that enable safe, reliable, and high-performing Driver services. Operating in a unionised, regulated environment, you will influence workforce planning, industrial relations, leadership capability, and organisational design to ensure long-term operational resilience and excellence.
What You’ll Be Responsible For
- You will lead the development and delivery of a comprehensive people strategy for Driver operations, ensuring alignment between workforce capability, operational demand, and business priorities.
Key Areas Of Responsibility Include
- Strategic Business Partnering – Build strong, trusted relationships with Driver leaders to understand operational needs, safety requirements, workforce challenges, and long-term strategic priorities.
- Workforce Planning & Operational Readiness – Lead strategic workforce planning across Driver operations, including headcount modelling, training throughput, competency frameworks, route learning, and resource resilience.
- Operational Change & Transformation – Support and lead HR input into major Driver‑related change programmes, including timetable changes, fleet introduction, productivity initiatives, and operational restructuring.
- Industrial Relations & Employee Relations – Develop and maintain effective relationships with trade unions, supporting consultation, negotiation, and dispute resolution in a complex operational environment.
- Leadership Capability & Talent Development – Strengthen leadership capability across Driver management teams through coaching, succession planning, talent identification, and targeted development programmes.
- Organisational Design & Structure – Support the design and evolution of depot and Driver management structures to ensure operational efficiency and clarity of accountability.
- Engagement, Culture & Safety – Drive engagement strategies tailored to Driver populations, embedding a strong safety‑first culture and promoting inclusion, fairness, and wellbeing.
- Data, Insight & Governance – Ensure high‑quality workforce data, reporting, and insight are used to support operational decision‑making and regulatory compliance.
- Team Leadership – Provide line management and direction to the HR Partner and Talent Acquisition Partner supporting Driver operations.
What We’re Looking For
Essential Experience And Skills
- Significant experience as a Senior HR Business Partner (or equivalent) in a safety‑critical, unionised, or operational environment
- Strong track record in complex industrial relations and UK employment law
- Proven ability to partner effectively with operational or frontline leadership teams (ideally in rail, transport, logistics, or regulated industries)
- Experience leading large‑scale people strategies, workforce planning, and organisational change
- Strong influencing, communication, and stakeholder management skills across all levels of an organisation
- Experience managing and developing HR professionals
- CIPD Level 5 or above (Level 7 desirable) or equivalent professional experience
- Familiarity with HR systems (e.g. Workday) and operational planning/rostering tools
Why Join CrossCountry?
Join CrossCountry at a time of significant transformation, where our people strategies are central to delivering safe, reliable services for millions of passengers every year. This is a high‑impact role where you will directly influence the capability, performance, and future of our Driver workforce — shaping how we plan, support, and develop one of the most critical functions in the business.
Diversity & Inclusion
At CrossCountry, we are committed to building a workforce that reflects the communities we serve. Inclusion is fundamental to how we operate, how we make decisions, and how we succeed. We are dedicated to creating an environment where every colleague feels valued, respected, and able to thrive. Diverse perspectives strengthen our organisation and improve outcomes for our customers and colleagues.
Senior HR Business Partner in Birmingham employer: Arriva Group
CrossCountry is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment where strategic HR leadership plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of our Driver operations. With a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion, we foster a culture that values every employee's contributions while providing ample opportunities for professional growth and development. Join us in making a meaningful impact on the safety and reliability of transport services across the UK.
