HR Advisor in Birmingham

About CAF Innovation is in our DNA – we thrive on pushing boundaries and adapting to new challenges with a flexible approach. Proud to be a global leader, our fast‑paced growth provides exciting opportunities for our team and the community. Committed to maintaining trains and trams, our mission is to enhance vehicle safety and reliability. Our ultimate goal is to deliver a comfortable, dependable, and sustainable commuting experience for all passengers. Based out of multiple locations across the UK, our 24/7 operation means we’re always on hand to deliver reliable technical support. Utilising the latest digital technology, we strive to enhance dependability, helping people to get to where they need to be! We wouldn’t be where we are without our people. Working together as a team, we strive to achieve great things while supporting each other to thrive along the way. We’re going places, so apply today and become part of our exciting journey.

What can you expect from CAF?

• Positive Work Environment: you will work in a positive environment, based on mutual respect and team spirit.
• Professional Development: our projects are often measured in years, sometimes decades, giving you and the organisation a future.
• Learning and Autonomy: we will encourage you to work autonomously, being able to propose and decide what and how.
• Security and Reliability: CAF has been working for over 100 years on a path that stretches into the future, giving you the security you need.
• Cutting‑edge technology: you will work with the latest technologies, facing the challenge of devising innovative approaches and solutions every day.

What will be your role in the company?

The HR Advisor supports the HR Business Partner / Senior HRBP in supporting and advising a range of stakeholders and managers across different areas of the UK business. A first point of contact for stakeholders in relation to HR issues, questions and queries you will provide sound advice in line with policies, processes and collective agreements. The role requires someone who is proactive, pragmatic and a multi‑tasker who is adept at delivering in a unionised environment.

Your daily duties will include:

• A primary point of contact for advising stakeholders with regards to HR processes such as performance management, absence management and people management (flexible working, family friendly etc).
• Supporting line managers of varying abilities across the business through a range of ER disputes through coaching, training, upskilling as well as guiding them through the challenges – experienced in supporting managers whose capability ranges from novice to experienced.
• Involvement in developing, implementing and maintaining HR policies and procedures to ensure effective, fair and consistent management of colleagues throughout CAF.
• Supporting HR & Support services colleagues to manage processes such as recruitment, internal communication / engagement and payroll to a high standard.
• Involvement in maintaining relevant systems as well as producing insightful HR reports, sharing the information with stakeholders as required and making decisions to drive improvement.
• Facilitating local‑level trade union meetings and supporting the HR team in business council meetings, consultations and negotiations.
• Support HR colleagues in deploying various CAF Group initiatives and processes such as engagement activities, deployment of various SAF Success Factor modules, etc.

What will be your salary in this role?

As a Real Living Wage Employer, we are proud to pay competitively at CAF. The salary offered is between £40,000 and £45,000 per annum.

What will make you successful in this position?

• CIPD Level 5 qualified (or qualified by similar professional experience).
• Proven previous experience in advising stakeholders with regards to HR processes such as performance management, absence management and people management (flexible working, family friendly etc).
• Experience supporting line managers through a range of ER disputes through coaching, training, upskilling and guiding them.
• Up‑to‑date employment law knowledge and the ability to translate this into policies and processes and coach line managers on its implementation.
• Previous experience working within a Trade Union environment – ability to collaborate with TU partners.
• An understanding of a services business where customer demands and requirements must be balanced and met.
• IT skills; adept at working with multiple systems and proficient with MS Office (PowerPoint, Excel, Teams).
• Experience of SAP SuccessFactors would be desirable.

About What We Offer

A Real Living Wage employer and proud signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant, RSSB Mental Health Charter and Women in Rail EDI Charter, we offer a range of benefits: 25 days annual leave, a workplace pension scheme with up to 10% contribution, a generous health care cash plan and a Bike2Work scheme. We support career development through a Professional Sponsorship scheme. Flexible working and a family‑friendly culture mean everyone is supported to thrive at CAF. As a socially responsible business we provide paid volunteering days and promote social value initiatives such as tree‑planting, company‑wide donation drives, and support for the homeless community and refugees.