About DFT Operator
Join Our Team at DFTO
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 30,000 employees, runs over 11,000 services a day and delivers over 930 million customer journeys across its networks every year. 7,000 people joined the railway family in the last year
Major improvements are being delivered by DFTO train operators (TOCs) that are already under public ownership - these are LNER, Northern, TransPennine Express (TPE), Southeastern, South Western Railway (SWR), c2c, Greater Anglia, WM Trains, GTR. and Chiltern.
We work closely with the DfT but operate independently with our own governance and leadership teams. Our priority is ensuring efficient, dependable rail services for everyone.
Primary Purpose of Job:
To lead and develop a team of HR Administrators and HR Coordinators, ensuring the delivery of an efficient, compliant and customer-focused HR and payroll administration service. The role provides governance and oversight of employment documentation and payroll administration, including contracts of employment, contract variations, secondment agreements and associated employment records.
The postholder will ensure that HR policies, procedures, employment documentation and payroll processes remain compliant with current employment legislation, statutory requirements and organisational policies, while driving continuous improvement in HR processes, payroll controls and governance arrangements.
Key Competencies
• Customer focus - To lead and manage the HR Business Partner Team administrators to support service delivery, ensuring the effective delivery of accurate, timely and customer-focused HR processes.
• Collaboration - Builds positive and effective working relationships across HR, Payroll, Finance, Legal and the wider business to resolve issues, share knowledge and deliver a consistent, high-quality service.
• Continuous improvement mindset - Actively looks for opportunities to simplify, standardise and improve HR and payroll processes. Uses feedback, management information and lessons learned to improve efficiency, accuracy, controls and the employee experience.
• Integrity and discretion - Demonstrates high standards of integrity, handling sensitive employee, pay and personal information appropriately and confidentially. Acts consistently, transparently and in accordance with organisational policies, governance requirements and data protection obligations.
• Governance & Risk Management - Maintains strong governance and control across HR administration and payroll activities. Identifies and manages risks, ensures appropriate checks and audit trails are in place, and takes prompt corrective action where issues or control weaknesses are identified.
Key Responsibilities:
- Leadership and Team Management
- Policy Management and Compliance
- Secondments and Internal Mobility
- Operational Excellence
- Stakeholder Management
- Payroll Administration and Compliance
Knowledge, Skills, Experience & Technical Qualifications:
Education:
• CIPD Level 5 qualification or equivalent experience.
Experience
• Experience of HR and payroll administration within a complex organisation.
• Experience of managing and developing administrative teams.
• Strong understanding of UK employment law and its practical application.
• Experience of drafting and maintaining employment contracts and HR policies.
• Knowledge of secondment arrangements, contract variations and employment documentation.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Vacancy Details:
Duration: FTC until 31st March 2028 contract/secondment
Location: London Waterloo
Salary: up to £42,500
Closing date: 9thNovember 2026
DFTO Locations:
Whilst we do offer hybrid working there are sometimes demands to travel to the other office locations.
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 Amra.Hurley@dftoperator.co.uk.
Please do not email any CV's to us, your application must be made by clicking the 'Apply' button.
HR Services Manager in London employer: DfT Operator
DFTO is an exceptional employer, offering a unique opportunity to lead transformative change in Britain's railway system while enjoying a supportive and inclusive work culture. With competitive benefits such as a generous annual leave policy and a robust pension scheme, employees are encouraged to grow and develop their careers within a dynamic environment that values flexibility and collaboration across multiple locations including London, Birmingham, and Leeds.
