HR Operations Partner in Milton Keynes

A little bit about us: East West Rail is an infrastructure programme linking communities between Oxford and Cambridge. The area is currently let down by a lack of transport choices, and we have a once in a generation opportunity to fix that – improving prosperity for people and places along the way.

East West Railway Company (that’s us) was created by the Department for Transport (DfT) to oversee the delivery of East West Rail from construction through to wheels in motion, making sure the railway comes together in the right way.

At East West Railway Company, we’re committed to building an inclusive railway for all. We believe that to do that, we must nurture a diverse team that represents the UK communities that we impact. Our approach is simple – to create an environment where everyone is welcome and able to be themselves. We celebrate diversity and are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We encourage applications of all backgrounds and experiences.

Role Summary: The HR Operations Partner plays a key role in supporting the employee experience and lifecycle by providing day-to-day HR guidance and operational support across a range of people matters. As a member of a small team, you will be expected to engage at both strategic and operational levels in a hands-on, sleeves-rolled-up environment. Reporting to the Senior HR Business Partner, this role collaborates closely with the wider People team to deliver consistent, effective HR support aligned with business objectives. The HR Operations Partner is a trusted advisor to managers and employees, helping to foster a positive, engaging, and high-performance workplace culture. Key areas of focus include employee relations, performance management, policy application, process improvement, talent development and supporting the successful rollout of people initiatives and programs.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive operational HR support across the full employee lifecycle, enhancing the overall employee experience and ensuring a consistent, high-quality approach to people matters.
• Manage complex employee relations casework including dispute resolutions, disciplinaries, grievances, performance management, medical capability and redundancy.
• Identify opportunities to continuously improve HR processes and practices, driving operational excellence and a proactive approach to people support.
• Proactively manage absence cases, including coordination with occupational health and implementing reasonable adjustments to support employee wellbeing and productivity.
• Contribute to the development, implementation, and review of HR policies and procedures, ensuring compliance with legislation and alignment with best practice.
• Support the delivery of People Strategies and initiatives that align with the wider business goals and drive employee engagement, development, and retention.
• Partner with business leaders to understand organisational priorities and challenges, offering HR guidance and insights in order to support the delivery of business objectives and foster a high-performance culture.
• Champion a performance-driven culture by supporting talent recognition, development, and the effective management of underperformance.
• Leverage people data and analytics to identify workforce trends and future needs, supporting informed decision-making and HR planning.
• Design and deliver training sessions, workshops, and coaching for managers and leaders on key people topics, enhancing leadership effectiveness and knowledge.
• Enhance managers’ capability within the field of HR and employee relations through business partnering and knowledge sharing of best practice to build confident people-focused leaders.
• Build strong relationships with stakeholders across the business, offering coaching, support, and advice on all people related matters.
• Support the wider People team in recruitment, talent development, workforce planning, and reporting activities.
• Conduct benchmarking and parity reviews to ensure internal equity and competitiveness in reward and employment practices.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

• Proven HR experience at a generalist or business partner level, with a strong background in employee relations.
• Thrives as a true HR generalist, with the flexibility to switch gears and jump in wherever needed.
• Loves having a hand in everything - comfortable juggling a wide range of people topics, both big and small.
• Able to influence and advise with both credibility and empathy.
• Skilled in coaching and developing managers, helping them grow confidence and capability.
• Continuous improvement mindset, always looking for smarter, more effective ways to do things.
• Comfortable with ambiguity and change, and not afraid to roll up your sleeves.
• Detail-oriented, with a hands-on approach to people operations.
• Genuine passion for people, culture, and delivering high-impact HR.

Benefits

• Competitive base salary.
• Up to 12% employer’s pension contribution.
• 36 days holiday a year (including bank holidays) + up to 2 days to buy.
• Life assurance.
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• Access to a range of benefits on the Perkbox platform.
• On-the-spot and annual awards.
• Advanced learning and development programmes.
• Great work-life balance and flexible working opportunities.
• Enhanced family-friendly policies.
• Exceptional IT tools.

EWR Co strives to embrace a flexible working environment, where a degree of flexibility is maintained to accommodate both the needs and preferences of employees and what is required to achieve business objectives. EWR Co will always work with any individual to assess and accommodate an individual’s work life balance and style.

Diversity and Inclusion: To discover the best solutions, it’s important we embrace diversity of thought. That’s why we aim to ensure our colleagues feel included, engaged and valued. Inclusiveness is not a buzzword, but a way of being. Our approach to diversity is simple – a workplace where everyone is welcome and everyone is encouraged to be themselves. It helps fuel our innovation and connects us with the customers and communities we serve.