Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead HR initiatives across the UK and Europe, providing expert guidance on employment law and talent development.
- Company: Join Electro-Motive Diesel, a dynamic subsidiary of Progress Rail, focused on innovation and teamwork.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, generous holiday, tailored training, and wellness support.
- Other info: Embrace a culture of integrity, excellence, and teamwork with excellent career growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a diverse environment while driving people strategy and enhancing employee experience.
- Qualifications: CIPD membership preferred; proven HR experience in multi-site environments required.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 65000 £ per year.
Are you an experienced HR professional with a passion for driving people strategy across diverse locations? Electro-Motive Diesel Limited, a Progress Rail subsidiary is seeking a dynamic Senior HR Business Partner to lead HR initiatives across the UK and continental Europe. In this pivotal role, you’ll provide expert guidance on employment law, talent development, and workforce planning, while partnering with managers to deliver a compliant, high-performing, and engaging employee experience.
THE ROLE: As a Senior HR Business Partner, you will be required to:
- Provide expert HR advice and guidance to managers and employees on employment law, performance, discipline, grievance, and policy matters.
- Ensure HR policies and practices comply with UK/EU legislation, collective agreements, GDPR, and health & safety requirements.
- Lead end-to-end recruitment, including job adverts, candidate selection, onboarding, and managing the HCM system (SAGE/Rail People).
- Identify workforce needs and implement effective recruitment, retention, and deployment strategies, focusing on direct hiring and reducing agency dependency.
- Support performance and absence management, providing analysis and guidance to managers to address issues effectively.
- Manage training and development activities, including competency matrices, refresher training, and succession planning.
- Maintain and optimise HR systems, ensuring accurate data, producing reports/KPIs, and driving process improvements.
- Oversee payroll input and administration for all locations, ensuring accuracy and compliance.
- Administer the Sentinel scheme, ensuring compliance, inductions, and record-keeping for sponsored personnel.
- Contribute to employee engagement initiatives and promote equal opportunities across all aspects of employment.
- Drive HR best practice, harmonising policies where possible and challenging the status quo to modernise people processes.
- Build strong internal and external relationships to support effective HR service delivery across multiple sites.
- Promote company values and safety strategy, ensuring safe working practices and a positive culture.
- Undertake occasional UK/EU travel and work flexibly out of hours when business needs require.
THE CANDIDATE: The ideal Senior HR Business Partner:
- CIPD Chartered membership (preferred).
- Proven HR experience in a multi-site environment, ideally within rail or manufacturing.
- Strong knowledge of UK employment law and general legislation, with awareness of EU employment law (preferred).
- Hands-on experience with recruitment in fast-paced environments and proficiency in HRIS platforms and Microsoft Excel.
- A full, clean driving licence and willingness to travel; proficiency in German or Dutch is an advantage.
PERSONALITY TRAITS:
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build strong relationships.
- Leadership qualities and team management capability, combined with a collaborative, hands-on approach.
- Highly organised, detail-oriented, and process driven, with strong time management skills.
- Resilient under pressure, deadline focused, and able to work independently with a proactive mindset.
- Strong numeracy and analytical skills, with a commitment to continuous improvement.
BENEFITS:
- Competitive salary + company bonus
- Tailored training and development, including company‑funded external qualifications where relevant
- Generous pension scheme with 7% employer contribution
- Life × your salary
- Employee Assistance Programme for confidential wellbeing support
- Discounted gym membership – up to 25% off at 4,000+ UK gyms
- Fuel card savings of 2–3p per litre at 3,500 stations, including BP, Esso and Shell
- Employee recognition schemes celebrating great work
- 33 days’ holiday per year (inclusive of bank/public holidays)
ABOUT PROGRESS RAIL – ELECTRO-MOTIVE DIESEL: Progress Rail – Electro-Motive Diesel is a subsidiary of Caterpillar, specialised in manufacturing, maintaining and overhauling diesel-electric locomotives across the world. For more than half a century, Electro-Motive Diesel has hauled freight and passengers, powered ships, and generated electricity for over 100 countries around the globe. Becoming a part of Electro-Motive Diesel means becoming a part of a challenging and bright future in our global marketplace.
PROGRESS RAIL VALUES: Integrity – the power of honesty, Excellence – the power of quality, Teamwork – the power of working together, Commitment – the power of responsibility, Sustainability – the power of endurance.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES: Progress Rail is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment. We value and embrace diversity of thought, background and unique experiences and we pride ourselves on being an inclusive workforce and culture.
HOW TO APPLY: To be considered for this role, please click on the link provided. If you would like any further information about this vacancy before applying, please feel free to contact Taher Rahman at our Sandiacre site. We would politely request no agencies please.
Senior HR Business Partner in Stafford employer: EMD (Electro-Motive Diesel)
Contact Detail:
EMD (Electro-Motive Diesel) Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior HR Business Partner in Stafford
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the HR field and let them know you're on the lookout for opportunities. You never know who might have the inside scoop on a role that’s perfect for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company culture and values. Make sure you can articulate how your experience aligns with their mission, especially around people strategy and compliance. This will show you’re not just a fit on paper but also in practice.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your responses to common HR interview questions. Think about scenarios where you've successfully managed performance issues or implemented training programmes. We want you to shine when it comes to showcasing your expertise!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our team at Progress Rail.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior HR Business Partner in Stafford
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Senior HR Business Partner role. Highlight your relevant experience in HR, especially in multi-site environments, and showcase your knowledge of UK employment law. We want to see how your skills align with what we're looking for!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about this role and how you can contribute to our team. Be sure to mention any specific experiences that relate to the job description, like your hands-on recruitment experience or your approach to employee engagement.
Showcase Your Achievements: When detailing your past roles, focus on your achievements rather than just responsibilities. Use metrics where possible to demonstrate your impact, like improvements in recruitment processes or successful training initiatives. We love seeing how you've made a difference!
Apply Through Our Website: Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows us you're serious about joining our team at Progress Rail – Electro-Motive Diesel. We can't wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at EMD (Electro-Motive Diesel)
✨Know Your Employment Law
As a Senior HR Business Partner, you'll need to demonstrate a solid understanding of UK and EU employment law. Brush up on key legislation and be ready to discuss how you've applied this knowledge in past roles. This will show your potential employer that you're not just familiar with the rules, but that you can navigate them effectively.
✨Showcase Your Recruitment Skills
Prepare to talk about your experience with end-to-end recruitment processes. Have specific examples ready that highlight your success in attracting and retaining talent, especially in fast-paced environments. This will help illustrate your ability to implement effective recruitment strategies that align with the company's needs.
✨Demonstrate Analytical Prowess
Since the role involves managing data and producing reports, be prepared to discuss your analytical skills. Bring examples of how you've used data to drive HR decisions or improve processes in previous positions. This will showcase your ability to leverage HR systems and contribute to continuous improvement.
✨Emphasise Relationship Building
Strong interpersonal skills are crucial for this role. Think of instances where you've built successful relationships with managers and employees. Be ready to share how these relationships have led to positive outcomes in your previous roles, as this will highlight your collaborative approach and leadership qualities.