HR Partner

18-Month Fixed Term Contract | £50,000

Client Confidential — a major UK passenger rail operator, part of a leading international transport group, engaged exclusively through Morson Edge.

Contract Type: 18-month Fixed Term Contract

Salary: £50,000 per annum

Benefits: Free rail travel across the group's UK rail services (work and leisure), generous pension scheme, 30 days annual leave

Location: Regional / UK wide - predominately across Wales, Bristol and Bournemouth

Reporting To: Senior HR Business Partner

Function: HR — Employee Relations & HR Operations

About the Opportunity: Morson Edge is exclusively partnering with a major UK passenger rail operator to appoint an HR Partner on an 18-month fixed term contract. This is a first point of contact HR role within a heavily unionised, operational environment, providing professional advice and case management support to managers and colleagues across the business. Full client details will be shared with shortlisted candidates.

Purpose of the Role: To act as the first point of contact for HR advice and operational HR support across the organisation, providing professional, timely and consistent guidance to managers and colleagues on HR policies, employee relations issues, HR queries and people process. Operating within a heavily unionised environment, the HR Partner leads case management activity, supports local consultation, and ensures fair and legally compliant outcomes.

Key Responsibilities:

• Act as the primary HR contact for managers and employees, providing clear, practical advice on HR policy, employment law and people-related queries.
• Manage a varied caseload of ER matters including investigations, disciplinary, grievance, attendance, performance and capability cases.
• Support managers in preparing case documentation, conducting meetings and ensuring decisions align with legal, policy and procedural requirements.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with Trade Union representatives, supporting consultation, local negotiations and early resolution of issues.
• Provide guidance on terms and conditions, contracts, policies and procedural changes.
• Support organisational change programmes including restructures, TUPE activity, role changes and consultation processes.
• Maintain accurate records, case notes, dashboards and HR systems data to support reporting, compliance and audit requirements.
• Assist with workforce planning activities including reviewing absence, turnover and skills data.
• Lead on proactive absence management, supporting complex or long-term cases and coordinating timely Occupational Health referrals.
• Provide operational support across recruitment, onboarding, probation, leaver processes and contractual changes.
• Support the delivery of training and development for managers, including ER skills, policy awareness and HR best practice.
• Promote a culture of fairness, inclusion, wellbeing and positive engagement across the organisation.
• Ensure all HR advice and activity comply with employment law, internal policy, data protection and audit standards.

Experience:

• Experience as a Senior HR Advisor or HR Manager within a unionised, corporate or operational environment.
• Strong understanding of UK employment law and HR best practice.
• Proven experience managing ER cases end-to-end in a unionised setting.
• Skilled at working with Trade Union representatives and supporting consultation processes.
• Excellent communication, coaching and influencing skills.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple cases and deadlines.
• CIPD Level 3 (or working towards) — essential.
• CIPD Level 5 or equivalent experience — desirable.
• Experience in transport, logistics, rail or another regulated industry — desirable.
• Familiarity with HRIS systems such as Workday — desirable.