People Advisor in Newcastle upon Tyne

Is balancing employee needs with organisation goals ‘Your Thing’? We are looking for a highly motivated HR Advisor to join our dynamic People Function, to provide guidance and support on all HR related activity to our teams across the Northern network.

At Northern, we play a vital role connecting millions of people to work, leisure and education opportunities. We operate 2,500 services a day to more than 500 stations across the North of England. But our vision is about more than just train travel. It’s about setting a new standard for customer experiences. And that means building a different kind of workplace. One that values individuality and celebrates differences. Somewhere we can work together, have fun, and get stuck in to making our customers’ lives easier. A place that goes out of its way to create incredible opportunities for everyone to grow and be the best we can be every single day.

As an integral member of the People function, you’ll work collaboratively with HR Business Partners, to support local management teams, providing assistance on people management case work, absence support and guidance on other various HR matters. You’ll also work closely with employees and union representatives to foster positive employee relations that align with Northern’s goals. In this role, you’ll focus your expertise on identifying and delivering localised training to help develop our management teams.

Key responsibilities:

• Build and maintain effective relationships with department management teams, providing support in all aspects of casework and absence management while ensuring fair and lawful application of policies and procedures.
• Coach and guide managers in people management, fostering skill development and addressing inappropriate behaviours or actions.
• Assist managers in improving attendance by supporting with both long and short-term sickness levels within company targets, utilising available systems and management information.
• Support managers in proactively managing employee performance, providing advice, setting clear expectations, and addressing behaviour and performance issues.
• Assist in delivering an efficient and effective recruitment service in collaboration with the central Recruitment Team.
• Provide regular progress updates to the HR Business Partner, highlighting risks, recommendations, and identified management development needs.
• Support HR Business Partners in managing any employment tribunals and external party interactions as required, mitigating company impact.

About you:

You’ll possess a strong passion for HR and a genuine interest in building a career in the field. You’ll understand HR principles and demonstrate a willingness to learn and grow in the role and rail industry. With your excellent communication and people management skills, you’ll be able to provide advice, guidance and support effectively and confidently to all.

Qualifications:

• Associate Member CIPD essential or working towards
• Achieved or working towards CIPD Level 5 is essential, Level 7 is desirable.
• SHL Level A qualification or equivalent or working towards

Experience:

• HR background, with sound employment law knowledge
• Extensive experience in absence and ER case work
• Experience in a labour intensive and unionised environment
• Be able to build strong working relationships with all levels of managers.
• Demonstrates a sound understanding of employment law.
• Previous experience of working in an advisory capacity, providing Line Manager guidance and support in line with company procedures
• Experience of working under pressure to tight deadlines in a busy, office environment
• IT literate, able to use Word/Excel and demonstrate attention to detail.
• Strong team player and a good all round communicator with sound verbal and written skills
• You will also need to be flexible to travel across the Northern network and be a visible presence among the regional teams.

What’s in it for you?

• Free Travel: Unlimited free travel for you, your partner, and your dependents on Northern services. Plus up to 75% discount on other networks in the UK and Europe.
• Generous Pension Scheme: We top up your contributions by 1.5 times.
• Enhanced Family Benefits: We offer 9 months of full pay for maternity leave and 2 weeks for paternity leave.
• Cycle to Work Scheme: Save up to 42% on a bike and spread the cost.
• Exclusive Discounts: From shopping to wellbeing, Northern Perks has you covered.
• Employee Assistance Programme: 24/7 support for family, lifestyle, and more.
• Training and Career Development: We offer tailored training to our colleagues and opportunities to gain recognised qualifications. Plus enhanced career pathways no matter what part of the business you’re in.
• Recognition: We know how important it is to show how much we appreciate our people. That’s why we have our Northern Lights and Northern Sparks Awards, recognising and celebrating brilliance every day.

Why Northern?

We’re more than just a train operator. We’re the heartbeat of the North – connecting communities, creating opportunities, and driving sustainable growth. With 2,500 trains running daily, we’re on a mission to improve rail travel and enhance the customer experience while protecting the environment.

A place for everyone: The best journeys happen when everyone feels welcome on board. At Northern, we don’t just move people from A to B – we’re building a team where everyone feels they belong. Our talent team can make reasonable adjustments to the process if that’s something you need. We’re also a Level 2 Disability Confident employer, so if you meet the minimum criteria for the role, we’ll always offer an interview.