DB Group

As a major rail freight operator in the UK, DB Cargo UK is a safety critical organisation characterised by a dedicated and varied workforce of just over 2,200 colleagues spread across over 100 locations nationally. ‘Our people, our safety and our customers’ are at the forefront of what we do and position us in the marketplace to be the leading edge of innovative rail solutions.

At DB Cargo UK, our HR Business Partnering function is characterised by variety. Responsible for leading and managing the people-related agenda to improve our organisational effectiveness and align to our overall business strategy.

We are currently recruiting for a Senior Human Resources Business Partner with a wide breadth of HR knowledge and experience to coach and support our leaders on a range of people matters, policies and embed best practices across DB Cargo UK through a time of business and industry transformation.

We operate within a highly unionised environment, and require an individual with a highly motivated team oriented approach to embed HR Business partnering best practice principles through data driven decision making.

We work flexibly and adapt to the needs of the business. The role has a UK wide remit with regular travel required and would ideally suit a candidate based in the Midlands or Yorkshire, however we would be open to candidates from other areas of the UK.

What will you be doing?

Lead responsibility for supporting our Heads of Operations and Service Delivery North and South for all people related matters at a senior strategy level.

Lead and manage a small team of HR Business Partners and Advisors

Support the resolution of a variety of complex employee relations matters.

Work with and challenge senior leaders to identify opportunities for organisational design improvements that contribute towards organisational strategy and objectives including building robust and effective talent and succession plans, ensuring a pipeline of talent across the business function from a mixture of internal and external recruitment.

The implementation and delivery of the People Strategy and plan.

Support organisation effectiveness through developing and implementing HR processes and ‘ways of working’.

Facilitate the development of local engagement plans that drive employee engagement and sustainable organisational performance.

Build and develop positive working relationships with Trade Union representatives and promote collaborative working at all levels across the organisation.

Monitor, review and update HR policies and processes, ensuring these are in line with current legislation, meaningful and user-friendly.

Use data to identify trends, inform decisions, and proactively provide up-to-date people data and business intelligence.

Facilitate and deliver training and workshops on different HR topics.

Who are we looking for? 

A proven Senior HR Professional with demonstrable experience in complex workforce planning, performance management, employee engagement, compensation, development, and employee relations.

Experience working within unionised environment

Strong influencing and relationship building skills, experience of business partnering at both a strategic and operational level

Good knowledge of employment law, current employment best practices and trends.

Experience of managing and developing a team of HR professionals

Strong analytical and evaluation skills, with an emphasis on translating people data into meaningful management information

Experience from large multi-site organisation, preferably in a logistics or manufacturing environment.

The ability to build relationships and navigate a complex stakeholder matrix.

Change management, facilitation and coaching skills.

Ability to take ownership and act autonomously, while also adopting a collaborative working style, fostering cooperation and teamwork.

Resilient, self-driven, energetic, and have a ‘can-do’ mindset.

Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

What matters to you?

Here at DB Cargo we offer range of benefits as part of your employment. These will include: 

Car Allowance of £6,500.00 per annum

Non contractual Bonus of up to 15%

37 an hour week contract.

25 days annual leave plus bank holidays.

Defined Contribution pension scheme with generous employer contribution – up to 10% employer contribution.

Free on-site parking.

EV charging at selected sites.

Health Cash Plan Available.

Cycle to work Scheme.

Manager led recognition programme for employees who live our values.

We are dedicated to your continuous professional development. Depending on your role we have specialist training programs, apprenticeships, development plans, courses and qualifications we can support you through. 

Access to our employee benefits portal where you can take advantage of discounts for a variety of shops and services as well as accessing our wellbeing content.

We take the health and wellbeing of all employees seriously and provide access to an Employee Assistance Programme.