The Role
Lead industrial and employee relations across the business, manage an HR team, develop and deliver ER/IR strategy, negotiate with trade unions, advise directors and managers, oversee compliance and tribunal support, manage absence and dispute resolution, and lead change and productivity projects.
Summary Generated by Built In
We’re looking for a Head of Industrial Relations to lead all industrial, employee and trade union relations across the business. Managing a team of HR professionals, you’ll help us take a proactive approach to handling disputes, resolving conflict and maintaining strong working relationships to enable the organisation to operate effectively.
You’ll shape our Industrial Relations strategy, build strong partnerships with our trade unions, and provide clear, confident advice to directors and managers to support the consistent application of our policies and procedures.
Working closely with our Operations, Engineering and Customer Experience teams, you’ll lead key projects that modernise ways of working, remove restrictive practices and create opportunities for greater productivity and improvement.
We’re looking for someone with senior‑level experience in a unionised environment, who can demonstrate a strong track record in developing, negotiating and delivering effective employee relations strategies.
Please note due to annual leave within the hiring team applications will not be reviewed until week commencing 22nd June.
Please note due to annual leave within the hiring team applications will not be reviewed until week commencing 22nd June.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the delivery of the ER/IR strategy, preparing Executive papers on working practices, productivity, pay negotiations and organisational change.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with all trade unions, resolving issues and anticipating areas of potential conflict.
- Provide expert ER advice to directors and managers, ensuring consistent application of policies, procedures and collective agreements.
- Oversee employment legislation compliance, liaise with legal advisors and support the employment tribunal process.
- Manage absence, welfare and attendance processes, supporting managers with sickness, capability and organisational change matters.
- Lead conflict resolution and industrial dispute management while coordinating clear communication of company policies to trade unions.
Skills, Knowledge and Expertise
- Degree in relevant discipline and CIPD qualified.
- Substantial experience in an active unionised employee relations environment.
- Experience in project management with a proven track record of delivering on objectives.
- Experience of developing and implementing negotiating strategies and plans.
- Experience of being able to position a proposal such that it secures acceptance.
- Knowledge and understanding of employment law and industrial relations law.
- Exposure to an environment in which trade unions are well organised.
Benefits
- A defined benefit pension from day 1 – one of the best in the UK.
- Free travel on all London Northwestern Railway and West Midlands Railway services for you, your spouse/partner, and dependents.
- Private Healthcare
- 75% off all other train operating companies for you, your spouse/partner, and dependents.
- 8 Friends and Family Day passes to gift per annum on our network.
- A 24/7 Virtual GP service for you and your household.
- Our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)- A confidential employee benefit that supports you with personal or work-related issues affecting your home life, work life, health, or wellbeing
- Our cycle to work scheme with Evans Cycles.
- A retail discount portal- offering savings, discounts and cashback at over 800 retailers and restaurants.
About
London Northwestern Railway and West Midlands Railway operate rail services across the Midlands, the Northwest and London, with Birmingham at the heart of our network. West Midlands Railway provides most of the local services across the region, offering direct connections to towns and cities including Redditch, Stratford‑upon‑Avon, Worcester, Hereford, Shrewsbury, Telford and Northampton. Our London Northwestern Railway brand serves the route between London and Liverpool via key locations such as Crewe, Birmingham, Milton Keynes and Northampton. On 1st February 2026, London Northwestern Railway and West Midlands Railway entered public ownership and both services are now part of WM Trains Limited operated by DFTO. Our mission remains unchanged: to provide a safe, comfortable and reliable service for passengers across 235 miles of track and 150 stations, from London to Liverpool and Hereford to Lichfield. We expect over 80 million journeys to be made this year, that’s more than 1,252 services every day, and we remain committed to delivering the rail experience our passengers expect.
Skills Required
- Degree in relevant discipline
- CIPD qualified
- Substantial experience in an active unionised employee relations environment
- Experience in project management with a proven track record of delivering on objectives
- Experience of developing and implementing negotiating strategies and plans
- Ability to position proposals to secure acceptance
- Knowledge and understanding of employment law and industrial relations law
- Exposure to an environment in which trade unions are well organised
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The Company
What We Do
WM Trains Limited, operating as West Midlands Trains, is a British state-owned train operating company. It runs commuter and local services across the West Midlands and on the West Coast Main Line, connecting London, the Midlands, and the North West.
