People Partner - 6m FTC

Salary scale: £51,000 per annum

Closing date: 9 October 2026

What is the purpose of this job? 

You will work closely with our Senior Leadership teams to build organisation and people capability.  Shaping and implementing effective people strategies and activities within the business to assist in the delivery of the organisation’s priorities, this will require you to be able to work both strategically and operationally across the business.

In addition, you will support on the design and delivery of a range of People & Inclusion initiatives/projects in line with the strategic priorities and People & Inclusion plan.

What can I expect to do in this job? 

This isn’t an exhaustive list, but things you can expect to be involved with include:

1.       To quickly build relationships with key stakeholders and provide pragmatic HR solutions that deliver within both the strategic and operational HR areas.

2.       To maintain and continually develop a strong knowledge of employment law and HR best practice, including maintaining external networks.

3.       To provide sound advice and guidance to the business in relation to employment relations matters.  Identifying and mitigating, where possible, risk to the business through the application of appropriate solutions.

4.       Support with the design, delivery and management of learning interventions, along with facilitation, coaching and mentoring skills.

5.       Be a strong and visible advocate for change management, leading and supporting the business as required.

6.       Analyse and diagnose business issues and translate these into people-based solutions whilst continuing to contribute and communicate with a wider commercial view.

7.       Be passionate about inclusion and well-being with knowledge of practical and meaningful solutions to deliver progress in both areas.

8.       Strive to develop digital skills and an understanding of new emerging HR trends.

Who will my key contacts be?

·       Department Directors, Heads of Department and Employees

·       External subject matter experts such as legal counsel, Trade Unions etc

What experience, skills and knowledge do I need?

You will be CIPD qualified or equivalent experience and have a strong generalist HR background at an HR Business Partner level. You may have worked in a standalone role or as part of a team but will have the ability to be hands on when required. More specifically you will be:

·       Personable with excellent communication skills, able to connect with the team and understand their challenges.

·       Confident, you will act as the conscience of the business. You will be comfortable in having difficult conversations and not shy away from dealing with challenging issues and speaking up, whether it be mediating any employee relation matters, or advising Senior Management on legal or policy development.

·       Have a good sense of commercial awareness, with a proven record of partnering with and influencing all levels of leadership across the organisation to design and implement effective HR programs and service.

·       Able to measure and track HR effectiveness using key metrics and measures.

·       Confident in UK employment law, experience of Hay job evaluation or similar methodology would be preferable.

·       Passionate about continuous improvement and creating an engaging employee experience.

Why Work for RDG?

We offer a highly competitive package, including:

• 75% discount on rail travel (for work and leisure), plus international rail discounts
• 30 Days annual leave (plus buy/sell options and additional leave for key life events)
• Two Personal Development Days are granted to employees annually
• Interest-free Season Ticket Loan for commuting costs
• Enhanced family leave – 30 weeks full pay for maternity, adoption, surrogacy, and shared parental leave
• Pension scheme – up to 8.64% employer contribution
• Subsidised Private Medical Insurance (Vitality PPP) and Health Cash Plan (Healthshield)
• Access to our flexible benefits portal - a central hub for accessing retail discounts, shopping, dining, travel, and entertainment perks
• Flexible working arrangements available