People Strategy Lead – Employee Relations, Leadership and Reward in North West

Job description

People Strategy Lead — Employee Relations, Leadership & Reward

Location: UK‑wide (hybrid). West Coast Mainline access preferred — our key sites are Crewe, Warrington and Carlisle.

Contract: Fixed term (1–2 years)

Reports to: HR Director

Make your mark on a nationally critical mission

NTS is seeking a senior HR leader to build and deliver our People Strategy across Industrial/Employee Relations (ER/IR), Leadership Development, and Reward. This role shapes how we engage, perform and grow — and directly supports the business outcomes that matter.

The impact you’ll deliver

• Embed a single People Strategy aligned to NTS outcomes, with clear OKRs and quarterly delivery reviews.
• Stabilise ER/IR climate and improve engagement scores by leading proactive partnership working with trade unions and line leaders.
• Modernise Reward frameworks (base, variable and recognition) in conjunction with NDA specialists, ensuring affordability, fairness and performance alignment.
• Lift leadership capability through targeted development pathways, manager fundamentals, and succession planning for critical roles.
• Support business change (mobilisation and bids) with senior HR input that de‑risks delivery and accelerates benefits realisation.

What you’ll lead — and how you’ll lead it

Employee Relations & Engagement

• Own the ER/IR agenda, including collective bargaining, disputes, and complex case strategy.
• Design and implement a strategic ER/engagement plan that links behaviours and performance to business outcomes.
• Partner closely with the HR Director on pay talks and terms & conditions development; act as delegated deputy in ER/IR/Reward/Leadership forums.
• Build productive relationships with trade union reps (local & regional) and full‑time officers; ensure issues are anticipated, not just escalated.

Leadership Development & Talent

• Architect leadership development programmes that raise performance and accountability at all levels.
• Lead talent management and succession planning, with clear pipelines for critical roles and diversity of leadership bench.
• Mentor and develop the broader HR team, raising capability in ER, Reward and change delivery.

Reward

• Lead all NTS Reward activities — design principles, pay/grade architecture, incentives and recognition — in conjunction with NDA specialists.
• Ensure frameworks are compliant, market‑informed and outcomes‑driven, with governance that’s clear and efficient.

Change & Business Development

• Provide senior HR input to mobilisation and bid management, translating business requirements into people, capability and costed plans.
• Partner with HR SLT peers on cross‑company programmes and change; measure impact and adjust quickly.

Representation & Culture

• Represent HR credibly in internal and external forums, including regulators and public bodies.
• Model and embed our guiding principles:
• Freedom — create an environment where our people have the freedom to perform
• Helpfulness — work together to help each other and our customers
• Drive — be confident, curious and innovative

What you’ll bring

• A track record as a Senior HR Leader in fast‑paced, complex environments (public or private sector).
• Depth in ER/IR — managing complex industrial relations, collective agreements and dispute resolution.
• Leadership development expertise (design through to measurable capability uplift).
• Organisational transformation & change delivery — from blueprint to benefits.
• Reward strategy experience — structures, frameworks and governance.
• Qualifications: CIPD Level 7 (preferred) or equivalent senior HR qualification.

Contract & working pattern

• FTC: 12–24 months (aligned to programme needs)
• UK‑wide base with travel; West Coast Mainline access preferred to enable regular engagement at Crewe, Warrington, Carlisle.
• Hybrid working; flexibility aligned to stakeholder and site requirements.

Ready to lead the agenda?

Bring your experience, curiosity and drive — and help us build a high‑performing, engaged organisation that delivers for the UK.

Apply now via the NTS careers site

Extra information

Status

Closed

Education Level

Secondary School

Location

North West

Type of Contract

Casual / Part Time Jobs

Full UK/EU driving license preferred

No

Car Preferred

No

Must be eligible to work in the EU

No

Cover Letter Required

No

Languages

English