Arriva is one of the largest transport services organisations in Europe, employing more than 35,000 people and delivering more than 1.5 billion passenger journeys across 11 European countries every year.
We have strong roots dating back to 1938, an ambitious growth agenda, and a continuously developing relationship with our new shareholder I Squared Capital who acquired Arriva in May 2024.
The People Business Partner for corporate functions is responsible for delivering a comprehensive HR service to the Corporate Centre & Corporate Services business units, via a strategic partnership and for championing our employee experience vision.
This role will be on a hybrid working basis, a minimum of 3 days per week in the Sunderland office, the rest focusing on where you can best deliver for your customers, whilst still allowing for the required work life balance.
Direct responsibilities:
* Translating business strategy into actionable people plans, ensuring full alignment with organisational objectives, employment legislation and our employee experience vision.
* Partnering with leaders to shape organisational design, workforce planning, and succession strategies to create a sustainable organisation.
* Acting as a strategic advisor to senior leaders, delivering integrated, forward- thinking and innovative HR solutions in collaboration with HR Corporate Services and providing guidance on complex employee relations matters and other organisational challenges.
* Coaching leaders and managers to build organisational capability, confidence, and accountability.
* Using data-driven insights and HR expertise to identify trends, inform recommendations and/or influence decisions that drive continuous improvement in our people-management approaches.
* Horizon-scanning and using external insights to identify risks and opportunities and challenge the status quo to ensure we remain competitive and deliver real tangible value.
* Collaborating with the Arriva Professional Services and Shared Services teams to deliver a customer-focused, approach to HR, ensuring timely, high-quality outputs and operational excellence and full alignment with the Arriva people Plan.
* Building strong relationships with key stakeholders across the business to gather insights, anticipate needs, and drive action to mitigate/manage people- related risks and identify opportunities for introducing new approaches that support the delivery of our business objectives.
* Championing our vision for the employee experience, role modelling the culture we want to create and supporting employee engagement, wellbeing and ED&I initiatives.
* Ensuring HR practices are compliant with policies, procedures, employment legislation and reflect our employee experience vision.
* Leading or supporting change initiatives, including restructures, mergers and acquisitions, TUPE, process improvements, and cultural transformation, ensuring effective communication and stakeholder engagement throughout change programs.
* Leading and participating in cross-functional projects aligned to the people agenda.
Knowledge, skills & experience:
Essential Experience
* Proven experience as an HR Business Partner or similar HR Generalist role
* Strong understanding of HR disciplines including employee engagement, employee relations, talent management and succession planning and organisational development.
* Ability to interpret and leverage data to inform decisions and drive outcomes.
* Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills.
* Demonstrable organisational skills, including planning, organising self and others, multi-tasking, and managing competing priorities.
Desirable Experience
* Workday or similar HRIS
Other Skills and Behaviours
* Excellent written, verbal and presentation skills
* Ability to deal with multiple issues, make sound judgements/decisions whilst remaining calm under pressure.
* Adaptability and resilience with the ability to work effectively across complex cultures.
* Comfortable leading and managing change.
* Excellent interpersonal, communication, and influencing skills.
* Integrity and confidentiality
* Customer focus
* Analytical thinking
* Teamwork and collaboration
* Ability to build rapport and credibility with stakeholders at all levels.
* Demonstrated ability to handle sensitive situations with discretion and sound judgement.
* Project Management
* Inclusive and culturally aware
Technical Knowledge and Qualifications
* Good Cognitive agility
* Good awareness of current and emerging people-management considerations
* Proficient in MS Office and HR information systems.
* Good awareness of existing and emerging UK employment law
* CIPD qualification or equivalent (desirable)
The closing date for applications is Wednesday 4th March 2026. Arriva Group reserves the right to close this vacancy early.