Who are we

First Rail London (FRL) is the train operating company responsible for running the London Overground network under a concession agreement with Transport for London (TfL). The concession began in May 2026.

First Rail London is part of FirstGroup, one of the leading rail operators and one of the largest bus operators in the UK.  FirstGroup operates services throughout the UK and Ireland, with over 30,000 employees providing services that make travel smoother and life easier.  FirstGroup works hard to reduce its impact on the environment, introducing cleaner and more environmentally responsible methods of transport.

About the job

We are looking for a proactive and customer-focused HR Advisor to join our HR team. This is a great opportunity for an experienced HR professional with a strong background in Employee Relations (ER) who is passionate about coaching and developing managers to build capability and confidence in people management.

Reporting to the Head of Operational HR, you will play a key role in providing pragmatic, commercially focused HR advice and guidance across a broad range of complex employee relations matters. You will partner closely with managers, supporting them through formal processes while helping to embed best practice and strengthen management capability across the organisation.

You will also work collaboratively with recognised Trade Union representatives, fostering positive employee relations and contributing to a culture of partnership, engagement and continuous improvement.

Your main responsibilities will be:

• Provide advice and guidance to managers on a wide range of employee relations matters, including:
• Disciplinary
• Grievance
• Absence management
• Performance management
• Flexible working requests
• Organisational change and restructuring activities
• Manage a varied ER caseload, ensuring cases are handled fairly, consistently and in line with employment legislation, organisational policies and best practice.
• Coach, support and upskill managers to strengthen their confidence and capability in managing people-related matters, enabling them to effectively address issues at the earliest opportunity.
• Develop and deliver manager training, workshops and guidance materials on key HR and people management topics.
• Build effective working relationships with managers, employees and key stakeholders across the organisation.
• Work in partnership with Trade Union representatives, supporting consultation processes and maintaining positive industrial relations.
• Attend formal meetings and hearings, providing professional HR advice and ensuring robust procedural compliance.
• Analyse ER trends, identify themes and provide insights and recommendations to improve people management practices and reduce risk.
• Support the development, review and implementation of HR policies, procedures and toolkits.
• Contribute to HR projects, organisational change initiatives and workforce improvement programmes.
• Drive continuous improvement by identifying opportunities to streamline HR processes, improve service delivery and enhance the employee experience.
• Ensure HR records, case documentation and management information are maintained accurately and confidentially.

To be successful in this role, you will have:

• Proven experience in an HR Advisory role with exposure to employee relations case management.
• Strong working knowledge of UK employment legislation and HR best practice.
• Experience of supporting and coaching managers through complex people matters.
• Experience of working constructively with Trade Unions and employee representatives is desirable
• Excellent communication, influencing and stakeholder management skills.
• The ability to manage a busy and varied caseload whilst balancing competing priorities.
• Strong problem-solving skills and a pragmatic, solutions-focused approach.
• Experience of delivering training, coaching or management development activities.
• A commitment to continuous improvement and delivering a high-quality HR service.
• CIPD Level 5 qualification (or equivalent experience) is desirable.'

The Reward

• Free Travel for you and a nominated person at your address on TfL Network - this alone is worth a potential total of £5,200 per annum
• 75% discount off season tickets and leisure travel on other Train Operating Companies
• Discounts on European rail services after 1 year of service
• First Xclusives – a benefits portal offering a wide range of benefits and discounts
• Employee Assistance Programme - 24hr helpline, covering a multitude of subjects

We all belong at First Rail London. FirstGroup's vision is to provide an inclusive environment for all colleagues, across its group of businesses, ensuring all candidates have an equal opportunity to access meaningful employment.

We value our differences such as age, gender, LGBTQIA+, ethnicity, religion, and disability. We maintain a zero tolerance towards any form of prejudice towards our colleagues, customers, and future talent.

We celebrate and encourage diversity of thought, progressive ways of working and seeing all our colleagues grow and thrive.

We review all roles and job descriptions to ensure they are accessible and, where possible, we support and provide flexible working options; we recommend that you refer to each vacancy description for further details.

If you require additional support to complete your application due to a disability or neurodivergent condition, for example, dyslexia, dyspraxia, or autism, please follow the links below.  We encourage you to share any additional needs you may require so we can provide a fair and equal process for all who apply.

https://exceptionalindividuals.com/neurodiversity/

https://www.healthassured.org/blog/neurodiversity/