Head of Operational HR

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.

FirstRail 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

As a member of the HR Leadership Team, you will lead the delivery of a high-quality, commercially focused HR service across First Rail London. Working closely with business leaders, you will shape and deliver people strategies, lead a team of HR professionals, and support organisational performance, engagement and change.

Your main responsibilities will be:

• Partner with Directors to develop and deliver people strategies aligned to business objectives.
• Lead, develop and inspire the HR Operations team.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with recognised Trade Unions.
• Oversee employee relations matters, ensuring compliance with employment legislation and company policy.
• Drive employee engagement and support the development of a high-performance culture.
• Lead organisational design, restructuring and change programmes.
• Develop leadership and people management capability through coaching and guidance.
• Lead the annual performance, talent and succession planning process.
• Support the delivery of reward initiatives, including annual pay reviews

As a minimum, you will need to have:

• Significant HR leadership experience in a complex, commercial environment.
• Proven experience of leading high-performing teams.
• Strong industrial relations and Trade Union partnership experience.
• Experience delivering organisational change and transformation programmes.
• A track record of improving employee engagement and organisational performance.
• Strong stakeholder management, coaching and influencing skills.
• Excellent knowledge of employment law and HR best practice.
• CIPD Level 7 qualified (or equivalent experience).

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.

Links: https://exceptionalindividuals.com/neurodiversity/

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