West Coast Partnership Development is a trusted partner of the Department for Transport (DfT) who are working towards creating and implementing the operations for High Speed 2 Ltd (HS2). Working to design, develop and mobilise the high-speed service operations which will deliver benefits including more capacity, quicker journey times and a step-change in customer experience.

We would like to present an exciting opportunity to join the Finance & Contracts Team as Talent & Resource Manager.

The Talent & Resource Manager is responsible for all recruitment and talent activity ensuring it is actioned in a prompt reliable way, delivering the Resource Plan, managing processes and providing accurate reports against it.

Working closely with stakeholders across all functions you will provide expert advice on sourcing, assessment, and interview solutions along with supporting a smooth on-boarding process for new entrants; being proactive, supportive and holding business to account.

Ensuring the attraction, selection and appointment and retention of high-quality talent and supporting/developing them through their career journey with us.

Providing the WCPD functions with meaningful People data as well as enabling manager self-service through education and training.

To provide a strategic interface between HR and the WCPD teams to drive the HR Strategic Vision maximizing business performance.

The key responsibilities of the role include:

Recruitment Delivery

                Managing the delivery of all programme resources including supporting managers with external agencies and resourcing providers ensuring the timely attraction, and appointment of high-quality talent.
                Proactively manage the end-to-end resourcing and approvals process from requisition to approval enabling continuous improvement across all projects.
                Deliver the resourcing plan by having a deep understanding of the headcount required to deliver these, balancing these with the needs of the individual.
                Design, develop and deliver the Talent Acquisition Strategy and appropriate selection events ensuring that competencies and behaviours are aligned to role and brand values.
                Ensure the headcount is within budget for the WCPD or has been approved via the recognised approval processes and procedures; being compliant the National Rail Contract (NRC) and policy requirements.
                Drive a high performance, customer focused approach to Talent Acquisition to maximise team performance.
                Develop, review and implement Talent Acquisition working practices, policies, procedures and processes that reflect best practice and represent the most efficient and effective means of operation.
                Work closely with hiring managers and HR Business Partners to advise on clear and effective job descriptions.
                Supervising the On Boarding & Exiting of resources with the support of other functions within WCP.
                Providing regular and structured updates to hiring manager on resourcing processes.

Resourcing Strategy, Planning & Reporting

*                Manage the development, delivery and appropriate updates of the Resource Annual Business Plan for the Core Office, Accepted Programme and Transitional Programme.

*                Manage and maintain resource data and skill gaps via appropriate tracker systems collaborating with Finance & Planning to update the tracker as per quarterly forecast and scope resource plans.

*                Maintain a high level of market awareness and best practice, advising the business on specific trends and updates that will affect resourcing.

*                Report on MI (Management Information), KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) and Service Level Agreements to Hiring Managers and the Exec Board including time to hire and cost.

*                Management and delivery of the DfT Handover reports in collaboration with the Finance & PMO Team.

HR accountabilities

*                Become the first point of contact for all HR issues relating to attraction and selection, on-boarding/induction,

*                Challenge own and others’ behaviours, in line with our customer focused culture and brand values to achieve business performance through coaching, mentoring and development solutions

*                Coach managers to be competent in operating the HR systems to ensure self-service is maximised to enable them to better manage themselves and their teams.

*                Interface with the HR department to ensure contractual and regulatory compliance (IR 35, Resourcing Strategy in FA, GDPR – General Data Protection Regulation)

The role is based in London and with the requirement for some travel on our network at times. The expectation will be a minimum of 3 days per week in the office.

Salary competitive package including benefits (depending on skills & experience)

Type of Contract: Fixed Term Contract (until 31st March 2026)

West Coast Partnership Development

West Coast Partnership comprises two distinct parts – Avanti West Coast and West Coast Partnership Development. Avanti West Coast runs the InterCity West Coast train services from London to north England, north Wales and Scotland.

Our work in WCPD is focused on developing plans for what the new high-speed services will look like (customer experience), how they will work (railway operations) and how we will start running new services and trains (mobilisation). Over the next 10 years we will develop and implement a programme (HS2 Ltd are building the new railway and associated infrastructure).

Your application

At WCPD, we value the differences that make each of us outstanding! We recognise the benefits of building a diverse workforce and employing people from diverse backgrounds, which includes their race, religion, age, gender, gender identity, disability and sexual orientation.

Everyone who joins us becomes part of our close-knit team. We're committed to ensuring that we are expansive and a place where people are encouraged to be themselves, and not an edited version to fit in. A place where differences are encouraged, recognised, accepted and put to good use!