Employee & Labor Relations Specialist Senior - 2nd Shift

About the role

Located in the heart of Central Ohio, Illuminate USA is transforming solar panel manufacturing from our cutting‑edge facility in Pataskala. As a new standalone joint venture established by two global leaders in renewable energy, we’ve rapidly grown to over 1,500 associates and are now fully operational in our 1.1 million‑square‑foot factory. Our vision is to establish one of the largest solar panel manufacturing operations in the Western Hemisphere. The Employee & Labor Relations Specialist Senior is a key partner to both associates and leaders, helping to create a positive, respectful, and high‑performing workplace. This highly visible floor role focuses on building strong relationships, listening to associate concerns, and working collaboratively with leaders to find thoughtful, fair solutions.

Key Responsibilities

• Traverse across the plant floor, connecting with associates and supervisors to proactively enhance the associate experience.
• Empower supervisors in managing the floor by utilizing Planned Absence reports, Overtime reports, and Daily Attendance reports for pre‑shift meetings and staffing validation throughout the shift.
• Coach and support managers in real time on the floor, handling employee‑relations matters including performance management, conflict resolution, and disciplinary actions.
• Investigate and escalate policy violations in partnership with managers and supervisors for timely resolution.
• Lead complex and sensitive investigations into allegations of harassment, discrimination, misconduct, retaliation, and workplace disputes.
• Guide supervisor interactions with union representatives and stewards.
• Answer associate questions and resolve issues on the floor at their workstations.
• Serve as a primary point of contact for associates, addressing concerns, answering questions, and ensuring a positive and respectful employee experience.
• Act as a point of contact for union representatives on associate concerns, grievances, and workplace matters.
• Advise and coach leaders on the Associate Handbook, collective bargaining agreement (CBA), and performance management, corrective action, and progressive discipline, ensuring fairness, consistency, and risk mitigation.
• Support the unionized environment by helping leaders interpret and apply collective bargaining agreements, ensuring compliance with established processes and maintaining consistency in practice.
• Assist the administration and documentation of grievance processes, partnering with leadership to support timely and appropriate resolution.
• Partner with leadership to proactively identify employee‑relations trends and implement solutions to improve engagement, retention, and overall workplace culture.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws, company policies, and applicable labor agreements.
• Support key HR processes including leaves of absence and workplace accommodations.
• Facilitate training for leaders and associates on policies, workplace expectations, and employee‑relations best practices.
• Manage grievance cases from intake through resolution, including preparing arbitration files and ensuring all evidence is captured and available for hearings.
• Partner with managers, HR colleagues, and legal counsel to resolve disputes in compliance with CBAs and employment laws.
• Identify and track grievance trends, escalating systemic issues to leadership as needed.
• Identify employee‑relations risks and recommend proactive strategies to minimize future disputes.
• Monitor changes in labor and employment law, advising leadership on necessary policy and practice updates.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field.
• 8+ years of progressive HR experience with a strong focus on employee relations.
• Experience supporting a union or labor environment and familiarity with collective bargaining agreements.
• Demonstrated experience handling complex investigations and workplace conflict resolution.
• Strong working knowledge of employment law and HR best practices.
• Proven ability to influence and coach leaders in a fast‑paced, manufacturing or industrial environment.
• High level of professionalism, sound judgment, and ability to handle sensitive matters with confidentiality.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Workday experience.
• SHRM‑CP, SHRM‑SCP, PHR, or SPHR certification.
• Manufacturing or industrial experience in a high‑growth environment.

Schedule

Saturday – Wednesday 6 pm – 2 am (Thursday and Friday off)

Illuminate is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.