Employee & Labor Relations Specialist Senior - Second Shift

About the role

Located in the heart of Central Ohio, Illuminate USA is transforming solar panel manufacturing from its cutting‑edge facility in Pataskala. As a new standalone joint venture established by two global leaders in renewable energy, the company has rapidly grown to over 1,500 associates and operates a 1.1 million‑square‑foot factory. 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‑based role focuses on building strong relationships, listening to associate concerns, and collaborating with leaders to find thoughtful, fair solutions.

Key Responsibilities

• Traverse the plant floor, connecting with associates and supervisors to proactively enhance the associate experience.
• Empower supervisors 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 at workstations, serving as a primary point of contact for a positive 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), performance management, corrective action, and progressive discipline to ensure fairness, consistency, and risk mitigation.
• Support the unionized environment by helping leaders interpret and apply CBAs, ensuring compliance with established processes.
• Assist with administration and documentation of grievance processes, partnering with leadership for 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, preparing arbitration files and ensuring all evidence is captured for hearings.
• Collaborate 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

Wednesday – Sunday, 6 pm – 2 am (Monday and Tuesday off).