HR Business Partner - Employee & Labor Relations

The HR Business Partner – Employee & Labor Relations will focus on Employee Relations, Labor Relations, and HR Compliance for a privately owned family business. This role partners with business leaders to drive employee performance and engagement while ensuring compliance with labor laws, demonstrating company values of safety, honesty, ownership, respect, and teamwork.

Responsibilities

• Employee Relations & Workplace Investigations (35%)
  • Serve as the first point of contact for routine employee relations matters.
  • Conduct intake meetings and fact gathering for employee relations issues.
  • Assist with investigations including policy violations, attendance concerns, workplace disputes, performance concerns, and conduct issues.
  • Conduct witness interviews and prepare investigation summaries, timelines, and supporting documentation.
  • Draft corrective action documentation, performance improvement plans, coaching memoranda, and separation documentation.
  • Partner with leaders to address attendance, performance, and conduct concerns through consistent application of company policies.
  • Track open investigations and ensure timely completion of required actions.
  • Maintain employee relations case files, documentation, and records.
  • Conduct stay and exit interviews; report trends and opportunities to HR and leadership at least quarterly.
  • Coordinate and monitor the 90-day probationary period process.
  • Assist in developing manager resources, training materials, and toolkits related to employee relations.
• Labor Relations Administration (30%)
  • Maintain collective bargaining agreement (CBA) libraries, side letters, memoranda of understanding, and labor relations files.
  • Work with Payroll and Benefits to ensure adherence to CBA articles.
  • Assist with implementation and communication of newly negotiated collective bargaining agreements.
  • Monitor compliance with collective bargaining agreements and communicate potential risks or concerns to HR leadership.
  • Research contract language and historical interpretations to support labor relations activities.
  • Coordinate grievance administration, including deadline tracking, appeals, meeting scheduling, response preparation, case summaries, exhibit packages, and supporting documentation.
  • Research and compile wage, benefit, seniority, attendance, and workforce data for grievance responses and contract negotiations.
  • Maintain labor relations dashboards and metrics including grievances, discipline, arbitration outcomes, and trends.
  • Assist with arbitration hearing preparation including witness coordination and documentation collection.
  • Support labor-management meetings by preparing materials, agendas, and follow-up action items.
• HR Business Partner Support (25%)
  • Support assigned business units with day-to-day HR consultation and guidance.
  • Partner with managers regarding attendance, performance management, documentation, organizational changes, and employee development.
  • Assist leaders with workforce planning activities and staffing forecasts.
  • Partner with Payroll and HR Operations to resolve employee and manager questions and concerns.
  • Support annual performance review processes, goal-setting programs, and talent initiatives.
  • Assist in developing and delivering manager training programs.
  • Draft employee and manager communications related to HR initiatives and policy updates.
  • Support onboarding activities for managers and employees.
• Compliance, Reporting & Special Projects (10%)
  • Monitor completion of HR compliance initiatives, policy acknowledgments, and required employee certifications.
  • Monitor and maintain HR posters compliance in all locations.
  • Conduct audits of employee records, labor relations documentation, investigation files, personnel files, and compliance records.
  • Support development and maintenance of HR policies, procedures, standard operating procedures, and forms.
  • Maintain employee relations and labor relations case management systems.
  • Generate and analyze workforce reports and dashboards including turnover, retention, headcount, attendance, and employee relations metrics for internal and leadership use.
  • Assist with HR due diligence, integrations, and special projects as assigned.
  • Develop process improvements to increase efficiency and consistency across HR programs.
• Other Duties
  • Leverage technology to deliver value; provide HR measurements and analyses; recommend and implement techniques to improve productivity and increase efficiencies across employee relations processes.
  • Assist with mergers and acquisitions.
  • Stay current in knowledge of applicable employment laws and best HR practices; recommend and implement improvements and/or compliance measures, as necessary.
  • Perform other duties and projects as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, Business Administration, or related field.
• HR certifications (e.g., SHRM-SCP, PHR) preferred.
• 8+ years of experience in HR, with a strong focus on employee relations and HR compliance.
• Extensive knowledge of federal, state, and local employment laws, regulations, and HR best practices.
• Proven ability to manage and resolve complex employee relations issues, working effectively with all levels of the organization.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and coaching skills, with the ability to influence and build strong relationships with stakeholders at all levels.
• High level of organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to handle multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience working in a family office setting.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to leverage data to drive decisions and improvements.
• Intermediate computer skills in Microsoft Office Suite.
• Professional integrity and accountability.
• Ability to be agile and adapt to change & ambiguity well.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous experience in Rail Transportation, Manufacturing, and/or other related industries.
• Union experience and working with collective bargaining agreements.
• Experience managing difficult employee relations issues.
• Preferred certifications: SPHR, PHR, SHRM-SCP, or SHRM-CP.

Pay

Estimated starting annual salary: $102,376.00. Exact starting salary is determined by merit, seniority, geographic location, education, training, and/or experience related to job duties and responsibilities.

Benefits

• 401(k) / 401(k) matching
• AD&D insurance
• Dental insurance
• Disability insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Mental wellbeing resources
• Paid maternity leave
• Paid parental leave
• Referral program
• Relocation assistance
• Sick time
• Vacation time
• Vision insurance
• Eligible for participation in annual discretionary bonus

Schedule

FLSA Status: Exempt, not eligible for overtime.

Travel

Up to 25%, as the business requires.

Physical Requirements

• Remain in a seated position: 80% of work time
• Speak and hear clearly: 100% of work time
• Lift office products and supplies, up to 20 lbs: 20% of work time
• Stoop, kneel, bend, and reach: 10% of work time
• Dexterity to write and manipulate keyboard and mouse: 100% of work time