Human Resources Manager - Union Environment

About the role

The Human Resources Manager is responsible for leading all human resources activities across multiple manufacturing and industrial operations within a unionized environment. This role serves as a strategic business partner to plant leadership, providing guidance on labor relations, employee relations, workforce planning, talent management, compliance, and organizational effectiveness.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary HR leader supporting multiple manufacturing facilities, ensuring consistent application of human resources policies, programs, and practices.
• Lead labor relations activities, including contract administration, collective bargaining negotiations, grievance management, and arbitration preparation.
• Develop and maintain productive working relationships with union leadership and bargaining unit employees.
• Partner with operations leaders to address workforce challenges while balancing business objectives and labor agreement requirements.
• Conduct and oversee workplace investigations involving employee complaints, policy violations, misconduct allegations, attendance concerns, harassment, discrimination, and other employee relations matters.
• Provide guidance to managers regarding disciplinary actions, performance management, corrective action procedures, and conflict resolution.
• Interpret collective bargaining agreements and ensure compliance with labor contracts, company policies, and applicable employment laws.
• Support contract negotiations through preparation of bargaining strategies, cost analyses, contract language development, and negotiation participation.
• Manage grievance procedures from investigation through resolution and represent the company during grievance meetings.
• Monitor legal and regulatory compliance related to labor and employment law, including FMLA, ADA, FLSA, OSHA, EEO, NLRA, and other federal, state, and local requirements.
• Drive recruitment, retention, succession planning, workforce development, and employee engagement initiatives.
• Analyze workforce metrics and trends to support business decisions and continuous improvement efforts.
• Lead organizational change initiatives and support business growth, restructures, acquisitions, and workforce planning activities.
• Coach and develop supervisors and managers on leadership effectiveness, employee relations, labor relations, and HR best practices.
• Collaborate with corporate HR, legal counsel, and business leadership on strategic initiatives and complex employee matters.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Labor Relations, Industrial Relations, or related field.
• Minimum 8+ years of progressive Human Resources experience within a unionized manufacturing, industrial, distribution, automotive, metals, chemical, heavy equipment, paper, or related environment.
• Minimum 3+ years managing labor relations and collective bargaining negotiations.
• Experience supporting multiple facilities and geographically dispersed operations.
• Strong knowledge of labor law, employment law, contract administration, grievance handling, and workplace investigations.
• Demonstrated success leading union negotiations and maintaining productive labor-management relationships.
• Experience partnering directly with plant managers, manufacturing leaders, and executive management.
• Excellent conflict resolution, influencing, negotiation, and communication skills.
• Ability to travel to support multiple locations as required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Human Resources, Labor Relations, Business Administration, or related field.
• SPHR, PHR, SHRM-SCP, SHRM-CP, or similar HR certification.
• Experience supporting large unionized workforces across multiple bargaining units.
• Arbitration and contract negotiation experience.
• Experience in a global manufacturing or industrial organization.

Pay

Competitive salary ranging from $120,000 to $140,000 annually. Bonus potential and car allowance.