Senior HR Manager - Multi-Site

About the Role

Oversee the HR functions across multiple unionized dairy manufacturing plants and the Rochester, NY-based distribution team. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in HR management within complex unionized settings, exceptional leadership skills, and a passion for cultivating employee engagement, fostering a positive culture, and facilitating effective change management initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Strategic HR Leadership and Oversight: Lead the HR function across multiple unionized plants, ensuring alignment with corporate objectives and consistency in HR practices. Develop and implement HR strategies that support business goals and address the unique requirements of each plant. Provide strategic guidance to plant HR teams, ensuring effective execution of HR policies, programs, and initiatives.
• Team Management: Manage, mentor, and develop a team of HR professionals, fostering a collaborative and high-performing HR team. Set clear performance expectations, provide regular feedback, and conduct performance reviews to ensure continuous growth and development. Promote a culture of continuous learning and improvement within the HR team.
• Labor Relations Mastery: Serve as the principal liaison between senior management and union representatives, fostering open communication and addressing employee relations matters promptly. Lead negotiations and administer collective bargaining agreements, ensuring compliance with all contractual obligations while promoting a collaborative labor-management relationship. Oversee grievance resolution processes and handle administrative requirements associated with the organization’s partnership with the union (e.g., union/benefits dues, pension liabilities).
• Championing Employee Engagement and Culture: Develop and execute initiatives to enhance employee engagement, morale, and productivity, fostering a culture of inclusivity, respect, and continuous improvement. Partner with plant management to identify training and development needs, offering guidance on performance management, career advancement, and succession planning. Conduct regular employee feedback sessions and surveys to drive meaningful improvements.
• Change Management and Organizational Development: Participate in change management initiatives across multiple plants, ensuring seamless implementation and adoption while mitigating resistance. Collaborate with senior management to identify and implement organizational development strategies that support business growth. Stay abreast of industry trends and best practices in labor relations, employee engagement, and change management.
• Conflict Resolution and Mediation Expertise: Serve as a mediator in resolving complex conflicts between management and union representatives or among employees, employing tact, diplomacy, and confidentiality. Lead investigations for both union and non-union employee relations, ensuring fairness and equity. Provide guidance to supervisors and managers on effective conflict resolution techniques.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Labor Relations, Business Administration, or a related field.
• 10+ years of progressive HR experience, with a strong focus on labor relations, employee engagement, culture, and change management, ideally within a unionized manufacturing environment.
• Proven leadership experience overseeing HR functions across multiple sites or plants.
• Comprehensive understanding of labor laws, collective bargaining agreements, and union processes.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build rapport across all organizational levels.
• Proven track record of managing complex employee relations issues and facilitating organizational change.
• Demonstrated experience in managing and developing a team of HR professionals.
• SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, or other relevant HR certifications preferred.
• Ability to work in a matrix-managed environment.
• Proficiency in HRIS systems and Microsoft Office Suite; SAP ERP experience a plus.

Core Competencies

• Problem-solving: Diagnoses root causes of complex, cross-plant HR and labor issues and develops practical solutions that hold up across different site cultures and union contracts.
• Decision making: Makes sound, timely calls on employee relations, grievance, and staffing matters, even under pressure and with incomplete information.
• Change management: Guides plant teams and union stakeholders through organizational and process change with clear communication and structured planning.
• Inclusive & courageous leadership: Leads with transparency and conviction, ensuring every voice across the plants is heard and valued.
• Conflict management: De-escalates and resolves disputes using tact and fairness to preserve working relationships.
• Emotional Intelligence: Reads the emotional undercurrents of high-stakes labor and employee situations and responds with empathy and self-control.
• Situational awareness: Recognizes the distinct dynamics, risks, and priorities at each plant and adapts approach accordingly.
• Coaching ability & trustworthiness: Develops HR team members and plant leaders through honest, constructive feedback, earning credibility and discretion.

Pay

$100,000 - $150,000 a year. The salary range represents the good faith and reasonable minimum and maximum pay for this role at the time of posting. Actual compensation may vary based on factors including experience, skills, training, knowledge, education, and overall qualifications. The posted salary range reflects just one component of the total rewards package, which may also include group health and/or dental insurance, retirement plans, wellness programs, paid time off, and paid holidays.