Senior HR Business Partner - Labor Relations

Flowers Foods & Subsidiaries is looking to add a talented HR Professional to our growing team!

Title: Senior HR Business Partner – Labor Relations

Office

Location:

Burbank, CA

Travel: Requires 30-50% travel within California

Position Summary:

The Senior HR Business Partner, Labor Relations is responsible for executing labor relations strategy throughout California and serving as a trusted advisor on complex labor and employee relations matters. The role partners closely with the Senior Director of Labor Relations, Legal, the HR Director for Sales, HR Business Partners, and operational leadership to promote positive employee relations, mitigate labor risk, support collective bargaining and contract administration, and ensure consistent, lawful workforce practices.

The position also serves as the lead HR business partner for assigned sales markets or facilities and delivers practical HR solutions aligned with business priorities.

Labor Relations Strategy and Risk Management

• Execute enterprise labor relations strategies within California in alignment with business and HR objectives.
• Serve as the primary in-region advisor for proactive identification and early response for labor relations risk, organizing activity, concerted activity, and complex employee relations matters with potential labor implications.
• Partner with the Senior Director of Labor Relations and Legal on collective bargaining, contract administration, grievances, arbitration, mediation, early response actions and related labor matters.
• Provide timely risk assessments and recommended actions to HR and operational leaders.
• Support organizational readiness for labor disruptions, work stoppages, campaigns, and other high-risk events.

Positive Employee Relations and Leader Capability

• Lead and support positive employee relations strategies across assigned California operations.
• Coach and train leaders on lawful employee relations practices, issue prevention, documentation, investigations, accountability, and employee engagement.
• Identify workforce themes and recommend proactive interventions that strengthen employee experience and reduce labor risk.

Union Relations and Contract Administration

• Build constructive working relationships with union representatives and internal stakeholders.
• Support interpretation and administration of collective bargaining agreements.
• Partner with HR and operations to address grievances and resolve contract-related issues consistently.

HR Business Partnership for Assigned Locations

• Serve as the primary HR contact for all day-to-day HR needs for the designated California sales markets or facilities by providing guidance across talent planning, performance management, compensation, employee relations, policy application, retention, organizational change, and workforce planning.
• Lead or support complex investigations and recommend appropriate, consistent actions.

Collaboration and Team Leadership

• Partner closely with the California HR team to ensure consistent case management, labor practices, communications, and field execution.
• Provide subject matter guidance, coaching, and informal leadership to HR colleagues.
• Communicate effectively with leaders at all levels and escalation material labor, legal, or reputational risks promptly.

• 5 to 7 years of progressive HR experience, including meaningful labor relations and complex employee relations responsibility.
• Working knowledge of the National Labor Relations Act, Weingarten rights, collective bargaining, contract administration, grievances, and investigations.

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, Labor Relations, Business, or a related field, or equivalent relevant experience.

Flowers Foods,…