Director, Engagement and Labor Relations

Director, Positive Employee Engagement and Labor Relations

Astec is an industry leader with more than 4,000 employees dedicated to building roads and infrastructure that connect communities. We invest in training, career development, and wellbeing programs to support our people and create a safe, inclusive workplace. Our culture is founded on trust, collaboration, and a commitment to equity for all employees.

Location: Chattanooga, TN

The Positive Employee Engagement and Labor Relations Director fosters a workplace culture that promotes trust, collaboration, and employee satisfaction. The role leads strategies to strengthen employee relations and labor relations, enhances engagement initiatives, and ensures compliance with labor laws and company policies. This executive advisor works with leadership to drive initiatives that support a positive work environment and align with Astec’s values.

• Develop and implement proactive employee relations programs that maintain a positive and productive work environment.
• Act as a trusted resource for employees and managers to resolve workplace concerns fairly and consistently.
• Serve as liaison between the organization and collective‑bargaining units, ensuring effective communication and collaboration on labor‑related matters.

• Reduction in employee grievances annually.
• Average resolution time for employee issues.
• Positive feedback score from employee representatives.

• Design and execute strategies to improve employee morale, retention, and overall satisfaction.
• Lead employee surveys, analyze results, and create action plans to address feedback.
• Facilitate regular listening sessions across departments to gather employee input and foster open communication.
• Define a communications plan with HR Business Partners and the Communications Team to promote company benefits and the value proposition, especially to the shop floor.

• Year‑over‑year improvement in employee engagement scores.
• Number of listening sessions conducted.
• Participation rate of the workforce.
• Completion of action plans post‑survey.

• Lead negotiations for collective bargaining agreements and labor contracts.
• Serve as the primary liaison between the organization and labor unions.
• Monitor and interpret labor laws, regulations, and union agreements to ensure compliance.

• Ensure adherence to federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations.
• Partner with Legal and HR teams to mitigate risks and manage investigations when necessary.
• Develop and administer workplace compliance strategies, including policies, audits, and training programs.

• 100% completion of compliance audits on schedule.
• Compliance training completion rate.

• Partner with HR Business Partners to develop and execute retention strategies that address turnover trends and enhance the employee experience.

• Reduction in voluntary turnover annually.
• Retention rate of high‑performing employees.
• Implementation of retention initiatives.

• Provide guidance and training to managers on effective employee and labor relations practices.
• Promote leadership behaviors that reinforce a positive and inclusive culture.

• Manager training completion rate.
• Improvement in leadership effectiveness scores.
• Reduction in escalated employee relations cases.

• Develop communication strategies that keep employees informed and engaged.

• Increase in internal communication engagement.
• Positive culture survey results.

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field (Master’s preferred).
• 8+ years of progressive HR experience with a focus on employee relations and engagement.
• Strong knowledge of employment laws and regulations and experience with collective bargaining agreements.
• Exceptional interpersonal, communication, and conflict resolution skills.
• Proven ability to influence and build relationships across all levels of the organization.