Manager Employee Relations, Ford Energy

Manager, Employee Relations

Ford Energy is a newly formed, wholly-owned subsidiary of Ford Motor Company dedicated to accelerating U.S. energy independence. Leveraging Ford's century of manufacturing excellence and world-class battery energy storage systems (BESS) technology, Ford Energy designs, manufactures, and services grid-scale and commercial DC battery energy storage systems (BESS). Ford Energy is uniquely positioned to capture the growing demand for reliable, US-built energy storage systems.

We are not just building batteries; we are building the infrastructure for the next generation of the American grid.

The Manager, Employee Relations is accountable for the performance and results of the Employee Relations team. The role ensures the resolution of employee relations issues, such as conflicts, disputes, and disciplinary matters, with fairness and consistency in a timely manner. The role closely partners with HR leadership and collaborates with other functions/departments. The role also supervises the maintenance of accurate documentation, implementation of effective communication strategies, and investigation of escalated complaints.

The role has expertise in interpreting and administering labor agreements, analyzing trends, and providing guidance on policies and compliance, thereby contributing to a compliant and ethical work environment. The role has limited to full management authority for staffing, performance, discipline, pay decisions, team development, and other personnel actions.

Business Partnership

• Partner with leadership to implement standardized recruitment processes with thorough background checks and cultural fit assessments, while designing comprehensive onboarding programs that include structured manager meetings and enhanced support during adjustment periods.

• Coach manufacturing leaders on effective communication practices, visibility, accessibility, and maintaining consistent leadership practices that demonstrate reliability and promote honest, timely dialogue with employees.

• Apply lean methodologies with progressive HR practices to drive operations to best-in-class levels while establishing equitable practices in wages, PTO, overtime, job postings, and management attention across all employees.

• Implement comprehensive recognition and reward systems, workforce planning strategies, and initiatives that promote employee engagement, diversity, and professional development in an inclusive, high-performance culture.

People Leadership

• Lead and inspire a diverse HR team by fostering an inclusive, collaborative environment that emphasizes continuous development and strategic alignment with organizational and HR-specific goals.

• Champion HR initiatives that drive performance excellence, employee engagement, and organizational culture, empowering team members to contribute effectively as strategic business partners in advancing the company's success.

Employee Relations

• Develop and maintain a robust communication framework that facilitates regular, transparent, and constructive dialogue between employees and management, fostering respectful relationships throughout the organization.

• Maintain regular floor presence to proactively identify and address employee concerns before they escalate, applying Gemba principles and rigorous PDCA methodology to uncover root causes and drive early intervention.

• Collaborate closely with Operations Leadership to ensure consistent, fair, and accurate application of company policies, addressing employee inquiries and concerns proactively.

• Oversee resolution of employee issues including conflicts, disputes, and disciplinary matters, ensuring fairness, consistency, and proportionate responses while maintaining follow-through on commitments.

• Co-create and manage innovative workforce policies and practices to ensure the evolving needs of the workforce and business are met, maximizing organizational effectiveness while minimizing disputes and inconsistencies.

• Oversee and conduct investigations, ensuring all disciplinary issues and employee complaints are handled in a timely and effective manner, escalating significant…