Manager, HR Business Partner

Overview

In this position...Join us as the Manager - HRBP for Lima Engine Plant – where you ll lead a transformative HR organization in a dynamic and unionized environment. This is a powertrain facility dedicated to the advancement of Ford Motor Company with 1400people. You will align HR functions with strategic business objectives, working closely with Plant Leadership and central HR teams to deliver advanced HR solutions that enhance the employee experience and drive business success.

Your expertise in union relations and employee engagement will be crucial in developing a high performing workplace that enhances both employee satisfaction and operational excellence. You will work closely with Plant Management and union leadership to drive transformational and strategic initiatives, ensuring our workforce is empowered and equipped to achieve our production goals.

Business Partnership

• Provide strategic HR leadership as the trusted advisor for the manufacturing facility, owning the full scope of HR functions including employee relations, union relations, benefits, compensation, training, organizational development, and communications.
• Build strong relationships with manufacturing operations leadership to provide valuable consulting and strategic guidance on HR matters that drive sustainable cultural change and support production objectives.
• Establish and maintain strong operator relationships grounded in respect for people to prevent small issues from becoming costly escalations while building the engagement and trust essential for operational excellence.
• 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 while modeling visibility, accessibility, and consistent leadership practices.
• Champion HR initiatives that drive performance excellence, employee engagement, and organizational culture. Ensure open communication and innovation, empowering team members to contribute effectively as strategic business partners in advancing the company s success.

Employee & Union Relations

• Enhance collaborative communications by developing and maintaining a robust communication framework that facilitates regular, transparent, and constructive dialogue between union representatives and management while fostering respectful relationships and correct implementation of collective bargaining agreements.
• Maintains regular floor presence to proactively identify and address employee concerns before they escalate, seeking opportunities to improve overall employee experience through methodical uncovering of root causes and corrective actions by starting at Gemba to uncover issues at their point of origin and preventing small problems from becoming larger organizational challenges through rigorous PDCA implementation and early intervention
• Collaborates closely with Operations Leadership and union representatives to ensure correct implementation and accurate interpretation of the collective bargaining agreement, addressing inquiries, grievances, and other union-related issues for consistent application.
• Oversee resolution of employee and union…