Senior Specialist, Employee Relations

In this position... This HR Business Partner role strategically aligns HR functions with business objectives, enhancing employee experience and driving success through expertise in labor relations and employee engagement. Working closely with Site Leadership, Operations, and union representatives, you will deliver advanced HR solutions, support talent management, and ensure compliance in an on-site distribution setting. This role requires strong communication, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills to foster a high‑performing, empowered workforce and a positive work environment.

• Business Acumen:
  Builds strong relationships and develops a deep understanding of operations to make informed decisions, provides valuable consulting to leadership, and offers strategic guidance on HR matters that drive sustainable cultural change and supports the achievement of business objectives
• Tracks People metrics, collaborating with the HR Manager and Operations Leadership to identify and address gaps
• Talent Management:
  Assists customer group with the execution of talent management responsibilities, including performance management, talent development, succession planning, PDC activities, compensation planning, recruitment, and other personnel actions. Conducts new hire onboarding and orientation activities.
• Employee Relations:
  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
• Union Relations:
  Assists in resolving union issues such as conflicts, disputes, and disciplinary matters, ensuring fairness and consistency in a timely manner. Participates in collective bargaining process and negotiations where support is needed. Ensures rep comp is completed accurately and timely within the constraints of the contractual agreement
• Investigations:
  Conducts investigations within their assigned customer group, ensuring that all disciplinary issues, grievances, and arbitration matters are handled in a timely and effective manner. Assesses the severity of each case and escalates significant concerns to the Manager, HR Generalist as required. Escalates all types of discrimination charges and complaints in partnership with legal counsel. Leverages conflict resolution and critical thinking skills to conduct investigations.
• Payroll, Time and Attendance:
  Supports payroll and attendance tracking processes including attendance hearings, issuing 10‑day quit letters, updating system codes, vacation usage, and running necessary reports. Applies knowledge of leaves of absences policies, rules and regulations including the Family and Medical Leave Act and its interaction with worker's compensation and Americans with Disabilities Act to administer and track in relevant HRIS systems.
• Manpower Administration:
  Assists with the talent management process for hourly employees within their customer group including: TFT /TPT placement and tracking, support skill trades hiring / apprenticeship program administration, outside contracting, internal and external hourly hiring processes, reskilling, transferring, retirement separation packages, tracking and processing, team leader 30/60/90‑day review processes, and manpower reporting.
• Employee Engagement:
  Fosters a positive and inclusive hourly and salary employee experience through proactive initiatives based on feedback through employee opinion surveys, suggestions, and open‑door policies and DEI initiatives, to boost engagement and address areas for improvement. Participates in employee recognition events, planning, etc. Conducts daily floor walks in designated…