Senior Specialist, Employee Relations

The Senior Specialist, Employee Relations serves as a critical strategic partner and hands‑on HR leader, deeply embedded within our automotive manufacturing plants and parts depots. This role is responsible for supporting the hourly and salaried workforce, collaborating closely with leadership to drive business objectives through a comprehensive HR lens. The HRBP will foster a positive and productive work environment, manage all aspects of the employee lifecycle, ensure compliance, and champion talent development, employee engagement, and effective labor relations directly on the production floor.

This position requires strong business acumen, a proactive approach to problem‑solving, and an unwavering commitment to ethical practice and continuous improvement.

• HR Business Partnership – Serve as a trusted advisor to plant leadership, translating business strategy into impactful HR initiatives that optimize organizational effectiveness and elevate the employee experience.
• Talent Management & Workforce Transformation – Design and execute advanced talent management strategies, encompassing performance optimization, leadership development, robust succession planning, strategic compensation, and integrated talent acquisition.
• Data Storytelling and Workforce Planning – Champion a data‑first approach, leveraging HR analytics platforms to extract critical insights, predict workforce trends, and inform strategic decision‑making at the operational leadership level.
• Culture Development & Employee Advocacy – Champion a high‑performance, inclusive culture, fostering open communication, trust, and mutual respect in alignment with our 7 Proactive Leadership Standards.
• External Relations & Community Stewardship – Orchestrate strategic interactions with local governmental agencies and lead impactful charitable initiatives, strengthening the plant's community engagement.

• Strategic Labor and Positive Employee Relations & Negotiation – Lead strategic engagement with labor unions and employee representatives, fostering a proactive and high‑trust partnership essential for operational stability.
• Grievance Management & Dispute Resolution – Master the resolution of complex, high‑volume union grievances, arbitrations, and disciplinary actions, serving as a critical architect of fair, consistent, and timely outcomes.
• Ethical Practices and Contractual Compliance and Interpretation – Demonstrate expert command of local and national collective bargaining agreements, ensuring precise interpretation and application across all operational facets.

• Strategic Risk Mitigation – Lead comprehensive HR compliance and risk management, proactively identifying, assessing, and mitigating legal, reputational, and operational exposures across all employment laws and company policies.
• Employee Lifecycle Expertise – Optimize critical HR operational processes, including payroll, attendance management, and vacation tracking, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and seamless efficiency.
• Workplace Wellness & Safety Leadership – Drive initiatives with safety and occupational health leaders to foster a proactive culture of employee well‑being, supporting strategic safety audits and promoting innovative wellness programs.

• Bachelor's degree in human resources, Organizational Development, or a related discipline, or commensurate work experience.
• Minimum 8 years of relevant HR and labor work experience with a bachelor's degree, preferably in a manufacturing setting.

• Master's degree in human resources, Organizational Development, or a related discipline, or commensurate work experience.
• Minimum 5 years of relevant HR and labor work experience with a bachelor's degree, preferably in a manufacturing setting.
• PHR or SHRM‑CP certification.
• Certified Labor Relations Professional (CLRP).

This role requires onsite presence at the manufacturing plant to fulfill job responsibilities, occasional lifting of no more than 10 pounds, primarily seated work, walking and standing on the plant floor at least 20% of the time, and operation within low to moderate noise levels. Working…