Site People Operations & Labor Leader

Site People Operations & Labor Leader

We are seeking a Site People Operations & Labor Leader to lead HR and labor relations at our Sistersville manufacturing facility (400+ employees). This role is responsible for both: ensuring a stable, high-performing labor environment today, and shaping how leaders lead and how people practices evolve over time. You will serve as a key member of the site leadership team, while also leading and developing a small HR team that delivers day-to-day excellence.

This role is ideal for someone who: thrives in a unionized manufacturing environment, is equally comfortable on the plant floor and influencing senior leaders, wants to lead people, not just processes, brings both operational discipline and strategic perspective.

Your Team:
You will directly lead and develop a team of 2:
People Operations Generalist, People Operations Talent & Retention Specialist. You are accountable for: setting priorities and ensuring execution across all HR activities, coaching and developing team capability, elevating the team from transactional delivery to proactive partnership.

Responsibilities Include:

Lead People & Labor Strategy

• Own and evolve the site's labor relations strategy, including union engagement and collective bargaining support
• Partner with site leadership to align workforce and labor strategy to business needs
• Identify trends and drive systemic, root-cause improvements

Strengthening the Environment

• Champion a work environment that strengthens leadership effectiveness, fairness, and consistency
• Equip leaders with the skills and confidence to lead, engage, and respond to employee concerns early and effectively
• Identify and address root causes of dissatisfaction (e.g., communication gaps, inconsistent practices, perceived inequities)
• Partner with leadership to build a culture of direct engagement, trust, and accountability across both union and non-union populations

Be a Visible Partner to Operations

• Maintain a strong presence on the plant floor to build trust and stay connected to employee realities
• Coach leaders on people leadership, performance management, and decision-making
• Facilitate team sessions and drive leadership alignment

Lead Labor Relations Execution

• Oversee grievances, investigations, and arbitration processes
• Ensure fair, consistent, and compliant discipline and employee relations practices
• Build and maintain a constructive relationship with union representatives

Shape Leadership & Culture

• Act as a trusted advisor and courageous challenger to site leadership
• Drive improvements in leadership effectiveness, accountability, and consistency
• Reduce recurring issues by strengthening manager capability and decision quality

Deliver HR Excellence Through Your Team

• Oversee the full employee lifecycle (hiring, onboarding, development, retention)
• Partner with COEs to implement HR programs and policies effectively
• Ensure strong execution, compliance, and continuous improvement
• Other duties as assigned

If you're a hands-on labor relations leader who also wants to build capability, influence leadership, and shape the future of a site, this role offers the scope and impact to do both.

Qualifications:

The following are required for the role

• 10+ years of experience in labor relations within a manufacturing environment
• Demonstrated experience managing union relationships, grievances, and arbitration processes
• Experience leading and developing HR team members
• Strong knowledge of U.S. labor laws (NLRB and related regulations)
• Proven ability to influence and challenge leaders constructively
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Labor Relations, or related field or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

The following are preferred for the role

• Advanced degree in Labor or Industrial Relations
• Experience driving culture, leadership, or organizational transformation
• Track record of improving both operations and systems—not just resolving issues

What We Offer:

Base Pay Range: $98,000 - $143,550

The actual salary offered is determined by factors including but not limited to education, experience, skill sets, and geography. Local geographic pay…