Job Description
Korn Ferry has partnered with our client for the role, Human Resources & Labor Relations Manager
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The HR & Labor Relations Manager provides leadership for all human resources and labor relations activities across the Company’s operations in the United States. This role serves as the primary management representative in all interactions with the Union and is accountable for disciplined collective bargaining agreement administration, constructive labor relations, and workforce stability.
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The role functions as the senior HR leader at the plant level, ensuring consistent execution of HR processes while embedding the Company’s culture and values into daily operations. The HR & Labor Relations Manager partners closely with plant leadership, operations, safety, and corporate HR to ensure labor stability, regulatory compliance, leadership effectiveness, and sustainable workforce practices in a complex, unionized manufacturing environment.
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Key Responsibilities
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Labor Relations Leadership:
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- Lead management strategy and preparation for collective bargaining negotiations with the Union, ensuring alignment with business priorities and operational realities
- Administer and interpret collective bargaining agreements across all areas of the plant, including job classifications, seniority, bidding, overtime, discipline, training, and work rules
- Manage grievances and arbitrations through thorough investigation, documentation, and recommendation, balancing contractual obligations with operational continuity
- Serve as the primary management contact with union leadership and committees, fostering professional, disciplined, and constructive labor relationships
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Compliance & Risk Management:
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- Ensure compliance with federal and state labor and employment laws, including NLRA, NLRB requirements, California employment law
- Advise leadership on employee relations decisions to ensure fairness, consistency, and legal compliance
- Serve as escalation point for complex HR and labor matters that may impact legal exposure, employee relations climate, or operational continuity
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HR Leadership & Operations:
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- Serve as the senior HR leader for the plant, overseeing workforce planning, staffing, onboarding, development, performance management, and employee engagement
- Guide and coach supervisors and managers on employee relations, performance management, and leadership practices
- Oversee daily HR operations executed by the HR Business Partner, including documentation, HRIS data accuracy, leave administration, and employee communications
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Culture, Engagement, and Capability:
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- Strengthen workforce engagement and leadership consistency by embedding THE COMPANY culture and values into daily practices and decision‑making
- Partner with Safety, Operations, and Corporate HR to align HR practices with safety expectations, regulatory requirements, and production demands
- Monitor workforce indicators such as turnover, absenteeism, grievances, training compliance, and overtime trends, and recommend improvement actions
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Year One Critical Success Factors
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- Establish credibility and trust with union leadership, plant management, and frontline employees
- Ensure disciplined, consistent administration of collective bargaining agreements across both plant locations
- Stabilize and strengthen labor relations climate while minimizing grievances and arbitration risk
- Build strong partnerships with plant leadership, safety, operations, and corporate HR
- Embed consistent HR processes and leadership practices aligned with the Company culture
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The Candidate
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Experience and Professional Qualifications
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- Bachelor’s degree in human resources, Industrial Relations, Law, Business Administration, or a related field
- Seven to ten years of progressive HR and labor relations experience in unionized, heavy industrial environments
- Demonstrated experience negotiating and administering collective bargaining agreements with industrial unions
- Experience supporting HR and labor relations in 24/7, safety‑critical operations with skilled and craft workforces
- Advanced knowledge of HR and labor relations practices consistent with SHRM‑CP or SHRM‑SCP level capability
- Strong understanding of federal and state employment law, including California employment regulations
- Working knowledge of FMLA, CFRA, PDL, ADA, and FEHA in a manufacturing or plant environment
- Practical experience with grievance handling, mediation, arbitration, and collective bargaining frameworks
- Understanding of OSHA and MSHA considerations as they relate to training, safety, and labor agreements
- English required; Spanish proficiency preferred, but not required
- Onsite; no remote or hybrid
- Must have both human resources and labor relations experience
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Skills and Competencies
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- Disciplined and structured approach to labor relations strategy and execution
- Calm, objective, and credible presence in high‑pressure employee and union situations
- Strong operational awareness with the ability to link HR and labor decisions to safety, reliability, and production outcomes
- Trusted advisor to plant and operational leadership
- Clear, practical communicator able to translate contractual and legal concepts for all levels of the organization
- Visible, hands‑on leadership style with regular presence in plant operations
- High integrity, sound judgment, and alignment with the Company’s people‑centered culture
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SE#510781680