Sr. Manager, Labor Relations

Job Summary

The Senior Labor Relations Manager serves as a hands-on HR partner supporting labor relations and employee relations activities at the Middletown site. This role works closely with site leadership, HR, employees, union representatives, and legal counsel to support the administration of collective bargaining agreements, coordinate union negotiations, and conduct employee relations investigations. While labor strategy is established by HR leadership and legal counsel, this role is responsible for the day-to-day execution, coordination, and administration of labor and employee relations activities to ensure consistent policy application, compliance, and positive workforce relations.

This role is on-site in Middletown, IA.

Responsibilities

• Lead collective bargaining strategy and negotiations for all represented employee groups. Develop bargaining objectives, analyze contract proposals, formulate negotiation strategies, and secure labor agreements that support operational, financial, and workforce objectives. 30%
• Drive a proactive labor relations strategy that fosters constructive union-management relationships, minimizes labor disruptions, and strengthens workforce stability while ensuring compliance with collective bargaining agreements and labor laws. Serve as the organization's subject matter expert on labor relations, contract interpretation, grievance administration, arbitration preparation, and labor law compliance. Provide guidance and recommendations to senior leadership on labor risks and workforce implications. 25%
• Lead complex employee and labor relations investigations involving policy violations, workplace concerns, misconduct, attendance, harassment, and other sensitive matters. Deliver timely resolutions, identify root causes, and recommend corrective actions to mitigate risk and improve organizational effectiveness. 15%
• Partner with site leaders, HR Business Partners, Operations, and Legal Counsel to develop workforce strategies that improve employee engagement, strengthen organizational culture, and enhance the overall employee experience while maintaining positive labor relations. 10%
• Champion workforce engagement and culture initiatives by identifying employee concerns, analyzing workforce trends, improving communication between leadership and represented employees, and promoting a respectful, inclusive, and high-performing workplace. 10%
• Develop and maintain productive relationships with union leadership, employees, site management, and corporate stakeholders to facilitate issue resolution, build trust, and support business continuity. Utilize labor relations metrics, workforce analytics, and trend data to identify risks, improve labor-management effectiveness, support negotiations, and inform strategic workforce decisions. 10%

KSAs (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities)

• Working knowledge of labor and employment laws, including NLRA, employee relations regulations, and collective bargaining agreement administration.
• Experience conducting workplace and employee relations investigations, including documentation, interviews, and resolution of sensitive matters.
• Experience working in manufacturing, industrial, or plant operations environments, including support for multi-site operations.
• Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills with the ability to build effective working relationships across all levels of the organization.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality, exercise sound judgment, and manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, HRIS systems, and collaborating effectively with operations leadership, HR teams, union representatives, and employees.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Arts/Sciences (BA/BS) Human Resources, Labor Relations, Business Administration, or equivalent experience Required
• 7+ years Progressive H