Senior Specialist, Employee Relations

In this position…

The Senior Specialist, Employee Relations, working without any appreciable supervision, is responsible for the resolution of employee relations issues, such as conflicts, disputes, and disciplinary matters, with fairness and consistency in a timely manner. This role designs standard operating protocols and benchmarks to be implemented for investigations, cases, and mediations, to improve employee motivation. Additionally, the role is a subject matter expert on matters pertaining to employee relations. The role advises leaders and consults with teams on performance management, feedback mechanisms, and delivery, goal setting, workplace conduct, employee retrenchment, etc. to ensure a positive work environment across the organization.

It takes outstanding people from every background imaginable to make our ambitious plans for the future a tangible reality. As part of our Human Resources team, you’ll help us attract, hire, and retain the top talent we need to achieve our bold vision. You’ll play a vital role in defining, developing, and maintaining the winning culture that empowers diverse individuals to work together and create the impossible. We’re seeking change leaders, talent strategists, employee advocates, and culture architects to enable our teams, partners, and businesses to do and be their best. Come join the “people” people!

Our team is part of the incredible transformation underway at Ford Motor Company and you’ll have a chance to be a part of that movement. We are seeking an investigator with a passion for employee relations and conducting robust investigations in a dynamic environment who appreciates the important role employee relations professionals play in supporting our values and culture and will carry out duties with the highest integrity. 

What you'll do…

• Coordinates with multiple stakeholders to design Standard Operating Procedures and organization-wide practices around employee, union, and work council relations issues, such as conflicts, disputes, and disciplinary matters, with fairness and consistency in a timely manner in compliance with employment laws, regulations, and company policies. The role also actively participates in negotiations with employee unions for collective bargaining agreements.
• Provides advisory and consultation services on technical matters related to the resolution of cases, investigations, departures, mediations between employees, hearings, litigations, and related issues as per organizational practices, and processes in line with the required standards as the organization’s principal Subject Matter Expert on the domain.
• Designs company protocols and procedures in the domains of performance management systems, including performance evaluations, goal setting, feedback mechanisms, employee relations assessments, and performance improvement plans, in compliance with laws and regulations. Designs and develops feedback mechanisms for employees to share suggestions on lean process improvement initiatives and assists with associated change management initiatives.
• Designs and develops Training programs for Managers across departments on employee relations subjects such as conflict resolution, dispute management, complaints, goal setting, performance feedback delivery, etc. to achieve high employee motivation, morale, and a positive work environment.
• Owns delivery of employee relations special projects involving the development of innovative solutions and procedures to deal with complex problems in the domains of conflict resolution, case investigations, dispute management, employee motivation, morale, etc., consistent with organizational objectives and strategy. Represents the organization when dealing with regulatory bodies, external consultants and vendors, and other agencies and ensures that the organization's interests and objectives are supported.
• Participates in the development of long-term plans for the achievement of employee relations goals and initiatives in line with the organization’s long-term business strategy, objectives, and financial plans, ensuring optimal human resource utilization. Determines the approach for continuous improvement projects to develop solutions and improvements to initiatives and programs across the Employee lifecycle in partnership with People Analytics and Planning and other HR teams while ensuring coherence with the organization’s long-term plans.
• Consults with legal, compliance, and other HR teams for formulating effective responses for all types of discrimination charges and complaints.
• Designs HR-specific communications and policies related to employee contracts, including employment terms and conditions, a code of conduct, workforce retrenchment, etc., as per organizational processes, resulting in high employee motivation, morale, and reduced turnover.
• Designs s