HR Business Partner, Employee Relations

We made history and now we work to transform the future - for our customers, our communities and our families. You'll see your work on the road every day, helping people move freely and pursue their dreams. At Ford, you can build more than vehicles. Come build what matters.

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.

In this position...

Louisville Assembly Plant is undergoing a historic transformation - and there's never been a better time to join this energized team. As the future home of the Ford Fathom, we are launching the first truck built on Ford's Universal Electric Vehicle platform, and we're looking for talented people to help lead the way.

The Plant HR Business Partner position at a manufacturing plant requires a dynamic individual with a passion for customer service and a desire to learn business operations. The role encompasses a wide range of responsibilities including employee engagement, labor relations, compliance, and community outreach. This role is required to be on-site in a manufacturing setting, and to have strong communication, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills. They will be responsible for fostering a positive and productive work environment, ensuring compliance with all applicable laws and regulations, and supporting the company's overall business objectives.

Human Resources Business Partner

What you'll do...

• Business Acumen: Leverages knowledge of the business to develop relationships within their customer group (i.e. Operations) to identify solutions that drive sustainable cultural change and support the achievement of business objectives.
• Employee Engagement: Fosters a positive and inclusive hourly and salary employee experience through proactive initiatives based on feedback through employee opinion surveys, suggestions, open-door policies and DEI initiatives, to boost engagement and address areas for improvement. Engages in employee recognition events and planning. Applies Gemba principles and PDCA methodology to proactively build positive relationships with employees, ensure HR availability, and identify and resolve employee concerns before they escalate.
• Lean Methodology: Drive operational excellence by applying lean methodologies and progressive HR practices to elevate core HR functions - recruiting, training and development, contract administration, investigations, and more - to best-in-class levels
• Employee Communication: Partners with local communications staff to implement and execute relevant communications to foster an informed employee population and two-way communication across all shifts.
• Compliance: Ensures compliance with employment laws, regulations, and company policies.
• Community Engagement: Participates in charitable activities to support the plant's community engagement efforts.
• Data Analytics: Monitors key workforce metrics to identify potential risks and deploy mitigating actions in collaboration with Operations leaders.

Labor Relations

• Union Relations: Resolves union issues such as conflicts, disputes, and disciplinary matters, with fairness and consistency in a timely manner. Supports collective bargaining process and negotiations.
• Case Management: Effectively manages assigned cases and grievances within their customer group. Monitors volume for workload and emerging trends.
• Payroll, Time and Attendance: Executes payroll and attendance tracking processes including attendance hearings, updating system codes, and running necessary reports. Administers and tracks employee leaves associated with the Family and Medical Leave Act, worker's compensation, and Americans with Disabilities Act.
• Contract Interpretation: Collaborates closely with customer group and union representatives to ensure correct implementation and accurate interpretation of the contract terms, addressing inquiries, grievances, and other union-related issues for consistent application
• Discipline Administration: Manages disciplinary hearings for policy and contractual violations, in conjunction with Operations and union representative.
• Investigations: Supports investigations within their assigned customer group, ensuring that all disciplinary issues, grievances, and arbitration matters are handled in a timely and effective manner. Leverages conflict resolution and critical thinking skills to conduct investigations.
• Manpower Administration: Supports the talent management process for hourly employees within their customer group including placement, hiring, and review processes.
• Health and Safety: Works closely with safety and occupational health leads to address employee health and wellness concerns, support safety audits, wellness programs.

What you'll do...

• Business Acumen: Leverages knowledge of the business to develop relationships within their customer group (i.e. Operations) to identify solutions that drive sustainable cultural change and support the achievement of business objectives.
• Employee Engagement: Fosters a positive and inclusive hourly and salary employee experience through proactive initiatives based on feedback through employee opinion surveys, suggestions, open-door policies and DEI initiatives, to boost engagement and address areas for improvement. Engages in employee recognition events and planning. Applies Gemba principles and PDCA methodology to proactively build positive relationships with employees, ensure HR availability, and identify and resolve employee concerns before they escalate.
• Lean Methodology: Drive operational excellence by applying lean methodologies and progressive HR practices to elevate core HR functions - recruiting, training and development, contract administration, investigations, and more - to best-in-class levels
• Employee Communication: Partners with local communications staff to implement and execute relevant communications to foster an informed employee population and two-way communication across all shifts.
• Compliance: Ensures compliance with employment laws, regulations, and company policies.
• Community Engagement: Participates in charitable activities to support the plant's community engagement efforts.
• Data Analytics: Monitors key workforce metrics to identify potential risks and deploy mitigating actions in collaboration with Operations leaders.

Labor Relations

• Union Relations: Resolves union issues such as conflicts, disputes, and disciplinary matters, with fairness and consistency in a timely manner. Supports collective bargaining process and negotiations.
• Case Management: Effectively manages assigned cases and grievances within their customer group. Monitors volume for workload and emerging trends.
• Payroll, Time and Attendance: Executes payroll and attendance tracking processes including attendance hearings, updating system codes, and running necessary reports. Administers and tracks employee leaves associated with the Family and Medical Leave Act, worker's compensation, and Americans with Disabilities Act.
• Contract Interpretation: Collaborates closely with customer group and union representatives to ensure correct implementation and accurate interpretation of the contract terms, addressing inquiries, grievances, and other union-related issues for consistent application
• Discipline Administration: Manages disciplinary hearings for policy and contractual violations, in conjunction with Operations and union representative.
• Investigations: Supports investigations within their assigned customer group, ensuring that all disciplinary issues, grievances, and arbitration matters are handled in a timely and effective manner. Leverages conflict resolution and critical thinking skills to conduct investigations.
• Manpower Administration: Supports the talent management process for hourly employees within their customer group including placement, hiring, and review processes.
• Health and Safety: Works closely with safety and occupational health leads to address employee health and wellness concerns, support safety audits, wellness programs.