Manager, HR Employment and Labor Relations

Overview

The Labor Relations Manager serves as the primary company representative for all labor relations matters at a highly regulated chemical manufacturing site with approximately 600 employees, which includes approximately 450 union-represented employees across two distinct labor unions. This role is responsible for managing day-to-day labor relations activities, maintaining constructive relationships with union leadership, and ensuring positive employee relations aligned with business objectives, safety standards, and regulatory requirements. The position plays a critical role in fostering a collaborative labor-management partnership while protecting the company’s operational and contractual interests.

Responsibilities

Labor Relations & Union Management

• Serve as the primary point of contact and lead company representative for labor relations matters involving two separate labor unions.
• Manage daily labor relations issues, including contract interpretation, grievance handling, labor investigations, disciplinary actions, and dispute resolution.
• Lead and participate in bi-weekly union-management meetings, ensuring effective communication, issue tracking, and timely resolution of concerns.
• Develop and maintain strong, respectful working relationships with union leadership to promote trust, transparency, and partnership.
• Partner to inform and align proposed strategies with Global Labor Relations Lead, Director of HR locally, and Americas Regional Lead.

Collective Bargaining & Negotiations

• Prepare for and actively participate in collective bargaining negotiations, including proposed language changes, assist with strategy development and agreement implementation.
• Serve as second chair in collective bargaining negotiations.
• Support long-term labor relations strategies that align with site and corporate objectives.
• Ensure consistent application of collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) across the site developing areas of consistency according to CBA, MOA, etc.

Employee Relations & Culture

• Promote a positive employee relations climate rooted in fairness, consistency, and mutual respect.
• Advise unit leadership on labor relations best practices, contract compliance, and sound employee relations decision-making.
• Assist with providing coaching and training to leaders on union relations, grievance handling, and contract administration.

Compliance & Risk Management

• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local labor laws, including those applicable to unionized environments.
• Partner closely with Stewardship Specialist and Operations teams to ensure labor practices align with regulatory and safety requirements inherent in a chemical manufacturing environment.
• Identify labor relations risks and proactively recommend solutions to minimize disruption and maintain operational continuity and partner to inform and align proposed strategies with Global Labor Relations Lead, Director of HR locally, and Americas Regional Lead.

Collaboration & Leadership

• Act as a trusted advisor to unit leadership.
• Collaborate with HR Director to ensure integrated people strategies.
• Drive continuous improvement in labor relations processes and outcomes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, Labor Relations, Business Administration, or a related field.
• 7–10+ years of progressive labor relations experience in a unionized manufacturing or industrial environment.
• Demonstrated experience in grievance handling, arbitration preparation, and collective bargaining negotiations.
• Strong working knowledge of labor laws and employment regulations (e.g., NLRA).

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in a highly regulated industry such as chemical manufacturing, energy, pharmaceuticals, or heavy industrial operations.
• Direct experience serving as the lead company spokesperson in grievances and arbitrations.
• Exposure to safety-critical or process-driven environments.

Core Competencies

• Strong negotiation and conflict resolution skills
• Excellent communication and interpersonal effectiveness
• Strategic thinking with practical execution skills
• Ability to influence at all organizational levels, especially at the operations level
• Sound judgment and discretion in sensitive situations
• Ability to remain effective in high-pressure or contentious environments

Working Conditions

• Professional, safety‑focused work environment within a regulated chemical manufacturing operation, with strong emphasis on employee health, workplace safety, and regulatory compliance consistent with OSHA requirements and industry best practice
• Primarily office, but frequent presence in manufacturing areas required to support labor relations activities, investigations, negotiations, and employee engagement initiatives, in compliance with site safety policies and PPE requirements. Possible exposure to chemicals.

Pay is based on several factors which vary based on position. These include labor markets, work experience, and qualifications.  The expected salary range for this Virginia position is between $108,700 and $146,800.