Associate Manager, HRBP
About The Position
The Associate Manager, HR Business Partner is the primary on-site HR contact and trusted partner to approximately 300 hourly team members and front-line leaders at Unilever’s Knorr manufacturing facility in Independence, Missouri. The facility is a unionized, 24/7 operation. This role supports a positive employee experience and ensures fair, consistent, and compliant application of company policies and the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). Working closely with HR Operations and People Partner teams, the Associate Manager, HRBP supports employee and labor relations, performance management, onboarding, engagement, and change initiatives in a fast-paced manufacturing environment. The role also supports off-shift operations, including third-shift team members, and may adjust its schedule or travel as business needs require.
Requirements
- At least 5 years of HR experience in a manufacturing or factory environment.
- Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business, or a related field.
- Demonstrated experience conducting employee relations investigations and handling grievances.
- Solid working knowledge of employment law and employee relations practices.
- Strong communication, judgment, and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities independently in a fast-paced environment.
- Willingness to support off-shift operations, including maintaining a stable schedule to support third-shift team members.
- Flexibility to adjust schedule and travel as business needs require.
Nice To Haves
- Union experience.
- Experience with Kronos timekeeping.
- Experience with UKG payroll and Workday or similar HR systems.
Responsibilities
- Serve as the first point of contact for employee relations questions, concerns, and grievances.
- Administer the Collective Bargaining Agreement fairly and consistently in a union environment.
- Support union negotiations and collective bargaining processes, including implementing agreements.
- Conduct employee relations investigations, including interviews, documentation, corrective actions, and counseling.
- Promote a respectful, inclusive, and proactive employee relations environment.
- Coach and counsel hourly employees and front-line leaders on performance, conduct, attendance, and policy matters.
- Support leaders through performance management, including feedback conversations and documentation.
- Guide supervisors on effective feedback and corrective action in compliance with employment laws.
- Serve as a subject matter expert for HR policies, processes, and systems, partnering with centralized HR support teams as needed.
- Manage HR issue escalations through resolution and maintain clear communication with stakeholders.
- Administer medical accommodation processes in alignment with company policy and federal and state regulations.
- Participate in affirmative action and compliance-related activities.
- Monitor employee engagement and climate indicators and identify opportunities to improve the employee experience.
- Partner with leaders to address people trends and implement practical local solutions.
- Support continuous improvement of site-level HR processes and ways of working.
- Partner with recruitment on hourly hiring needs and support the end-to-end onboarding process.
- Coordinate onboarding with safety, operations, payroll, and benefits teams.
- Lead or participate in local HR projects and initiatives from start to finish.
Benefits
- Bonus eligible.
- Health insurance, including prescription drug, dental, and vision coverage.
- Retirement savings benefits.
- Life insurance and disability benefits.
- Parental leave.
- Sick leave.
- Paid vacation and holidays.
- Access to voluntary benefits.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Manager
