Director of Employee Relations

The Wonderful Company • Bakersfield, CA

3h • Hybrid

About The Position

The Wonderful Company is committed to offering high-quality, healthy, and iconic brands such as Wonderful Pistachios, Wonderful Halos, FIJI Water, and POM Wonderful. We’re looking to make the world a healthier place through an uncompromising commitment to the well-being of our employees and their families. The Director of Employee Relations is responsible for developing, implementing, and enforcing employee relations policies and procedures. They will provide support to management and employees in resolving employee issues, conducting investigations of complaints, leading the interactive process and leaves of absences, ensuring compliance with employment laws and regulations, and designing and delivering training programs on employee relations topics. This position will be based at our Shafter, CA office. We work a hybrid schedule with an in-office requirement Monday-Wednesday and the option to work remotely on Thursday and Friday. The role conducts employee investigations involving a wide range of employee relations complaints and conflicts in partnership with HR Business Partners and legal as appropriate. This includes investigating employee complaints and grievances, conducting interviews and research, drafting investigation findings reports, and making recommendations for employee development or training and/or disciplinary action as appropriate. The Director manages escalated leaves of absences and accommodation, facilitating the interactive process to achieve a mutually agreeable accommodation between employee and the business and properly documenting the outcome. They provide guidance and support to managers and employees in resolving conflicts and addressing workplace issues, serving as a mediator in employee disputes or conflicts, facilitating open communication and negotiation to reach mutually acceptable resolutions. The position also assists managers with escalated or complicated performance management as needed, develops and delivers conflict resolution training programs for managers and employees, and delivers, coordinates and tracks compliance trainings, including wage and hour, anti-harassment, FCPA, mandated reporter, DOJ background checks. They implement strategies to mitigate risks related to employment law, partner with legal to ensure employment policies are up to date and implemented across the business unit, regularly review HR practices and documentation for compliance, monitor and enforce legal changes and keep track of updates in employment laws and regulations, and manage complex workers’ compensation cases.

Requirements

• 20 years in a professional business and or human resources role
• 12-15 years of relevant employee relations and compliance experience
• Bachelors degree in Human Resources, Employee or Industrial Relations
• Proficient in conversational Spanish.
• Experienced in leading employee leave and labor law compliance, with deep expertise in federal and California regulations.
• Proven experience in an employee relations leadership role, with a strong understanding of employee relations practices and principles.
• In-depth knowledge of employment laws, regulations, and best practices related to employee relations.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to assess complex employee relations issues and provide effective solutions.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to communicate effectively and build relationships with employees at all levels.
• Strong conflict resolution and mediation skills, with the ability to facilitate difficult conversations and resolve disputes.
• Strong leadership and management skills, with the ability to effectively lead and develop a team.
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion.
• Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to prioritize and manage multiple employee relations initiatives.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and HRIS software.
• Ability to stay updated on industry trends, employment laws, and best practices related to employee relations.

Nice To Haves

• Ability to converse in business Spanish and/or write in Spanish

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and enforce employee relations policies and procedures.
• Provide support to management and employees in resolving employee issues.
• Conduct investigations of complaints.
• Lead the interactive process and leaves of absences.
• Ensure compliance with employment laws and regulations.
• Design and deliver training programs on employee relations topics.
• Conduct employee investigations involving a wide range of employee relations complaints and conflicts in partnership with HR Business Partners and legal as appropriate.
• Investigate employee complaints and grievances, conduct interviews and research, draft investigation findings reports, and make recommendations for employee development or training and/or disciplinary action as appropriate.
• Manage escalated leaves of absences and accommodation.
• Facilitate the interactive process to achieve a mutually agreeable accommodation between employee and the business and properly document the outcome.
• Provide guidance and support to managers and employees in resolving conflicts and addressing workplace issues.
• Serve as a mediator in employee disputes or conflicts, facilitate open communication and negotiation to reach mutually acceptable resolutions.
• Assist managers with escalated or complicated performance management as needed.
• Develop and deliver conflict resolution training programs for managers and employees.
• Deliver, coordinate and track compliance trainings, including wage and hour, anti-harassment, FCPA, mandated reporter, DOJ background checks.
• Implement strategies to mitigate risks related to employment law.
• Partner with legal to ensure employment policies are up to date and implemented across the business unit.
• Regularly review HR practices and documentation for compliance.
• Monitor and enforce legal changes and keep track of updates in employment laws and regulations.
• Manage complex workers’ compensation cases.

Benefits

• Access to top-notch medical coverage
• Comprehensive vision and dental plans
• 401k with match eligibility to secure your financial future
• 24/7 online physician consultations
• Virtual mental health resources
• Life coaching
• Engaging employee community groups
• Cash rewards for healthy habits
• Fitness reimbursements
• Library of on-demand fitness videos
• Clear paths for career progression
• Internal mobility across our diverse family of brands and business units
• Dedicated Learning and Organizational Development department
• People Manager and leadership training
• Webinars
• eLearning courses
• Company-wide mentorship program
• Continuous Improvement Training
• Wonderful Giving, allowing you to allocate company-provided funds to up to three charities of your choice
• Wonderful Neighbor to contribute to group service projects within our local communities

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Number of Employees: 251-500 employees