HR Business Partner, Employee Relations

Ford • Louisville, KY

1d • $74,300 - $124,500 • Onsite

About The 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.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources related discipline or commensurate work experience
• 1-3 years of relevant HR and/or labor work (internships will be considered)
• Must be able to work day or night shift; the position rotates across shifts

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree in Human Resources related discipline (MBA included)
• Experience partnering with the Union to advance problem-solving at the plant-floor level
• Strong relationship building skills and experience interfacing with hourly and salary employees within a unionized manufacturing environment
• Aspirations for continued career growth and new challenges
• Exposure to six-sigma and lean manufacturing methodologies (i.e. green/black belt certification and standardized work)

Responsibilities

• 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.
• 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.
• 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
• Partners with local communications staff to implement and execute relevant communications to foster an informed employee population and two-way communication across all shifts.
• Ensures compliance with employment laws, regulations, and company policies.
• Participates in charitable activities to support the plant's community engagement efforts.
• Monitors key workforce metrics to identify potential risks and deploy mitigating actions in collaboration with Operations leaders.
• Resolves union issues such as conflicts, disputes, and disciplinary matters, with fairness and consistency in a timely manner. Supports collective bargaining process and negotiations.
• Effectively manages assigned cases and grievances within their customer group. Monitors volume for workload and emerging trends.
• 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.
• 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
• Manages disciplinary hearings for policy and contractual violations, in conjunction with Operations and union representative.
• 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.
• Supports the talent management process for hourly employees within their customer group including placement, hiring, and review processes.
• Works closely with safety and occupational health leads to address employee health and wellness concerns, support safety audits, wellness programs.

Benefits

• Immediate medical, dental, vision and prescription drug coverage
• Flexible family care days, paid parental leave, new parent ramp-up programs, subsidized back-up child care and more
• Family building benefits including adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement, fertility treatments, and more
• Vehicle discount program for employees and family members and management leases
• Tuition assistance
• Established and active employee resource groups
• Paid time off for individual and team community service
• A generous schedule of paid holidays, including the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day
• Paid time off and the option to purchase additional vacation time.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level