Labor Relations Manager

Archer Daniels Midland • Decatur, IL

17h • Remote

About The Position

ADM has an exciting opportunity for a seasoned and accomplished Labor Relations Manager to support our operations and site leadership in ADM’s relationships and contracts with various labor unions across the US, Canada and the Caribbean. This is a full-time, exempt level position and reports to the Vice President, Employee and Labor Relations. The Manager, Labor Relations, is responsible for maintaining and executing an efficient and effective labor relations strategy within ADM North America. This role will serve as a key labor negotiator, collaborating closely with local management, operational leadership, HR, and finance to secure collective bargaining agreements that are negotiated within the economic parameters determined by the company. The responsibilities include strategic planning with the internal partners, strong coordination and communication of language provisions, as well as thorough follow-through to ensure that negotiated contract provisions are implemented in a timely manner. In addition, the role is accountable for supporting local leadership in the administration of collective bargaining agreements, handling third step grievances and assisting with arbitrations, responding to union organizing activity and coaching and training leaders. This is a highly visible role that partners closely with HR, Legal, and business leadership to ensure compliant, consistent, and business-aligned labor relations practices across multiple jurisdictions. The Manager, Labor Relations, is an individual contributor role working closely with Labor Relations peers and Human Resources Business Partners as well as operations leadership.

Requirements

• Excellent negotiation skills.
• Must have experience as a first chair negotiator.
• Must have a thorough understanding of Labor Relations, progressive discipline process, negotiating strategy, economics of a labor contract, strike situations, and communication requirements.
• Comprehensive knowledge of labor relations rules and regulations at the federal and state level.
• Ability to build relationships with internal teams, clients, and union leadership.
• Ability to work with all levels of the organization.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including experience presenting to senior leadership.
• High level of accountability, quality and innovation (strives for high performance, emphasizes problem prevention, develops ideas for improvement, creates new processes, ensures accuracy of information).
• Ability to foster teamwork and a positive organizational culture.
• Ability to prioritize and multi-task in an organized, detailed manner.
• Comfortable working independently and showing initiative.
• Bachelor’s degree, preferably in Industrial/Labor Relations, Law, Business, or related field.
• 7–10+ years of progressive labor relations experience (or equivalent), including lead negotiation responsibility and grievance/arbitration management.
• Demonstrated knowledge of U.S. labor law (NLRA, NLRB procedures).
• Experience working with unions across multiple bargaining units and industries or multi-site operations.
• Proven ability to deliver leader training and to coach senior stakeholders.
• Experience conducting or leading complex workplace investigations.
• Ability and willingness to travel extensively, including international travel, if required.
• Valid passport and ability to work across U.S., Canada, and Caribbean jurisdictions.
• Prior experience in unionized manufacturing companies.
• Strong data skills: Excel/Sheets, case management systems, HRIS, and dashboarding (e.g., Power BI, Tableau).

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree or JD, or coursework in industrial relations or labor law a plus.
• Knowledge of Canadian labour laws a plus (federal and provincial, e.g., Ontario, Quebec, BC).
• Experience with BCTGM a significant plus.
• Experience with Caribbean jurisdictions (e.g., Barbados, Grenada, and/or Trinidad & Tobago) a plus.

Responsibilities

• Serve as chief negotiator for collective bargaining agreements across multiple unions and bargaining units.
• Develop bargaining strategies, proposals, costing models, and contingency plans in partnership with Legal, HR, and business leaders.
• Administer CBAs consistently; interpret language, resolve disputes, and ensure operational alignment with contract provisions.
• Represent the company in third step grievances and assist with arbitrations; coordinate with Legal and external counsel as needed.
• Track and analyze grievance trends to identify root causes and preventative actions.
• Respond to and manage union organizing activity, information requests, and partner with legal counsel on unfair labor practice (ULP) allegations in compliance with applicable laws.
• Build and maintain constructive relationships with union representatives while protecting the company’s interests.
• Respond to union information requests.
• Advise business leadership on risk, compliance obligations, and change impacts (workforce restructuring, acquisitions, site changes).
• Design and deliver practical training for leaders and HRBPs on union awareness, positive employee relations and contract administration.
• Coach leaders on day-to-day employee and labor relations matters to strengthen engagement and mitigate risk.
• Partner closely with Legal, HR, Operations, and Communications to align strategies and messaging.
• Manage outside counsel, mediators, and consultants; maintain budgets and vendor performance.

Benefits

• Base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.
• Hourly and salaried non-exempt employees will also be paid overtime pay when working qualifying overtime hours.
• If hired, employees will be in an “at-will position” and the Company reserves the right to modify base pay (as well as any other discretionary payment or compensation program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, Company or individual department/team performance, and market factors.

What This Job Offers

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