Senior Employee Relations Manager

Rehlko•Glendale, WI

3d•$129,150 - $165,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Manager Employee Relations is a hybrid strategic and hands-on role responsible for shaping how employee relations are delivered across the enterprise. The priority objective is to continue to build an employee relations framework that minimizes workforce risk, strengthens governance, and sustains employee trust. This program leader builds on the strategy, governance, tools, and capability needed to create a consistent, fair, and trust-centered employee experience, while also directly leading and advising on complex investigations, labor relations matters, and sensitive employee issues. The role serves as a key connector between our people, our culture, and the business—ensuring employee relations practices reinforce our values, strengthen manager effectiveness, support a positive employer brand, and help employees and leaders navigate issues with clarity, care, and confidence.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in human resources, business, industrial relations, organizational development, or a related field required; advanced degree and/or HR certification such as PHR, SPHR, SHRM-CP, or SHRM-SCP preferred.
10+ years of progressive experience in employee relations, labor relations, workplace investigations, HR policy, or HR business partner leadership, preferably within a large, global, multi-site organization.
Experience operating in or building an Employee Relations Center of Excellence strongly preferred.
Prior experience in a manufacturing union represented workforce experience is highly valued.
Demonstrated ability to set enterprise strategy while remaining hands-on with sensitive issues, influence senior leaders, navigate ambiguity, manage legal and reputational risk, and connect employee relations work to culture, engagement, employee experience, employer brand, and business outcomes.
Applicants must be authorized to work in the US without requiring sponsorship now or in the future.

Responsibilities

Leads the enterprise Employee Relations Center of Excellence, developing and executing the roadmap, standards, governance, and operating model for how employee relations matters are managed across the organization. Partners closely with senior leaders, HR Business Partners, Legal, Communications, and operational leaders to ensure consistent, scalable, and business-aligned employee relations practices.
Provides or secures expert guidance on complex, high-risk, and sensitive employee relations matters, including workplace investigations, harassment and discrimination concerns, retaliation claims, performance and conduct issues, terminations, conflict resolution, and matters with potential legal, reputational, or employee experience impact through deep partnerships with appropriate legal counsel.
Lead the global governance and coordination of HR reporting requirements, maintaining enterprise reporting calendars, ensuring timely regional compliance, and providing executive visibility and assurance on regulatory, board, and audit-related deliverables.
Provides labor relations support across the enterprise, including advising on union-related matters, grievance management, collective bargaining preparation, on various workplace actions. Ensures labor relations practices are proactive, well-governed, compliant, and aligned with business needs and employee trust.
Owns the execution, governance, and continuous improvement of employee relations policies, practices, playbooks, case management routines, investigation protocols under the supervision of legal, and leader resources. Ensures tools and processes are clear, accessible, compliant, and employee-centered while enabling consistent decision-making across geographies and business units.
Uses employee relations data, investigation themes, labor relations trends, and employee feedback to identify systemic risks and opportunities to improve engagement, retention, leadership effectiveness, policy clarity, and the overall employee experience. Translates insights into practical actions that strengthen culture and protect the employer brand.
Builds enterprise capability by developing training, coaching, and practical guidance for HR teams and leaders on respectful workplace expectations, investigations, labor relations fundamentals, policy application, documentation, and effective issue resolution. In partnership with legal counsel applies judgment, empathy, and consistency to create a workplace experience that reflects our values.
Operationalizes legal requirements, guidance, and recommendations developed by internal and external counsel into practical employee relations processes, tools, and leader guidance; deploys and embeds these requirements across the organization and ensures consistent, compliant application in day-to-day decision-making.