Senior Specialist Employee Relations, Ford Energy
About The Position
Ford Energy is a newly formed, wholly-owned subsidiary of Ford Motor Company dedicated to accelerating U.S. energy independence. Leveraging Ford’s century of manufacturing excellence and world-class battery energy storage systems (BESS) technology, Ford Energy designs, manufactures, and services grid-scale and commercial DC battery energy storage systems (BESS). Ford Energy is uniquely positioned to capture the growing demand for reliable, US-built energy storage systems. We are not just building batteries; we are building the infrastructure for the next generation of the American grid. At Ford Energy, you have the backing of an industrial manufacturing powerhouse with the agility of a dedicated energy startup offering industry-leading technology. We offer a competitive compensation package including performance-based bonuses, Ford vehicle discounts, and the opportunity to shape the energy strategy of one of the world's most iconic brands. The Plant Sr. HR Specialist serves as a strategic HR advisor and subject matter expert at Ford Energy. This role requires a dynamic leader with a deep understanding of manufacturing operations and a passion for building high-performing workplace cultures. The Sr. Specialist is responsible for leading complex employee relations matters, driving talent sustainability, and aligning HR practices with broader organizational goals. As a senior member of the plant HR team, this individual will mentor junior staff, assess systemic risk trends, and ensure that HR frameworks are scalable for a high-growth startup environment.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resources, Organizational Development, or any other related discipline
- Minimum 5 years of work experience with a Master’s degree or 8 years of work experience with a Bachelor’s degree, preferably in Employee Relations or a related field.
- 2-3+ years of experience leading and supervising teams in a professional setting
- Demonstrated ability to influence and advise senior plant leadership.
- Expert-level investigative, analytical, and communication skills.
- Candidates for positions with Ford Motor Company must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of hire.
Nice To Haves
- Professional HR Certification (PHR or SHRM-CP).
- Experience in a large-scale manufacturing "Greenfield" or startup environment.
- Advanced proficiency with HRIS/HRMS systems (e.g., Workday, SAP).
Responsibilities
- Provide expert guidance to plant leadership on organizational effectiveness, policy application, and complex personnel decisions.
- Lead the strategic execution of talent management, including performance management, succession planning, performance cycle activities, and compensation planning.
- Analyze complex workforce metrics to identify potential risks and develop deep insights and recommendations that drive people decisions for operating leaders.
- Mentor and develop HR team members (Associates and Specialists), ensuring a high standard of HR service delivery across the plant.
- Support interactions with local governmental agencies and lead charitable activities to integrate the plant into the local Kentucky community.
- Lead and oversee the most sensitive and complex employee investigations, ensuring thorough evidence review and alignment with legal and ethical standards.
- Identify and assess workforce trends to recommend systemic improvements to HR practices, policies, and training to mitigate organizational risk.
- Act as the final point of escalation for interpersonal conflicts and corrective action matters, ensuring fairness, consistency, and a respectful workplace culture.
- Manage the plant’s response to ethics and compliance hotline reports, partnering with legal counsel on discovery and litigation preparation when necessary.
- Leverage lean principles to problem-solve and drive effective change management programs that improve HR efficiency.
- Ensure total compliance with employment laws (FMLA, ADA, FLSA), I-9 protocols, and OSHA safety documentation.
- Apply expert knowledge of leave policies and their interaction with worker’s compensation to manage high-level cases within HRIS systems.
- Partner with safety and occupational health leads to drive wellness programs and ensure a culture of safety on the manufacturing floor.
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.
- performance-based bonuses
- Ford vehicle discounts
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
