Site People Operations & Labor Leader
About The Position
We are seeking a Site People Operations & Labor Leader to lead HR and labor relations at our Sistersville manufacturing facility (400+ employees). This role is responsible for both ensuring a stable, high-performing labor environment today, and shaping how leaders lead and how people practices evolve over time. You will serve as a key member of the site leadership team, while also leading and developing a small HR team that delivers day-to-day excellence. This role is ideal for someone who thrives in a unionized manufacturing environment, is equally comfortable on the plant floor and influencing senior leaders, wants to lead people, not just processes, and brings both operational discipline and strategic perspective. You will directly lead and develop a team of 2: a People Operations Generalist and a People Operations Talent & Retention Specialist. You are accountable for setting priorities and ensuring execution across all HR activities, coaching and developing team capability, and elevating the team from transactional delivery to proactive partnership.
Requirements
- 10+ years of experience in labor relations within a manufacturing environment
- Demonstrated experience managing union relationships, grievances, and arbitration processes
- Experience leading and developing HR team members
- Strong knowledge of U.S. labor laws (NLRB and related regulations)
- Proven ability to influence and challenge leaders constructively
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
- Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Labor Relations, or related field or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Nice To Haves
- Advanced degree in Labor or Industrial Relations
- Experience driving culture, leadership, or organizational transformation
- Track record of improving both operations and systems—not just resolving issues
Responsibilities
- Lead People & Labor Strategy: Own and evolve the site’s labor relations strategy, including union engagement and collective bargaining support. Partner with site leadership to align workforce and labor strategy to business needs. Identify trends and drive systemic, root-cause improvements.
- Strengthening the Environment: Champion a work environment that strengthens leadership effectiveness, fairness, and consistency. Equip leaders with the skills and confidence to lead, engage, and respond to employee concerns early and effectively. Identify and address root causes of dissatisfaction (e.g., communication gaps, inconsistent practices, perceived inequities). Partner with leadership to build a culture of direct engagement, trust, and accountability across both union and non-union populations.
- Be a Visible Partner to Operations: Maintain a strong presence on the plant floor to build trust and stay connected to employee realities. Coach leaders on people leadership, performance management, and decision-making. Facilitate team sessions and drive leadership alignment.
- Lead Labor Relations Execution: Oversee grievances, investigations, and arbitration processes. Ensure fair, consistent, and compliant discipline and employee relations practices. Build and maintain a constructive relationship with union representatives.
- Shape Leadership & Culture: Act as a trusted advisor and courageous challenger to site leadership. Drive improvements in leadership effectiveness, accountability, and consistency. Reduce recurring issues by strengthening manager capability and decision quality.
- Deliver HR Excellence Through Your Team: Oversee the full employee lifecycle (hiring, onboarding, development, retention). Partner with COEs to implement HR programs and policies effectively. Ensure strong execution, compliance, and continuous improvement.
- Other duties as assigned.
Benefits
- Health, dental & vision insurance, including critical illness coverage and optional orthodontia coverage.
- Paid parental leave for the birth of a child; adoption and surrogacy reimbursement.
- Short term disability with 100% base salary coverage.
- Company funded counseling (EAP) and assistance finding care for children, parents, or pets.
- 25 days of Paid Time Off (PTO) plus paid holidays.
- Additional time off with years of service.
- 401k savings plan with 5% employer match plus additional contribution based on years of service.
- Student debt pay-off program.
- Professional development programs and courses.
- Wellness programs and financial education.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
