Director, Employee Relations

Ford - Wayne, MI

Full-time - Senior

Wayne, MI

Transportation Equipment Manufacturing

About the position

The Director, Employee Relations, is responsible for overseeing the Employee Relations team, ensuring compliance with HR policies, and managing complex employee relations issues. This role involves collaboration with senior HR leadership and various departments to foster a compliant and ethical work environment while managing budgets and performance results.

Responsibilities

• Oversees the resolution of employee union and work council relations issues, ensuring fairness and consistency.
• Ensures compliance with employment laws, regulations, and company policies.
• Participates in the development of collective bargaining agreements and negotiations with employee unions.
• Conducts projects to identify innovative solutions for employee relations issues through stakeholder management and risk analysis.
• Leads interactions with internal departments and external vendors, auditors, and consultants.
• Participates in change management programs for lean initiatives across plant locations.
• Develops case quality standards, investigation procedures, and reporting templates for employee experiences.
• Monitors metrics around incidents, investigations, and resolutions, providing advice as necessary.
• Designs and implements performance management systems, including evaluations and succession planning.
• Provides guidance to senior managers on performance-related issues and workforce retrenchments.
• Oversees the resolution of discrimination charges and leads briefings with legal counsel.
• Develops long-term plans for employee relations goals and departmental budgets, monitoring performance.
• Leads presentations with senior internal stakeholders.
• Designs operating policies for HR communications and employee contracts, ensuring high morale and motivation.
• Establishes policies related to employee relations and conflict management, ensuring compliance with laws and effective communication.
• Maintains accurate and confidential employee records and data related to employee relations matters.
• Performs talent management responsibilities, including staffing and team development.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Human Resources, Organizational Development, or related discipline.
• Minimum 10 years of work experience in Employee Relations or a related field.
• 10+ years of experience in a union and manufacturing environment.
• 10+ years of experience in automotive manufacturing.

Nice-to-haves

• Master's Degree in Business Administration, Human Resources, Organizational Development, or related discipline.
• Minimum 8 years of work experience with a Master's degree in Employee Relations or a related field.
• Experience with Lean Methodology.
• Transformational leadership in employee experience.
• Certified Human Resource Professional (CHRP).
• Certified Change Management Professional (CCMP).
• Society for Human Resource Management Certified Professional (SHRM - CP).

Benefits

• Immediate medical, dental, vision and prescription drug coverage
• Flexible family care days, paid parental leave, new parent ramp-up programs, subsidized back-up childcare
• Family building benefits including adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement, fertility treatments
• Vehicle discount program for employees and family members
• 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.