Employee Relations Specialist, Senior

Summary:

The Employee Relations Senior Specialist plays a critical role in promoting a positive, compliant, and engaging workplace culture by providing expert guidance, coaching, and support to employees and leadership across the organization. This role is responsible for managing and resolving complex employee relations matters, conducting prompt and thorough investigations, interpreting and applying company policies and employment laws, analyzing employee relations trends, and developing proactive strategies to enhance the team member experience. Acting as a neutral and trusted advisor, the Employee Relations Senior Specialist ensures fair and consistent treatment of all team members while partnering with business leaders to drive organizational success.

Responsibilities: Serve as a strategic partner and trusted advisor to managers and employees on a broad range of employee relations matters, including performance management, conflict resolution, and policy interpretation. Conduct prompt, thorough, and objective internal investigations, including background research, evidence gathering, interviews, documentation, findings reports, and debrief sessions. Prepare detailed, accurate, and clear investigative reports summarizing findings, conclusions, and recommended next steps. Advise and coach managers on employee relations issues, disciplinary actions, and best practices to mitigate risk and foster a respectful work environment. Act as a neutral mediator in employee disputes, encouraging open communication and mutual understanding to resolve conflicts effectively. Analyze employee relations data and trends to identify recurring themes, potential areas of risk, and opportunities for training or organizational improvement. Develop and deliver employee relations training to leaders and supervisors on topics such as conflict management, corrective action procedures, performance management, and legal compliance. Support the execution of strategic workforce plans by partnering with HR Business Partners, Talent Acquisition, and leadership on organizational design, employee development, and talent movement. Stay current with federal, state, and local employment laws and HR best practices to ensure compliance and proactively manage legal risks. Provide feedback and recommendations to HR leadership regarding the effectiveness of HR policies, procedures, and programs; participate in continuous improvement initiatives. Maintain highly confidential and accurate documentation and case management records for all employee relations matters. Support employee engagement efforts by developing action plans in response to engagement survey results and driving cultural initiatives that enhance the team member experience. Serve as a change agent for organizational initiatives, supporting leaders through periods of change with communication and action planning. Mentor and support the development of junior HR team members as needed. Perform other duties as needed Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Industrial Relations, or related field required; Master's degree preferred. HR certification strongly preferred (e.g., PHR, SPHR, SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP). Strong knowledge of applicable federal and state employment laws, including ADA, FMLA, ADEA, Title VII, FLSA, OSHA, HIPAA, GINA, USERRA, and other relevant regulations. Demonstrated ability to identify potential legal risks and provide practical, compliant recommendations. Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, dynamic environment while maintaining attention to detail and meeting deadlines. Must be willing and able to work flexible hours and occasionally support multiple shifts as needed. Must be comfortable standing and walking in production or manufacturing environments for extended periods. Experience:

5+ years of progressive HR experience with a strong focus on employee relations, HRBP support, or complex investigations, preferably in a manufacturing or production environment. Proven experience conducting fair, impartial, and thorough investigations and delivering high-quality investigative reports. Experience supporting both exempt and non-exempt employee groups Experience working with complex organizational structures Skills:

Ability to lead and facilitate training sessions or workshops Strong collaboration skills with cross-functional HR teams (Compensation, Talent Acquisition, Learning & Development, etc.) Ability to quickly learn and leverage new technologies. Strong analytical skills and ability to interpret data to identify trends and recommend strategic improvements. Excellent interpersonal, communication, coaching, and influencing skills; ability to build trust and credibility at all organizational levels. High level of professionalism, discretion, confidentiality, and ethical judgment. Proficiency with HRIS platforms and Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) Bilingual skills (Spanish or Korean) are a plus but not required

HL-GA Battery Company is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer that values the diversity of its workforce.