Senior Specialist, Employee Relations

The Senior Specialist, Employee Relations serves as a critical strategic partner and hands-on HR leader, deeply embedded within Ford's automotive manufacturing plants and parts depots.

This role is responsible for supporting the hourly and salaried workforce, collaborating closely with leadership to drive business objectives through a comprehensive HR lens.

The HRBP will foster a positive and productive work environment, manage all aspects of the employee lifecycle, ensure compliance, and champion talent development, employee engagement, and effective labor relations directly on the production floor.

Responsibilities

HR Business Partnership

• Serve as a trusted advisor to plant leadership, translating business strategy into impactful HR initiatives that optimize organizational effectiveness and elevate the employee experience.
• Leverage deep operational acumen, gained through immersive Gemba walks and direct engagement with leadership, to proactively identify and address human capital needs within lean manufacturing and logistics environments.
• Design and execute advanced talent management strategies, encompassing performance optimization, leadership development, robust succession planning, strategic compensation, and integrated talent acquisition.
• Champion a data-first approach, leveraging HR analytics platforms to extract critical insights, predict workforce trends, and inform strategic decision-making at the operational leadership level.
• Foster a high-performance, inclusive culture, promoting open communication, trust, and mutual respect in alignment with Ford's 7 Proactive Leadership Standards.

Labor Relations Expertise

• Lead strategic engagement with labor unions and employee representatives, fostering a proactive and high-trust partnership essential for operational stability and continuous improvement.
• Master the resolution of complex, high-volume union grievances, arbitrations, and disciplinary actions, serving as a critical architect of fair, consistent, and timely outcomes.
• Demonstrate expert command of local and national collective bargaining agreements, ensuring precise interpretation and application across all operational facets.

HR Operations

• Lead comprehensive HR compliance and risk management, proactively identifying, assessing, and mitigating legal, reputational, and operational exposures across all employment laws and company policies.
• Optimize critical HR operational processes, including payroll, attendance management, and vacation tracking, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and seamless efficiency.
• Drive initiatives with safety and occupational health leaders to foster a proactive culture of employee well-being, supporting strategic safety audits and promoting innovative wellness programs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, Organizational Development, or any other related discipline or commensurate work experience required.
• Minimum 8 years of relevant HR and labor work experience with a bachelor’s degree, preferably in a manufacturing setting.

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 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.