We are seeking a high energy HR Manager to be onsite in the Riceboro Mill. The primary responsibility will be to act as the business partner to the 24 x 7 mill, manage labor relations, and execute HR strategies from recruitment to retention. The role will support key stakeholders to improve organizational capability, drive change, define organizational needs including recruitment, engagement, community involvement, retention, determine training & development needs, resolve employee issues, lead labor relations, oversight of the local payroll practices and compensation, and contribute to the achievement of divisional strategic and operating plan objectives.

Key Responsibilities

• Able to work in a challenging labor relations environment, understand and interpret the collective bargaining agreement, manage through disciplinary action decisions, dispute resolution, and manage grievance and arbitrations. Partner during bargaining to get to an effective result.
• Partner with the plant leaders to drive recruitment and onboarding activities to identify effective talent for hourly and salaried positions.
• Support employee development by assisting managers in assessing and identifying resources to meet employee/departmental training needs and encouragement of employee to continuously develop their skills in their field of work.
• Counsel and/or coach employees and managers regarding employee relations issues including performance management, facilitation of formal/informal complaints to resolution, discipline and/or terminations in line with local culture and the business and legal environment.
• Drive employee retention, positive employee relations, engagement and satisfaction while balancing employee concerns with all levels of company goals.
• Timely investigation to resolution of employee relation concerns.
• Support recognition and sustainability programs.
• Consult with functional leaders in areas such as organization assessment and structure, succession planning, work force planning, and change management in order to strengthen overall organizational capability.
• Ensure alignment of HR processes with strategic and operating goals.
• Drive the HR component of the business strategy through planning, developing, and implementing HR initiatives that increase the productivity competence, and effectiveness of assigned client groups.
• Manage the payroll process for the plant employees.
• Manage the annual performance and salary reviews as well as the variable pay programs.
• Proven experience working in a represented environment.
• Responsible for remaining up to date on relevant U.S., and state employment laws and other human resources compliance issues. Update management on policies/processes as necessary.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in a Human Resources or related field. Desired: Master’s degree.
• 5-7 years of Human Resources experience in a union environment (preferred manufacturing) and multi-site
• Comprehensive HR experience, including a complete understanding of and hands-on exposure to the full mix of HR functions in a union environment.
• Experience working across a complex organizational matrix.
• Self-motivated; bias for action.
• Proven ability to analyze labor processes and techniques.
• Expert in state and federal labor laws and regulations.
• Influential and analytical techniques applied to labor management.
• Proven ability in obtaining, verifying, and evaluating general and statistical information.
• Computer software utilized in human resource data collection and analysis.
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality.
• Must possess excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• 10% Travel required.

Experience

• 5-7 years of HR experience in a union environment

Education

• Bachelors or better

• Masters or better