Lead, Labor Relations

📋 Description

• • As the Lead, Labor Relations at The J.M. Smucker Company, you will be at the forefront of managing and executing comprehensive labor relations strategies across our unionized manufacturing sites and select non-union locations. This pivotal role demands a strategic thinker with a strong analytical and project management skillset, responsible for the end-to-end lifecycle of collective bargaining.
• • You will serve as the primary partner, collaborating closely with operations, site leadership, and a diverse range of key internal stakeholders, including Payroll, Benefits, Compensation, HRIS, and HR Shared Services. Your expertise will be crucial in driving both pre- and post-negotiation strategies, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and fostering positive labor-management relationships.
• • A significant aspect of your role will involve providing robust analytical support. This includes developing sophisticated pre-negotiation financial models, conducting detailed benefit comparisons, and performing thorough contract reviews for all collective bargaining agreements. Your ability to translate complex data into actionable insights will be essential for shaping effective negotiation strategies.
• • You will be responsible for analyzing critical employee demographics and statistics, which will form the bedrock of our negotiation approaches. This data-driven foundation will empower us to approach negotiations with confidence and provide real-time, informed support during active bargaining sessions.
• • In the pre-negotiation phase, you will proactively partner with internal departments to explore and champion change management priorities. This involves coordinating preparatory meetings with site leadership, engaging with labor contingency and security vendors, and presenting findings and strategies to corporate leadership. You will develop essential pre-negotiation tools, meticulously track action items, and prepare compelling presentations that articulate our strategic direction.
• • Your role extends to the critical task of gathering and preparing data for various union requests, including those related to Unfair Labor Practice charges and arbitration preparation. This requires meticulous attention to detail and a deep understanding of labor law and contractual obligations.
• • You will actively participate in and support labor negotiations, contributing to the development of contract language, proposals, and tentative agreements in accordance with standardized labor processes. Identifying contractual opportunities and effectively advocating for them at the bargaining table will be key to your success.
• • Post-negotiation, your responsibilities include creating clear and concise contract change presentations for dissemination to internal stakeholders. You will also develop comprehensive contract implementation plans, ensuring the timely completion of all action items throughout the duration of the collective bargaining agreement. Maintaining the integrity and content of the Labor Relations SharePoint site will also fall under your purview.
• • You will prepare draft contract changes for review by the Labor Relations team, site leadership, and union representatives, ensuring accuracy and compliance.
• • Furthermore, you will support corporate initiatives that impact our union-represented locations, such as benefit rollouts, time-tracking enhancements, and employee communications, ensuring smooth integration and effective execution.
• • You will manage the assessment of employee inquiries, coordinating action items within the established investigation framework to ensure timely and appropriate resolution.
• • Finally, you will undertake special projects as needed, aligning with strategic priorities and addressing cross-functional needs to further enhance the company's labor relations landscape.
• • This remote position requires approximately 10% annual travel to various company sites.