Sr Labor Relations / Employee Relations Partner

What You Need To Know

Open your future to incredible career potential. Work for an industry-leader who invests in their people. Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits is North America’s preeminent wine and spirits distributor, as well as a family-owned, privately held company with a 50 year legacy of success. We were named by Newsweek as a Most Loved Workplace and are included on the Forbes lists for Largest Private Companies and Best Employers for Diversity.

As a full-time employee, you can choose from a full menu of our Top Shelf Benefits, including comprehensive medical and prescription drug coverage, dental and vision plans, tax-saving Flexible Spending Accounts, disability coverage, life insurance plans, and a 401(k) plan. We also offer tuition reimbursement, a wellness program, parental leave, vacation accrual, paid sick leave, and more.

At Southern Glazer’s, you’ll enjoy an environment where continuous learning and growth are supported and experience a culture where you are respected, and your voice is heard. If you’re looking to fill your glass with opportunity, come join our FAMILY.

Overview

The Senior Employee Relations Partner provides the day-to-day tactical support for the Employee Relations Center of Excellence (COE) responsible for maintaining and enhancing positive employee relations. Leads employee and grievance investigations and implementation of employee and labor relations strategies for assigned regional business unit (i.e., Commercial, Operations, Corporate). Reports directly to the Manager, Employee and Labor Relations.

Primary Responsibilities

• Lead employee, grievance, and policy investigations for assigned client group.
• Provide findings and recommendations to Regional HR leadership and Legal counsel based on investigative fact-finding and analysis.
• Review investigation findings with relevant parties and monitor workplace to ensure compliance with recommendations.
• Assist in the development of positive employee relations strategies and implementations of the strategies.
• Assess employee engagement of regional business unit and make recommendations to maintain the trust between the organization and employees.
• Provide employee and labor relations support in partnership with the Human Resource Business Partner (HRBP) and other Human Resources (HR) Centers of Excellence (COE) to ensure proper handling of various issues.
• Proactively engage and direct business leaders to resolve, coach, and guide managers through employee/labor relations issues in partnership with HRBP to ensure compliance with company policies and/or collective bargaining agreements.
• Establishes productive relationships with business and union leadership to support initiatives and maintain positive environment for grievance handling.
• Implement employee and labor relations training, including just cause investigation training, union avoidance, and managing in a Union Environment
• Participate in Joint Labor Management (JLM) meetings and, where applicable, Joint Council grievance hearings.
  
  

Additional Primary Responsibilities

• Partner with leadership and legal counsel to manage early steps of grievance process.
• Provide negotiations support to Regional Director, Labor Relations and attend bargaining sessions for assigned client groups.
• Carry out all responsibilities in an honest, ethical, and professional manner.
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned.
  
  

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree and five years of experience or equivalent education and related experience
• Three to five years’ experience working in a union environment handling grievances, investigations, Joint Labor Management meetings, while maintaining a positive relationship with local union leadership and shop stewards
• Ability to think systemically and consult strategically will all levels of management
• Ability to manage and prioritize multiple complex investigations and/or issues, especially when resource constrained
• Ability to effectively collaborate with other members of the HR team, internal and external Legal Counsel, and other groups in managing employee relations matters
• Strong presentation, facilitation, and negotiation skills
• Knowledge of other MS Office Suite and/or software applications related to job function
• Ability to Travel: 25-40% within the region
  
  

Physical Demands

• Physical demands include a considerable amount of time sitting and typing/keyboarding, using a computer (e.g., keyboard, mouse, and monitor)
• Physical demands with activity or condition may occasionally include walking, bending, reaching, standing, and stooping
• May require occasional lifting/lowering, pushing, carrying, or pulling up to 20lbs
  
  

EEO Statement

Southern Glazer's Wine and Spirits, an Affirmative Action/EEO employer, prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type and provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training. SGWS complies with all federal, state and local laws concerning consideration of a qualified applicant's arrest and/or criminal conviction records. Southern Glazer's Wine and Spirits provides competitive compensation based on estimated performance level consistent with the past relevant experience, knowledge, skills, abilities and education of employees. Unless otherwise expressly stated, any pay ranges posted here are estimates from outside of Southern Glazer's Wine and Spirits and do not reflect Southern Glazer's pay bands or ranges.