Employee Relations Manager – Battery Pack Assembly

Employee Relations Manager – Battery Pack Assembly

Location:

Jeffersonville, IN (Remote to start, then On-site)

About Sustainable Talent

At Sustainable Talent, we build high-performing teams that match our clients' goals and values. We are partnering with a leading global automotive manufacturer to staff a brand-new battery pack assembly plant in Jeffersonville, Indiana. This is a rare chance to help build a greenfield operation from the ground up.

The Opportunity

As an Employee Relations Manager, you'll have a unique opportunity to be part of the start-up team launching a state-of-the-art battery pack assembly facility from the ground up. At the forefront of the automotive industry's transformation toward electrification, you'll play a critical role in shaping the workforce, culture, and employee relations strategy that will support the facility's successful launch and long-term operations.

In this role, you'll partner closely with manufacturing leadership and cross-functional teams to establish effective HR practices, foster positive employee and labor relations, and drive workforce readiness in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.

The ideal candidate brings a strong background in manufacturing HR, employee and labor relations, organizational development, and change management, along with an entrepreneurial mindset and the ability to navigate the challenges and opportunities of a new manufacturing operation.

The role will start remotely, with the expectation that the candidate will later transition to onsite work in Jeffersonville, Indiana. During construction, you may attend onsite meetings or work from a temporary onsite office.

Capabilities Required:

Strategic HR Partnership: Serve as a trusted advisor to manufacturing leadership, providing strategic HR guidance that supports business objectives, operational performance, and a positive workplace culture.

Employee & Labor Relations: Manage complex employee relations matters, including workplace concerns, investigations, conflict resolution, performance management, and labor relations issues, ensuring fair and consistent practices.

Plant Launch & Workforce Readiness: Support the development and implementation of HR strategies, policies, and processes required to successfully launch and scale a new battery manufacturing facility.

HR Process Development: Establish and continuously improve employee relations programs, policies, and procedures that promote consistency, compliance, operational efficiency, and positive employee experiences.

Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with Talent Acquisition, Workforce Development, Total Rewards, HR Operations, Communications, and other business functions to align workforce initiatives with manufacturing objectives.

Employee Engagement & Culture: Champion initiatives that foster employee engagement, trust, accountability, inclusion, and a high-performance culture. Oversee employee feedback programs and identify opportunities for improvement.

Workforce Planning & Organizational Effectiveness: Collaborate with leadership on workforce planning, organizational design, change management, and employee development strategies to support evolving business needs.

Data-Driven Decision Making: Analyze employee relations trends, engagement data, and workforce metrics to identify risks, recommend solutions, and drive continuous improvement.

Operational Excellence: Apply lean principles and progressive HR practices to improve processes, strengthen employee relations, and promote equitable and consistent application of workplace policies.

What You'll Do

• Strategic HR Partnership: Serve as a trusted advisor to manufacturing leadership, providing strategic HR guidance that supports business objectives, operational performance, and a positive workplace culture.
• Employee & Labor Relations: Manage complex employee relations matters, including workplace concerns, investigations, conflict resolution, performance management, and labor relations issues, ensuring fair and consistent practices.
• Plant Launch & Workforce Readiness: Support the development and implementation of HR strategies, policies, and processes required to successfully launch and scale a new battery manufacturing facility.
• HR Process Development: Establish and continuously improve employee relations programs, policies, and procedures that promote consistency, compliance, operational efficiency, and positive employee experiences.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with Talent Acquisition, Workforce Development, Total Rewards, HR Operations, Communications, and other business functions to align workforce initiatives with manufacturing objectives.
• Employee Engagement & Culture: Champion initiatives that foster employee engagement, trust, accountability, inclusion, and a high-performance culture. Oversee employee feedback programs and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Workforce Planning & Organizational Effectiveness: Collaborate with leadership on workforce planning, organizational design, change management, and employee development strategies to support evolving business needs.
• Data-Driven Decision Making: Analyze employee relations trends, engagement data, and workforce metrics to identify risks, recommend solutions, and drive continuous improvement.
• Operational Excellence: Apply lean principles and progressive HR practices to improve processes, strengthen employee relations, and promote equitable and consistent application of workplace policies.

What You'll Bring

• Bachelor’s degree
• 8+ years' experience in Human Resources processes including, but not limited to, compensation planning, salaried and hourly personnel relations
• Nice to Have
• Master’s degree in human resources
• 8+ years' experience in performance management, employee coaching/counseling, employee engagement, employee development, organization development, and workforce planning
• 4+ years of experience in Manufacturing, Warehousing, or Consumer Products.
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate resources across multiple functions
• Strong interpersonal, negotiation and conflict management skill
• Ability to guide and influence all levels
• Strong business acumen, including financial analysis
• Demonstrated project management skills
• Experience partnering with cross-functional teams
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office software applications
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Demonstrated ability to work as part of a team
• Strong analytical, problem solving, and organization skills