Director, Employee Relations, BlueOval SK Battery Plant Kentucky

Energy Vault; Glendale (KY); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Energy Vault is seeking an HR Manager for the groundbreaking BlueOval SK Battery Park in Glendale, Kentucky. This role offers a unique opportunity to lead HR functions in a transformative manufacturing environment. The HR Manager will be responsible for building a world-class team, driving organizational capabilities, and designing HR processes tailored for electric vehicle battery production. With a focus on innovation, this position promises to influence the future of the EV industry.

Benefits

Immediate medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug coverage

Flexible family care days and paid parental leave

Tuition assistance

Vehicle discount program for employees

Generous holiday schedule

Qualifications

• Minimum 8 years of work experience with a Master’s degree or 10 years of work experience with a Bachelor’s degree.
• Experience in Employee Relations or a related field.
• 5+ years in a manufacturing environment preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead all Human Resources functions for the facility.
• Design HR processes and procedures to drive innovation.
• Shape the HR team at the new battery facility.

Skills

Leading transformational change

Innovation

Critical thinking

Resourcefulness

Interpersonal skills

Data-driven

Education

Bachelor’s Degree

Job description

Description

We are the movers of the world and the makers of the future. We get up every day, roll up our sleeves and build a better world -- together. At Ford, we’re all a part of something bigger than ourselves. Are you ready to change the way the world moves?

Ford and SK On are investing billions in Kentucky and Tennessee including building three state-of-the art battery manufacturing facilities between the two campuses at BlueOval City in Tennessee and BlueOval SK Battery Park in Kentucky. These brand-new advanced manufacturing facilities will use Ford’s 100-years of automobile manufacturing expertise and SK On’s 30+ years of electric vehicle battery expertise to become the world’s leader in battery manufacturing.

At BlueOval SK, we will lead the transformation of the electric vehicle (EV) battery business through partnership (joint venture formed by Ford and SK On) to provide products and processes to increase our customers’ experience. As the future of BlueOval SK, you will help lead the battery revolution by working alongside our teams as we build the batteries required for electric vehicle business excellence.

The HR Manager at BlueOval SK Battery Park in Glendale, Kentucky will have a unique, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be a key member of the start-up team, launching the facility from ground up.

Responsibilities

This role will be responsible for leading all Human Resources functions for hourly and salaried employees at the facility including, but not limited to:

• Drive the organization capability in a brand-new greenfield site by applying organizational design and change management skills
• Build a world class manufacturing team at BlueOval SK Battery Park to help drive innovation and deliver success by developing talent pipelines throughout the community
• Partner with other BlueOval SK HR Managers and Manufacturing Leadership to deliver innovative people experiences
• Design HR processes and procedures to enable a competitiveelectric vehicle (EV) battery businessframework and positive employee experiences
• Design and launch the HR Delivery model forelectric vehicle (EV) battery business:Talent Acquisition, Learning and Development, Manufacturing Relations, Salaried Personnel, Compensation and Benefits, etc. as well as strategic alignment with key partners and stakeholders
• Shape the HR team at the new advanced battery facility
• Represent BlueOval SK and work with government agencies, key community partners, and other external organizations
• Interface with key external stakeholders such as supplier leadership teams located at BlueOval SK Battery Park campus
• Ensure a successful launch of BlueOval SK Battery Park

Capabilities Required

• Leading transformational change
• Innovation
• Critical thinking
• Resourcefulness
• Confidence, courage and independence
• Strong interpersonal and influencing skills, collaborator
• Drive for results and sense of urgency
• Data-driven

Change Management and Organizational

Qualifications

You'll Have…

• Bachelor’s Degree or any other related discipline or commensurate work experience.
• Minimum 8 years of work experience with a Master’s degree or 10 years of work experience with a Bachelor’s degree, preferably in Employee Relations or a related field.
• 5+ years' experience working in a manufacturing environment

Even Better, You'll Have…

• Master’s Degree (preferred) in Business Administration, Human Resources, Organizational Development, or any other related discipline or commensurate work experience.
• Experience working in a manufacturing automotive environment
• Certified Human Resource Professional (CHRP) (Preferred)
• Certified Change Management Professional (CCMP) (Preferred)
• Society for Human Resource Management Certified Professional (SHRM – CP)

This individual will have experience managing high degrees of complexity in processes and communication with all levels of leadership. They will rely on their project management skills and strong business acumen to help deliver business requirements.

A collaborative leadership style is necessary to influence and build meaningful relationships with all cross-functional teams.

Additional Information

Limited travel is expected throughout 2026 along with future relocation to Tennessee

The successful candidate will be a Ford Secondee to the joint venture. A secondee is an employee who is temporarily transferred to the joint venture, although they continue their employment with Ford.

You may not check every box, or your experience may look a little different from what we've outlined, but if you think you can bring value to Ford Motor Company, we encourage you to apply!

As an established global company, we offer the benefit of choice. You can choose what your Ford future will look like: will your story span the globe, or keep you close to home? Will your career be a deep dive into what you love, or a series of new teams and new skills? Will you be a leader, a changemaker, a technical expert, a culture builder…or all of the above? No matter what you choose, we offer a work life that works for you, including:

• Immediate medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug coverage

• Flexible family care days, paid parental leave, new parent ramp-up programs, subsidized back-up child care, 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.

This position is a leadership level 6.
For more information on salary and benefits, click here: https://fordcareers.co/LL5SP1

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Candidates for positions with Ford Motor Company must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of hire.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, age, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status or protected veteran status. In the United States, if you need a reasonable accommodation for the online application process due to a disability, please call 1-888-336-0660.

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