Employee Relations Specialist

Global Partners LP; Auburndale (MA); On-site; USD 74,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Global Partners LP in Massachusetts seeks an Employee Relations Specialist to manage employee and labor relations, including unionized environments. You will handle grievances, investigations, disciplinary actions, and support unemployment processes, partnering with HR and Talent Development to educate employees and uphold policy compliance.

The role involves collaborating with HRBP, participating in unemployment hearings, advising on M&A labor relations, and ensuring consistent investigations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in HR, business, labor relations or related field.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills with ability to influence.
• Knowledge of HR practices, compliance, and local regulations.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office; experience with Workday/SharePoint preferred.

Responsibilities

• Manage grievances, investigations and disciplinary actions.
• Support unionized employees and arbitration processes.
• Handle unemployment processes and respond to questionnaires.
• Collaborate with HRBP and Talent Development to educate employees.
• Support M&A labor relations and related campaigns or divestitures.
• Assist with background checks and severance processes.

Skills

Communication

HR practices & compliance

Collaboration

Organization skills

Administrative skills

Microsoft Office

Workday

SharePoint

Trend analysis

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Human Resources, Business, Labor Relations or related field

Tools

Workday

SharePoint

Microsoft Office

Job description

The Employee Relations Specialist focuses on managing employee and labor relations, including some unionized environments. Responsibilities include handling grievances, investigations, disciplinary actions, as well as supporting M&A labor relations and unemployment processes. The position also partners with HR and Talent Development to educate employees, ensure policy adherence, and align employee advocacy with business strategy.

At Global Partners, business starts with people. Since 1933, we’ve believed in taking care of our customers, our guests, our communities, and each other—and that belief continues to guide us.

The Global Spirit is the cornerstone of our commitment to success. As a Fortune 500 company with 90+ years of experience, we’re proud to fuel communities—responsibly and sustainably. We show up every day with grit, passion, and purpose—anticipating needs, building lasting relationships, and creating shared value.

Your Role, Your Impact

• Support unionized employees including grievances & arbitration
• Manage employee relations issues as they come in through whistleblower, hotline 3rd party agencies, etc.
• Identify, recommend, and consult on discipline management with responsible HRBP
• Investigate external party complaints which include an HR or employee component
• Support and consult with escalated employee relations issues with responsible HRBP
• Adhere to consistent approach and practices around employee investigations
• Participate in unemployment hearings, support payroll with requests and respond to unemployment questionnaires
• Execute on needed labor relations support for M&A and actions for unionization: (campaigns, activities and Divestitures)
• Respond to requests from Legal for HR related matters as needed
• Adjudication of and background checks, pre-adverse action
• Manage the severance agreement process
• Partner with TD department and HRBP to develop and implement tools and training to educate employees, drive HR compliance, and promote accountability across the organization
• Monitor and respond to employee engagement feedback

Qualifications

• Able to communication effectively and tailor message to appropriate audience
• Understands HR practices, principles, and legal / compliance requirements in a local environment
• Understands and maintains general knowledge of all business operations
• Strong collaboration skills with the ability to influence
• Strong organizational skills with attention to detail
• Strong administrative skills
• Ability to be fair and consistent
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams)
• Experience with Workday and SharePoint preferred
• Resilient and able to quickly adapt to change
• Ability to synthesize information and identify trendsBachelor's Degree Degree in Human Resources, Business, Labor Relations or related field

Pay Range

$73,600.00 - $110,400.00

The pay range for this position is outlined above. The final amount offered at the start of employment is determined based on factors including, but not limited to, experience level, knowledge, skills, abilities and geographic location, and the Company reserves the right to modify base salary at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, Company or individual department/team performance and market factors.

Our Commitments to You

Competitive Pay - We offer competitive salaries and opportunities for growth within.

Health & Wellness - Medical, Dental, Visions and Life Insurance. Along with additional wellness support.

The Road Ahead – We offer 401k and a match component. We also provide tuition reimbursement; this benefit is offered after 6 months of service.

Professional Development – We value lifelong learning and have many internal development programs and access to other on-demand learning for continued career growth.

These commitments are offered to employees in permanent roles, as part of our support for long-term growth and success

What to Expect From the Hiring Process

A member of our Talent Acquisition team will review your application and may connect you with the hiring manager if your experience is a strong match.

Interviews are conducted virtually and in person, depending on the role. We’ll provide more details about next steps if selected to move forward.

Global Partners LP is an equal opportunity employer. We foster a company culture where ideas from all people help us grow, move and thrive. We embrace the diversity of all applicants and do not discriminate against race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, protected veteran status or any other basis prohibited by federal, state or local law. If you have a disability and need an accommodation to apply, please contact our recruiting department at 781-747-9675 or 781-7GP-WORK.

Disclaimer. At Global Partners, we don't use lie detector tests for any employment decisions. We follow all the rules and regulations, so we need to let you know. In Massachusetts, it's illegal to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment of continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.