HR Partner - Labor Relations

Covestro; Newark (OH); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Covestro is seeking an experienced HR Partner - Labor Relations to serve as a strategic interface across Covestro's U.S. sites, including Newark.

You will provide expert advice on people management, labor relations, and organizational actions, ensuring consistent application of HR policies and local agreements. Responsibilities include advising managers, resolving complex labor matters, partnering with Global HR and Legal, and serving as second-chair negotiator for US contracts.

Qualifications

• Experience in labor contract administration and CBA interpretation.
• Ability to counsel leadership on labor relations and organizational actions.
• Demonstrated skill in coaching supervisors on contract application and investigations.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic HR advice and consultation to managers and leadership on people and labor relations.
• Assess and resolve complex employee and labor relations matters with alignment to local agreements.
• Collaborate with Global HR, Total Rewards, Legal, and other HR teams to deliver talent solutions.
• Drive upskilling initiatives and support organizational change for leadership capabilities.
• Serve as trusted HR partner across multiple locations with responsive support.
• Ensure HR processes and tools are applied consistently and improved where needed.
• Administer the Newark collective bargaining agreement, including interpretation and investigations.
• Build relationships with local union representatives and monitor site labor climate.
• Act as second-chair negotiator for US collective bargaining contracts.
• Leverage HR tech and AI tools to streamline processes and enhance employee experiences.

Skills

Labor relations expertise

HR leadership

Conflict resolution

Communication skills

Contract interpretation

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR or related field

Master's degree in HR or related field

Job description

We are Covestro. We are curious. We are courageous. We are colorful. We refine chemical material solutions with game-changing products. Let us empower you to push boundaries. Join us and our 18,000 colleagues now and together we will make the world a brighter place.

WHAT WE OFFER

The HR Partner - Labor Relations serves as a key strategic interface between Covestro's business entities and the HR function, providing expert advice, leadership, and coordination on human resources matters across the United States. Operating at a regional scope, this role partners multiple levels and cross-functional HR teams to deliver integrated people solutions that attract, retain, and motivate talent in support of business objectives. The position ensures consistent application of corporate HR policies, practices, and procedures across multiple sites.

Major Responsibilities

• Provide strategic HR advice and consultation to managers and leadership teams on people management, employee relations, labor relations, performance management, and organizational actions to ensure alignment with local policies and business objectives.
• Independently assess, manage, and resolve complex employee and labor relations matters, including counseling new leadership on prior gaps, upskilling existing leadership, and ensuring consistent application of HR policies and local agreements with employee representatives.
• Partner with the Global HR organization and other functions including but not limited to: Total Rewards, Talent Acquisition, Legal, and other HR teams to deliver integrated talent solutions, supporting employee development, succession planning, compensation, and strategic workforce planning across multiple sites.
• Assess and advise on training and development needs for new and existing leadership, independently driving upskilling initiatives and supporting organizational change to build leadership capability and cultural alignment across assigned client groups.
• Serve as a trusted, accessible HR partner to multiple organizational levels, providing real-time, in-person responsiveness and relationship-based support to build trust, stability, and immediate access for managers across multiple locations.
• Ensure adherence to and continuous improvement of HR processes, guidelines, and tools in collaboration with HR Partners, HRBPs, and Labor Relations experts, providing guidance to enable the line organization to operate effectively.
• Administer the Newark collective bargaining agreement in daily operations, including contract interpretation, guidance to supervisors, and responsible for early-stage grievance handling and investigations.
• Build and maintain constructive relationships with local union representatives, monitor site climate for emerging labor issues, and implement site-level labor relations and Positive Employee Relation initiatives in alignment with the US labor strategy.
• Serve as second-chair negotiator for all US collective bargaining successor contracts, including supporting bargaining preparation, costing, and proposal development.
• Leverage HR technology, automation, and AI tools to streamline processes, support data-driven decisions, and enhance employee experiences.

WHAT YOU OFFER

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in human resources or a related field with a minimum of 6 years of progressive HR experience OR
• Master's degree in human resources or a related field with a minimum of 4 years of progressive HR experience
• Minimum of two years of Labor Relations experience
• Demonstrated expertise in labor contract administration, including CBA interpretation, early-stage grievance handling, and day-to-day union relationship management
• Ability to travel up to 25%

Knowledge & Skills:

• Working knowledge of collective bargaining agreement (CBA) administration and basic US labor relations practices
• Ability to interpret and apply the CBA to day-to-day issues (scheduling, overtime, job bids, vacation, etc.)
• Experience supporting early-stage grievance handling, including fact-finding and documentation
• Skill in coaching and advising supervisors on contract application, discipline, and investigations
• Broad knowledge of people management and the full HR product portfolio
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to translate business needs into HR solutions
• Experience leading and/or supporting organizational change
• Strong collaborative problem-solving and innovative solution implementation skills
• High degree of customer centricity and resilience
• Proficiency in diagnosing organizational issues and recommending actionable solutions
• Strong organizational and interpersonal skills

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor's or Master's degree specifically in Human Resources
• Familiar with Artificial Intelligence tools such as ChatGPT, Claude, Deepseek.
• Labor Relations certification
• SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, or SPHR certification (SHRM or HRCI)
• Knowledge of the chemical industry and manufacturing processes
• Experience in workforce planning and organizational design
• Knowledge of succession planning and leadership development methodologies

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Equal Employment Opportunity: Hiring and advancement are based on job-related requirements and on an individual's qualifications to perform a job. All aspects of employment are carried out free of discrimination or harassment based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age, disabilities, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity/gender expression or any unlawful criterion, existing under applicable federal, state, or local law.