HRBP Associate Manager — Manufacturing & Union Relations

Unilever PLC; Independence (MO); On-site; USD 89,000 - 133,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus eligible

Health benefits

Job summary

The Knorr manufacturing facility in Independence, MO, is a unionized, 24/7 operation. The Associate Manager, HRBP serves as the on-site HR contact for approximately 300 hourly team members and front line leaders, partnering with HR Operations to ensure fair, compliant application of the CBA and a positive employee experience.

You will lead employee relations investigations, coach leaders on performance and policy matters, manage onboarding, engagement, and change initiatives, and support labor

Qualifications

• 5+ years of HR experience in a manufacturing or factory environment; union experience strongly preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience conducting employee relations investigations and handling grievances.
• Solid working knowledge of employment law and employee relations practices.
• Strong communication, judgment, and problem solving skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities independently in a fast paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the first point of contact for employee relations questions, concerns, and grievances.
• Fairly and consistently administer the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) in a union environment.
• Support union negotiations and collective bargaining processes, including implementation of agreements.
• Conduct employee relations investigations, including interviews, documentation, corrective actions, and counseling.
• Promote a respectful, inclusive, and proactive employee relations environment.
• Coach and counsel hourly employees and front line leaders on performance, conduct, attendance, and policy matters.
• Support leaders through the performance management process, including feedback conversations and documentation.
• Provide guidance to supervisors on delivering effective feedback and corrective action in compliance with employment laws.
• Act as a subject matter expert for HR policies, processes, and systems, partnering with centralized HR support teams as needed.
• Manage escalation of HR issues through resolution while maintaining clear communication with all stakeholders.
• Administer medical accommodation processes in alignment with company policy and federal and state regulations.
• Participate in affirmative action and compliance related activities.
• Monitor employee engagement and climate indicators and identify opportunities to improve the employee experience.
• Partner with leaders to address people trends and implement practical, local solutions.
• Support continuous improvement of HR processes and ways of working at the site level.
• Partner with recruitment on hourly hiring needs and support the end to end onboarding process.
• Coordinate onboarding activities with safety, operations, payroll, and benefits teams to ensure a smooth new hire experience.
• Lead or participate in local HR projects and initiatives from start to finish.

Skills

HR experience

Manufacturing environment

Union experience

Communication skills

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR/Business

Tools

Kronos timekeeping

UKG payroll

Workday

Job description

The Knorr manufacturing facility in Independence, MO, is a unionized, 24/7 operation. The Associate Manager, HRBP serves as the on-site HR contact for approximately 300 hourly team members and front line leaders, partnering with HR Operations to ensure fair, compliant application of the CBA and a positive employee experience.

You will lead employee relations investigations, coach leaders on performance and policy matters, manage onboarding, engagement, and change initiatives, and support labor