Manager, Labor Relations

Univar Solutions USA Inc; Downers Grove (IL); Hybrid; USD 125,000 - 165,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, vision, and dental

401k matching

Flexible time off

Incentive pay

Job summary

Univar Solutions USA Inc is seeking a Labor Relations Manager to drive labor relations strategy across U.S. operations. You will partner with HR, Legal, and union representatives to foster employee relations, support CBAs, and ensure compliance with labor laws.

You will lead or support bargaining negotiations, perform cost analyses, and coordinate responses to union activities while promoting a union-free workplace culture and employee engagement initiatives.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of progressive HR experience with a strong focus on labor relations in industrial, manufacturing, logistics, or similar environments.
• Experience supporting collective bargaining negotiations, grievance management, and labor contract administration.
• Strong knowledge of labor and employment laws with the ability to apply legal and contractual requirements to business situations.

Responsibilities

• Execute labor and employee relations strategies across U.S. operations in partnership with HR and business leadership.
• Serve as trusted advisor on labor relations matters, including CBA interpretation, grievance administration, discipline, and compliance.
• Lead or support collective bargaining negotiations as first or second chair, including bargaining strategy and contract language.
• Conduct economic and labor cost analyses to support bargaining decisions and workforce planning.
• Manage union awareness initiatives and coordinate company responses to union organizing activities.
• Investigate and resolve grievances, unfair labor practice charges, and other represented employee issues.
• Represent management in grievance meetings, labor-management meetings, arbitrations, and union interactions.
• Develop and deliver labor relations training and leadership development programs.

Skills

Labor relations

Collective bargaining

Grievance management

Labor contract administration

Labor laws knowledge

Cross-location collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR, Business Admin, or related field

Job description

A Place Where People Matter.

Start your career journey with Univar Solutions! Here you can make an impact on the world around you and accelerate your career in areas that energize and excite you.

Manager, Labor Relations:

The Labor Relations Manager supports and executes Univar Solutions' labor relations strategy across U.S. operations. This role partners closely with business leaders, HR, Legal, and union representatives to foster positive employee relations, support collective bargaining activities, mitigate labor risks, and ensure compliance with labor laws and collective bargaining agreements (CBAs). The position also supports the Company's union-free workplace philosophy through proactive employee relations, leadership education, and employee engagement initiatives.

What You'll Do:

• Execute labor and employee relations strategies across U.S. operations in partnership with HR and business leadership.
• Serve as a trusted advisor on labor relations matters, including CBA interpretation, grievance administration, discipline, employee relations, and labor law compliance.
• Lead or support collective bargaining negotiations as first or second chair, including bargaining strategy, proposal development, costing, contract language, and implementation.
• Conduct economic and labor cost analyses to support bargaining decisions and workforce planning.
• Manage union awareness initiatives and coordinate company responses to union organizing activities in partnership with leadership, HR, Legal, and outside counsel.
• Investigate and resolve grievances, unfair labor practice charges, labor board matters, and other represented employee issues.
• Represent management in grievance meetings, labor-management meetings, arbitrations, and union interactions.
• Develop and deliver labor relations training, tools, communications, and leadership development programs.
• Serve as the primary labor relations contact for multi-employer benefit and retirement plan fund audits, coordinating responses across Payroll, HR, Finance, Total Rewards, and Legal.
• Lead cross-functional implementation of CBA changes, contract renewals, and ongoing administration, while serving as a resource to HR Shared Services, Payroll, and Benefits teams.

What You'll Need:

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field.
• 7+ years of progressive HR experience with a strong focus on labor relations in industrial, manufacturing, logistics, distribution, or similar environments.
• Proven experience supporting collective bargaining negotiations, grievance management, and labor contract administration.
• Strong knowledge of labor and employment laws with the ability to apply legal and contractual requirements to business situations.
• Experience working across multiple locations and business functions in a complex organization.
• Ability to interpret labor laws, company policies, CBAs and communicate impacts effectively to stakeholders.
• Labor costing and total rewards experience preferred.

Where You'll Work:

This is a hybrid role based in our Corporate Headquarters in Downers Grove, IL.

Pay & Benefits:

• The salary range is $125,000 - $165,000. This role is also eligible for incentive pay.
• The specific salary offered to a candidate may be motivated by a variety of factors including the candidate's meaningful experience, education, training, certifications, qualifications, and work location.
• Available employee benefits include health, vision, and dental. We also provide 401k matching for retirement and flexible time off.

What You Can Expect:

• Strongwork/life flexibility
• To be surrounded by an inclusive team who is collaborative and committed to thetheachievementof the company
• To be rewarded for your contributions with atargeted annual company bonusandannual salary reviews
• Competitive pay and benefits

Univar Solutions is a leading, global distributor of chemicals and ingredients essential to the safety, health, and wellbeing of our daily lives from life-saving medicines and vitamins to hand sanitizers and industrial materials used for cleaning, construction, and more. Our global team of more than 9,500 employees support our vision to redefine distribution and be the most valued chemical and ingredient distributor on the planet!

We offer a Total Rewards package that includes market aligned pay and incentives as well as a diverse benefits offering to support our employees' physical, emotional, and financial wellbeing.

Univar Solutions supports sustainable solutions for the world around us so that we can do our part to help keep our communities healthy, fed, clean, and safe!

We are committed to a diverse workforce and a culture of inclusion. Together, we are building a culture that acknowledges the unique experiences, perspectives and expertise of individuals and provides the development and growth opportunities to empower us to redefine our industry.

Univar Solutions is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against based on their race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or other protected classification. We are committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you require a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the hiring process, please contact us at [e-mail].

Univar Solutions does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters, employment agencies, or staffing firms (collectively Recruiting Firms). Recruiting Firms must enter into a Master Services Agreement (MSA) with Univar Solutions prior to submitting any information relating to a potential candidate. All searches must be initiated by Univar Solutions' Talent Acquisition team and candidates must be submitted via Applicant Tracking System (ATS) by approved vendors who have been expressly requested to make a submission for a specific job opening. No placement fees will be paid to any firm unless the aforementioned conditions have been met. Contacting our hiring managers directly is prohibited.