Senior Employee Relations Manager

Kohler (Rehlko); Milwaukee (WI); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation and benefits

Work-life flexibility

Recognition and rewards

Development and career opportunities

A safe and inclusive workplace

Job summary

Rehlko is seeking a Senior Manager Employee Relations who will operate in a hybrid role, combining strategic leadership with hands-on execution. The objective is to strengthen employee relations governance, minimize workforce risk, and sustain trust across the enterprise.

You will lead the Employee Relations Center of Excellence, shape playbooks and investigations, advise on labor matters, and partner with HR, Legal, and Communications to uphold our values while delivering a consistent employee

Responsibilities

• Leads the enterprise Employee Relations Center of Excellence, developing and executing the roadmap, standards, governance, and operating model for how employee relations matters are managed across the organization.
• Partners closely with senior leaders, HR Business Partners, Legal, Communications, and operational leaders to ensure consistent, scalable, and business-aligned employee relations practices.
• Provides or secures expert guidance on complex, high-risk, and sensitive employee relations matters, including workplace investigations, harassment and discrimination concerns, retaliation claims, performance and conduct issues, terminations, conflict resolution, and matters with potential legal, reputational, or employee experience impact.
• Lead the global governance and coordination of HR reporting requirements, maintaining enterprise reporting calendars, ensuring timely regional compliance, and providing executive visibility and assurance on regulatory, board, and audit-related deliverables.
• Provides labor relations support across the enterprise, including advising on union-related matters, grievance management, collective bargaining preparation, on various workplace actions.
• Owns the execution, governance, and continuous improvement of employee relations policies, practices, playbooks, case management routines, investigation protocols under the supervision of legal, and leader resources.
• Uses employee relations data, investigation themes, labor relations trends, and employee feedback to identify systemic risks and opportunities to improve engagement, retention, leadership effectiveness, policy clarity.

Job description

Why Work at Rehlko

Our work is guided by our purpose: creating an energy-resilient world for a better future. This purpose embodies the legacy we bring, with more than 100 years as the global leader in energy resilience, delivering solutions critical to sustain and improve life.

Our teams have the opportunity to provide a critical resource - energy - that ensures safety, security, and independence for people around the world. Our team members are focused on pushing boundaries, continuing to innovate in an ever-changing landscape, and keeping up with the pace required to create solutions for today's world demands.

Our product range includes engines, generators, power conversion, UPS systems, EV components and electrification solutions, microgrid controls and management, and clean energy solutions that serve a broad spectrum of OEM, residential, industrial, and commercial customers. At Rehlko, you have the freedom to identify, create, and deliver solutions - large and small - that help people and communities thrive in the moments that matter.

At Rehlko, our team members are the essential energy that powers our organization's success. We are committed to fostering a safe and sustainable work environment where safety is everyone's responsibility. We empower every team member to actively participate in our Zero Is Possible safety culture by encouraging open communication, proactively reporting hazards, following protocols, and suggesting improvements. Join us in creating an energy resilient world for a better future!

What We Offer

At Rehlko, our Total Rewards programs are designed to accelerate growth, energize performance, and support a culture of inclusion at every stage of life and work. We offer total rewards that are easily understood, recognize results, enable career mobility, and reflect our commitment to valuing diverse needs in a fast-moving world.

We provide:

• Competitive compensation and benefits
• Work-life flexibility
• Recognition and rewards
• Development and career opportunities
• A safe and inclusive workplace

Why You Will Love this Job

The Senior Manager Employee Relations is a hybrid strategic and hands-on role responsible for shaping how employee relations are delivered across the enterprise. The priority objective is to continue to build an employee relations framework that minimizes workforce risk, strengthens governance, and sustains employee trust.

This program leader builds on the strategy, governance, tools, and capability needed to create a consistent, fair, and trust-centered employee experience, while also directly leading and advising on complex investigations, labor relations matters, and sensitive employee issues. The role serves as a key connector between our people, our culture, and the business-ensuring employee relations practices reinforce our values, strengthen manager effectiveness, support a positive employer brand, and help employees and leaders navigate issues with clarity, care, and confidence.

Specific Responsibilities

Leads the enterprise Employee Relations Center of Excellence, developing and executing the roadmap, standards, governance, and operating model for how employee relations matters are managed across the organization. Partners closely with senior leaders, HR Business Partners, Legal, Communications, and operational leaders to ensure consistent, scalable, and business-aligned employee relations practices.

Provides or secures expert guidance on complex, high-risk, and sensitive employee relations matters, including workplace investigations, harassment and discrimination concerns, retaliation claims, performance and conduct issues, terminations, conflict resolution, and matters with potential legal, reputational, or employee experience impact through deep partnerships with appropriate legal counsel.

Lead the global governance and coordination of HR reporting requirements, maintaining enterprise reporting calendars, ensuring timely regional compliance, and providing executive visibility and assurance on regulatory, board, and audit-related deliverables.

Provides labor relations support across the enterprise, including advising on union-related matters, grievance management, collective bargaining preparation, on various workplace actions. Ensures labor relations practices are proactive, well-governed, compliant, and aligned with business needs and employee trust.

Owns the execution, governance, and continuous improvement of employee relations policies, practices, playbooks, case management routines, investigation protocols under the supervision of legal, and leader resources. Ensures tools and processes are clear, accessible, compliant, and employee-centered while enabling consistent decision-making across geographies and business units.

Uses employee relations data, investigation themes, labor relations trends, and employee feedback to identify systemic risks and opportunities to improve engagement, retention, leadership effectiveness, policy clarity,