Senior Employee Relations Manager

Rehlko; Milwaukee (WI); On-site; USD 129,000 - 165,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Health benefits

Work-life flexibility

Recognition and rewards

Career development opportunities

Job summary

Rehlko is seeking a Senior Manager Employee Relations in the United States to shape how employee relations are delivered across the enterprise. The role focuses on minimizing workforce risk, strengthening governance, and sustaining trust through complex investigations and labor relations practices.

The person will lead the Center of Excellence, advise on high‑risk issues, and drive global HR reporting and policy implementation in a fast‑paced, safety‑conscious environment.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive experience in employee relations, labor relations, investigations, HR policy, or HR leadership.
• Experience building or operating an Employee Relations Center of Excellence.
• Experience with a manufacturing union represented workforce is highly valued.

Responsibilities

• Leads the Enterprise Employee Relations Center of Excellence, setting roadmap, governance, and operating model across the organization.
• Provides guidance on complex, high-risk employee relations matters, including investigations and discipline while partnering with Legal counsel.
• Lead global governance of HR reporting, ensuring compliance across regions and reporting to executives.
• Provides labor relations support including union-related matters, grievance management, and collective bargaining preparation.
• Owns execution and continuous improvement of employee relations policies, playbooks, and case management with legal oversight.
• Uses data and metrics to identify risks and opportunities to improve engagement and policy clarity.
• Develops training and guidance for HR teams and leaders on respectful workplace expectations and investigations.
• Translates legal guidance into practical processes and tools across geographies.

Skills

Employee relations expertise

Labor relations

Workplace investigations

HR policy

HR leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree in HR/related field

Advanced HR certification/degree (PHR/SPHR/SHRM-CP/SHRM-SCP)

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, and the overall employee experience. Translates insights into practical actions that strengthen culture and protect the employer brand.
• Builds enterprise capability by developing training, coaching, and practical guidance for HR teams and leaders on respectful workplace expectations, investigations, labor relations fundamentals, policy application, documentation, and effective issue resolution. In partnership with legal counsel applies judgment, empathy, and consistency to create a workplace experience that reflects our values.
• Operationalizes legal requirements, guidance, and recommendations developed by internal and external counsel into practical employee relations processes, tools, and leader guidance; deploys and embeds these requirements across the organization and ensures consistent, compliant application in day-to-day decision-making.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, business, industrial relations, organizational development, or a related field required; advanced degree and/or HR certification such as PHR, SPHR, SHRM-CP, or SHRM-SCP preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in employee relations, labor relations, workplace investigations, HR policy, or HR business partner leadership, preferably within a large, global, multi-site organization.
• Experience operating in or building an Employee Relations Center of Excellence strongly preferred.
• Prior experience in a manufacturing union represented workforce experience is highly valued.
• Demonstrated ability to set enterprise strategy while remaining hands-on with sensitive issues, influence senior leaders, navigate ambiguity, manage legal and reputational risk, and connect employee relations work to culture, engagement, employee experience, employer brand, and business outcomes.

Applicants must be authorized to work in the US without requiring sponsorship now or in the future.

The Salary range for this position is $129,150.00-$165,000.00.The specific Salary rate offered to a candidate may be influenced by a variety of factors including the candidate’s experience, their education, and the work location.

About Us

Rehlko proudly offers a rich history steeped in creativity and commitment to our associates and communities, along with competitive benefits and compensation. Our Purpose—Creating an energy resilient world for a better future—and Values: Curiosity, Trust, Pace, and Excellence, are important cultural components that shape the way we work and relate to one another. Learn more about Rehlko at http://www.rehlko.com/who-we-are.

In addition to the investment in your development, Rehlko offers a benefits package including a competitive salary, health, vision, dental, 401(k) with Rehlko matching, and more!?

Rehlko is an equal opportunity employer that prohibits discrimination and will make decisions regarding employment opportunities, including, but not limited to, hiring, job assignment, compensation, promotion, benefits, training, discipline, and termination, without regard to race, creed, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, genetic information, age, national origin, citizenship, ancestry, caste, mental or physical disability, marital or familial status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, political belief or affiliation, union membership status, military status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by national, state, local, or other applicable laws.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

It is the policy of Rehlko to comply with all applicable provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and corresponding national, state, local, or other applicable laws. Rehlko will not discriminate against any qualified associate or applicant with respect to any terms, privileges, or conditions of employment because of a person's physical or mental disability. Rehlko will provide a reasonable accommodation to associates or applicants with disabilities, in accordance with applicable laws. If you have a disability and require an accommodation in the application process or during the course of employment, please contact [e-mail]. Rehlko is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.

Our Values

Curiosity – Seek, learn, share

Trust – Go farther together

Pace – Focus to go faster

Excellence – Find the win every day