Sr. Manager, Labor Relations

Day & Zimmermann Company; Middletown (IA); On-site; USD 107,200 - 160,800; Full time

Job summary

Day & Zimmermann Company seeks a Senior Labor Relations Manager in Middletown, IA. This role is critical for managing labor relations and employee relations, directly engaging with site leadership, union representatives, and employees.

Responsibilities include leading collective bargaining, developing labor strategies, conducting investigations, and promoting positive workforce relations. The position requires a strong background in labor laws and hands-on experience in unionized environments.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Labor Relations, or equivalent.
• Progressive HR or labor relations experience of 7+ years.
• Experience in handling collective bargaining in unionized settings.

Responsibilities

• Lead collective bargaining strategy and negotiations.
• Develop proactive labor relations strategies.
• Conduct employee and labor relations investigations.
• Partner with management to develop workforce strategies.
• Champion workforce engagement and culture initiatives.
• Build relationships with union leadership and stakeholders.

Skills

Labor and employment laws knowledge

Workplace investigation experience

Manufacturing environment experience

Strong communication skills

Confidentiality and judgment

Proficiency in Microsoft Office and HRIS

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resources or related field

7+ years of HR or labor relations experience

3+ years supporting unionized environments

Job description

Job Summary

The Senior Labor Relations Manager serves as a hands‑on HR partner supporting labor relations and employee relations activities at the Middletown site. This role works closely with site leadership, HR, employees, union representatives, and legal counsel to support the administration of collective bargaining agreements, coordinate union negotiations, and conduct employee relations investigations. While labor strategy is established by HR leadership and legal counsel, this role is responsible for the day‑to‑day execution, coordination, and administration of labor and employee relations activities to ensure consistent policy application, compliance, and positive workforce relations.

This role is on‑site in Middletown, IA.

Responsibilities

• Lead collective bargaining strategy and negotiations for all represented employee groups. Develop bargaining objectives, analyze contract proposals, formulate negotiation strategies, and secure labor agreements that support operational, financial, and workforce objectives. 30%
• Drive a proactive labor relations strategy that fosters constructive union‑management relationships, minimizes labor disruptions, and strengthens workforce stability while ensuring compliance with collective bargaining agreements and labor laws. Serve as the organization’s subject matter expert on labor relations, contract interpretation, grievance administration, arbitration preparation, and labor law compliance. Provide guidance and recommendations to senior leadership on labor risks and workforce implications. 25%
• Lead complex employee and labor relations investigations involving policy violations, workplace concerns, misconduct, attendance, harassment, and other sensitive matters. Deliver timely resolutions, identify root causes, and recommend corrective actions to mitigate risk and improve organizational effectiveness. 15%
• Partner with site leaders, HR Business Partners, Operations, and Legal Counsel to develop workforce strategies that improve employee engagement, strengthen organizational culture, and enhance the overall employee experience while maintaining positive labor relations. 10%
• Champion workforce engagement and culture initiatives by identifying employee concerns, analyzing workforce trends, improving communication between leadership and represented employees, and promoting a respectful, inclusive, and high‑performing workplace. 10%
• Develop and maintain productive relationships with union leadership, employees, site management, and corporate stakeholders to facilitate issue resolution, build trust, and support business continuity. Utilize labor relations metrics, workforce analytics, and trend data to identify risks, improve labor‑management effectiveness, support negotiations, and inform strategic workforce decisions. 10%

KSAs (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities)

• Working knowledge of labor and employment laws, including NLRA, employee relations regulations, and collective bargaining agreement administration.
• Experience conducting workplace and employee relations investigations, including documentation, interviews, and resolution of sensitive matters.
• Experience working in manufacturing, industrial, or plant operations environments, including support for multi‑site operations.
• Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills with the ability to build effective working relationships across all levels of the organization.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality, exercise sound judgment, and manage multiple priorities in a fast‑paced environment.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, HRIS systems, and collaborating effectively with operations leadership, HR teams, union representatives, and employees.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Arts/Sciences (BA/BS) Human Resources, Labor Relations, Business Administration, or equivalent experience Required
• 7+ years Progressive HR, labor relations, or employee relations experience Required
• 3+ years Experience supporting unionized environments and collective bargaining administration Required

Salary Range

In compliance with this state's pay transparency laws, the salary range for this role is $107,200 - $160,800. This is not a guarantee of compensation or salary, as final offer amount may vary based on factors including but not limited to experience and geographic location. (The specific programs and options available to an employee may vary depending on date of hire, schedule type, and the applicability of collective bargaining agreements).

Essential Functions

• Visual acuity (e.g., needed to prepare and analyze data, to transcribe documents, to view a computer, to read, to inspect objects, to operate machinery) R (Regular)
• Manual Dexterity (e.g., picking, pinching, typing, or other working that uses the fingers) R (Regular)
• Walking O/C (Often/ Critical)
• Hearing R (Regular)
• Talking R (Regular)
• Ability to regularly perform all job functions at Company's office or work site R (Regular)

Travel

10% Occasional travel to support labor meetings, investigations, training or other HR activities.