Sr. Manager, Labor Relations

Day & Zimmermann; Middletown (IA); On-site; USD 107,000 - 161,000; Full time

Job summary

American Ordnance, a Day & Zimmermann Company, seeks a Senior Labor Relations Manager to provide hands-on HR partner support for labor and employee relations at the Middletown, IA site. You will work with leadership, HR, employees, union representatives, and counsel to administer collective bargaining agreements, coordinate negotiations, and conduct investigations.

On-site role in Middletown, IA. Responsibilities include leading bargaining strategy, driving proactive labor relations,

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in HR, labor relations, business administration or equivalent experience.
• 7+ years progressive HR, labor relations, or employee relations experience.
• 3+ years experience supporting unionized environments and collective bargaining administration.

Responsibilities

• Lead collective bargaining strategy and negotiations for all represented employee groups and develop bargaining objectives.
• Drive proactive labor relations strategy, minimize disruptions, ensure compliance with agreements and labor laws.
• Lead investigations involving policy violations, workplace concerns, misconduct, attendance, harassment, and other sensitive matters with timely resolutions.
• Partner with site leaders, HR, Operations and Legal to develop workforce strategies improving engagement and culture while maintaining positive labor relations.
• Champion workforce engagement and culture initiatives, improve communication between leadership and represented employees.
• Build relationships with union leadership, employees, site management, and stakeholders to inform strategic workforce decisions.

Skills

Labor relations

Investigations

Manufacturing experience

Communication

Confidentiality

HRIS / MS Office

Education

BA/BS in HR, Labor Relations, Business Admin

Job description

About American Ordnance

At American Ordnance, we know the stakes and We do what we say! ® We’re the team working behind the scenes to make sure our nation’s front lines have safe, high-quality ammunition. As a trusted premier manufacturer of ammunition to the U.S. Military, some of our capabilities range from production of direct and indirect fire, warheads, to special projects and beyond. With more than 70 years of experience and Day & Zimmermann behind us, it’s no surprise that our teams consistently exceed expectations. Come join in on our purpose – We put people to work, we protect American freedoms, and we help our customers power and improve the world! https://aollc.biz

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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

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

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.

Diversity, Inclusion & Equal Employment Opportunity

American Ordnance, a Day & Zimmermann Company, is an Equal Opportunity Employer, M/F/D/V. Diversity, and Inclusion & Equal Employment Opportunity: American Ordnance is committed to maintaining an inclusive workforce, where employees are hired, retained, compensated and promoted based on their contributions to our Company. Our collective strength is rooted in over 110 years of diverse employees and businesses, commitment to success, and delivery on promises made. Federal and state Equal Employment Opportunity laws prohibit employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation and gender identity, age, national origin, citizenship status, veteran status and disability status. American Ordnance is committed to providing an equal opportunity work environment in full compliance with these laws. If you are an individual with a disability and you require an accommodation in the application process, please email [e-mail].