Vice President, Labor Relations

Eaton; Jackson (MI); Remote; USD 198,000 - 292,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is looking for a Vice President of Labor Relations to lead their strategic HR initiatives. This pivotal role involves developing a top-tier Labor Relations function and collaborating across various teams to ensure compliance and effective negotiation strategies. With a focus on fostering positive employee relations and handling union-related issues, the ideal candidate will possess extensive experience in labor negotiations and a strong understanding of labor laws. This position offers the flexibility of remote work and requires significant travel, making it an exciting opportunity for a seasoned professional looking to make a substantial impact.

Benefits

Competitive Pay

Health and Welfare Benefits

Retirement Benefits

Paid Time Off

Flexible Work Arrangements

Qualifications

• 12+ years in Human Resources/Labor Relations with leadership experience.
• Expertise in union negotiations and labor laws, including international experience.

Responsibilities

• Advise on labor and union matters in the U.S. and Mexico.
• Develop union awareness programs and manage grievance procedures.

Skills

Labor Relations Strategy

Negotiation Skills

Employee Relations

Union Negotiations

Compliance with Labor Laws

Education

Bachelor’s Degree

Master’s Degree

JD focusing on Labor Law

Job description

Eaton Corporation is curretly seeking a Vice President of Labor Relations to join our team. This position can be based at any Eaton US location or remotely within the US.

The Vice President of Labor Relations is a strategic Human Resources leadership role at Eaton, aimed at developing a top-tier Labor Relations Function & Strategy. Reporting to the Vice President of Labor & Employment, you will collaborate across the organization using best practices, innovative thought leadership, and strong interpersonal skills.

Leading a team with members in the U.S. and Mexico, you will handle union-related issues and negotiations, ensuring successful outcomes. As the primary expert, you will stay updated on trends in collective bargaining, benefits, and work rules. Your role includes providing feedback, training, and support to shape effective policies and practices.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Advise business and HR leadership on labor and union matters, primarily in the U.S. and Mexico.
• Maintain a proactive approach to negotiations, collective bargaining agreement terms, policies, agreements, and procedures.
• Develop and implement union awareness programs and appropriate management responses to union campaigns through planning, positive employee relations programs, site vulnerability assessments, legal and policy reviews, as well as education and communications.
• Ensure compliance with union contracts using industrial labor relations programs and create a system of checks and balances to achieve desired results.
• Guide Eaton leadership on disciplinary and/or employee grievance issues within the union population.
• Engage with employee and union relations at sites for early issue identification, avoidance, de-escalation, or intervention.
• Ensure appropriate employee relations practices are maintained to promote positive employee relations at all sites.
• Identify existing or potential labor relations issues in acquisitions and divestitures and provide related solutions.
• Manage high-profile grievance procedures resulting from disputes with unionized employees over the collective bargaining agreement, work rules, and the interpretation of work contracts.
• Monitor compliance with internal, national, federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations.
• Maintain awareness of union-related activities through a core communication plan and use this information to advise, provide strategic counsel, and manage the company’s response to union organizing.
• Negotiate with unions regarding pension plans and other “historical” benefits into more cost-effective solutions.
• 50 percent travel is anticipated for this role

Qualifications:

Basic Qualifications:
• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited institution
• Minimum twelve (12) years of progressive experience in Human Resources/Labor Relations, leading labor relations strategies for a company or $1B+ revenue business unit.
• Demonstrated experience implementing Labor Relations laws and resolution approaches in a corporate environment
• International labor relations experience
• Senior executive leadership experience in a collaborative global environment
• Extensive end-to-end union negotiations experience, including collective bargaining agreements and employee relations.
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without company sponsorship both now and in the future.

Preferred Qualifications:
• Master’s degree
• JD focusing on Labor Law
• Experience with labor unions and negotiations in Mexico
• Experience transitioning existing pension plans to cost-effective solutions

At Eaton, we strive to provide compensation and benefits that attract, engage, and retain the best talent. This includes competitive pay and a variety of benefit programs for eligible employees. The expected annual salary range for this role is $198749.97 - $291499.96 a year. This role is also eligible for a variable incentive program. Please note the salary information shown above is a general guideline only. Salaries are based upon candidate skills, experience, and qualifications, as well as market and business considerations.

The application window for this position is anticipated to close on May 16th, 2025.

We are committed to ensuring equal employment opportunities for all job applicants and employees. Employment decisions are based upon job-related reasons regardless of an applicant's race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, marital status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other status protected by law.

Eaton believes in second chance employment. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction history will be considered regardless of their arrest or conviction history, consistent with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance, the California Fair Chance Act and other local laws.

You do not need to disclose your conviction history or participate in a background check until a conditional job offer is made to you. After making a conditional offer and running a background check, if Eaton is concerned about conviction that is directly related to the job, you will be given the chance to explain the circumstances surrounding the conviction, provide mitigating evidence, or challenge the accuracy of the background report.

To request a disability-related reasonable accommodation to assist you in your job search, application, or interview process, please call us at 1-800-836-6345 to discuss your specific need. Only accommodation requests will be accepted by this phone number.

We know that good benefit programs are important to employees and their families. Eaton provides various Health and Welfare benefits as well as Retirement benefits, and several programs that provide for paid and unpaid time away from work. Click here for more detail: Eaton Benefits Overview. Please note that specific programs and options available to an employee may depend on eligibility factors such as geographic location, date of hire, and the applicability of collective bargaining agreements.