Employee Relations Specialist

Position Summary

The Employee Relations Specialist serves as the primary Human Resources resource for employees and leaders during night, weekend, and off-shift operations. This position provides hands-on employee relations support, leadership coaching, policy guidance, conflict resolution, investigations, and employee engagement support within a fast-paced manufacturing environment. The Employee Relations Specialist partners closely with production leaders to ensure consistent application of company policies, timely resolution of workplace concerns, and a positive employee experience across all shifts. This role maintains a visible presence on the production floor and acts as a trusted resource for employees and supervisors. The position aligns with the organization's strategy of maintaining consistent HR support across shifts and providing real-time issue resolution

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Employee Relations

• Serve as the primary point of contact for employee questions, concerns, and workplace issues during assigned off shifts.
• Investigate employee complaints, workplace concerns, and policy violations. Facilitate conflict resolution between employees and supervisors.
• Conduct interviews, fact-finding meetings, and documentation related to employee relations matters.
• Partner with HR leadership to ensure consistent application of policies and procedures. Escalate significant employee relations issues as appropriate.

Leadership Support

• Provide real-time coaching and guidance to supervisors and managers regarding employee relations matters.
• Assist leaders with attendance, performance, conduct, and policy-related concerns.
• Support corrective action processes and ensure documentation is complete and consistent.

HR Operations Support

• Respond to employee concerns, escalations, and workplace incidents during off-shift hours and escalate when as appropriate.
• Assist with incident response and workplace investigations when needed.
• Support onboarding activities, new hire integration, and employee retention initiatives.
• Maintain accurate and confidential employee records and case documentation.

• Maintain a visible HR presence on the production floor through regular interaction with employees.
• Facilitate employee engagement activities and support company culture initiatives.
• Promote communication between shifts and departments to ensure consistency and alignment.
• Identify trends, concerns, and opportunities for improvement and communicate findings to HR leadership.

Compliance

• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws.
• Support adherence to company policies, procedures, and workplace standards.
• Maintain confidentiality of employee information and investigations
• Participate in audits, compliance reviews, and policy implementation efforts as needed.

Qualifications

Education

Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Industrial Relations, or related field preferred. Equivalent combination of education and relevant experience may be considered.

Experience

Minimum of 3 years of Human Resources experience required. Employee relations experience in a manufacturing, distribution, or industrial environment strongly preferred. Experience conducting workplace investigations preferred. Experience supporting supervisors and frontline leaders preferred.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Strong employee relations and conflict resolution skills. Excellent interpersonal and communication abilities. Ability to build trust and credibility with employees and leadership. Strong judgement and problem-solving skills. Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information. Knowledge of HR best practices. Proficiency with HRIS, Microsoft Office, and related systems. Ability to prioritize multiple issues in a fast-paced environment.

Working Conditions

Frequent presence in a manufacturing environment. Ability to walk the production floor for extended periods. Flexible schedule including nights, weekends, and occasional holidays as business needs require. Ability to respond to workplace concerns and incidents during assigned off-shift coverage.