HR People Partner

Job Purpose Working in partnership with other HR teams, the expertise and focus of the HR Operations team is supporting line managers with North America (NA) employee relations matters, performance management, policy queries and guidance on NA HR processes. The team’s objective is to provide consistent support with HR processes and enable smooth running of NA HR operations, and simultaneously build Unilever employee’s experience at Key Employee Moments. The role requires a customer mindset and strong bias for action.

These activities will include, but are not limited to Performance Management, Employment Law/Legal Compliance, Employee Advocacy, and advising on HR policies and processes.

As the HR People Partner, you will be the key HR contact and face of the HR department for roughly 215 hourly team members at our Hammond, IN factory. In addition to directly supporting our hourly team members, you are the liaison between our Line Managers and our third-party HR support, acting as the first point of contact for all employee relations and general HR inquiries such as: employee relations concerns/grievances and resolution; serving as the subject matter expert in key HR processes; overseeing the execution of HR transactions; providing value added analysis and reporting; as well as other global HR projects and initiatives. Maintaining a balance between providing customer service/advocacy for team members and consistently administering company policies is critical in this union environment.

• Seek continuous improvements in HR policies and evaluate current processes for increased efficiencies.

• Coach and counsel employees, front line leaders and managers on employee relation matters.

• Act as the first point of contact for employee relations inquiries, determining proper channel for resolution, interpreting policy, and advocating for team members.

• Manage and direct project teams from inception to completion, hitting deadlines and documenting progress.

• Lead and provide direction to managers regarding Performance Management Process (PMP).

• Partner with recruitment on hourly job openings and manage end-to-end onboarding of new team members.

• Manage the medical accommodation process to be aligned with Unilever policies and federal and state laws.

• Must be able to effectively manage conflict while creating an inclusive work environment.

• Manage the new hire onboarding process to include to include all relevant policies and support benefits and payroll setup activities.

• Foster a collaborative Union/Management relationship and administer the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). Promote a positive, proactive employee relations atmosphere and that helps reduce and close grievances.

• Support union negotiation and collective bargaining agreement processes.

• Participate in AAP audits.

• Manage escalation of HR support issues through to resolution while maintaining effective communication with all affected stakeholders.

• Conduct investigations including write-ups, legal conversations, and counseling and provide support to supervisors on how to provide feedback to hourly team members.

• Act as Subject Matter Expert (SME) for all key HR Tools, systems and processes.

• Coordinate and keep up to date with the on-boarding process with safety and operation teams.

Required Qualifications

• Experience & Education: 3+ years of Manufacturing/Factory HR experience (union environment preferred); Bachelor’s degree in Business, Human Resources, or related field.

• Systems & Compliance Knowledge: Experience with Kronos timekeeping (required) and UKG payroll (preferred), and Workday or similar systems; solid understanding of employment laws and HR practices.

• Communication & Influence: Strong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to influence stakeholders and operate effectively in a complex, matrix organization.

• Execution & Ownership: Action-oriented, highly organized, and detail-focused; able to manage multiple priorities independently, see work through to completion, and leverage resources to deliver key HR processes.

• Collaboration & Mindset: Collaborative team player with strong stakeholder management skills; demonstrates curiosity, grit, and a continuous improvement/simplification mindset.

• Work Schedule Flexibility: Willingness and ability to support off-shift operations, including maintaining a stable schedule to support third-shift team members.

Pay: The pay range for this position is $71,400 to $107,200. Unilever takes into consideration a wide range of factors that are utilized in making compensation decisions including, but not limited to, skill sets, experience and training, licensure and certifications, qualifications and education, and other business and organizational needs.

Bonus: This position is bonus eligible.

Long-Term Incentive (LTI): This position is LTI eligible.

Benefits: Unilever employees are eligible to participate in our benefits plan. Should the employee choose to participate, they can choose from a range of benefits to include, but is not limited to, health insurance (including prescription drug, dental, and vision coverage), retirement savings benefits, life insurance and disability benefits, parental leave, sick leave, paid vacation and holidays, as well as access to numerous voluntary benefits. Any coverages for health insurance and retirement benefits will be in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable plans and associated governing plan documents.

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At Unilever, inclusion is at the heart of everything we do. We welcome applicants from all walks of life and are committed to creating an environment where everyone can thrive/succeed. All applicants will receive fair and respectful consideration, and we actively support the growth and development of every employee.

Unilever is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Persons with Disabilities.

For more information on your federal rights, please see Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal

Employment is subject to verification of pre-screening tests, which may include drug screening, background check, credit check and DMV check.

If you are an individual with a disability in need of assistance at any time during our recruitment process, please contact us at NA.Accommodations@unilever.com. Please note: This email is reserved for individuals with disabilities in need of assistance and is not a means of inquiry about positions or application statuses. The Protected Veterans or Individuals with Disabilities AAP narratives are available for inspection by any employee or applicant for employment Monday through Friday during normal business hours at establishment.