via Workday
$70K - 90K a year
Lead employee and labor relations, manage union contracts, drive workforce planning and talent development, and support DE&I and compliance in a manufacturing plant environment.
Bachelor's degree with 8+ years HR experience including 5+ years team leadership, union contract administration, manufacturing and union environment experience, and knowledge of employment laws and HRIS systems.
If you are currently employed at Smithfield, please log into Workday and submit your application through the Jobs Hub. A great job-and a great future-awaits you at Smithfield Foods. We are an American food company with a leading position in packaged meats and fresh pork products. We’re looking for motivated people who want to join our team and grow lasting and meaningful careers with us. Apply Now! CORE RESPONSIBILITIES Responsibilities and tasks are written as follows: Mitigates legal risks in the application of policies and the administration of any applicable collective bargaining agreements and escalates when appropriate. Leads and mentors business partners to ensure consistent application of all such rules and policies. Develops and implements innovative solutions to employee/labor relations issues affecting the plant. Effectively communicates and demonstrates Smithfield’s ROI guiding principles (Responsibility, Operational Excellence and Innovation) including the vision and core values. Performs analysis using workforce analytics and collaborates with business partners to drive results. Prepares statistical reports, presentations, and communication(s) to develop and present solutions for strategic local initiatives while performing wage analysis, including staffing and turnover. Understand business unit financials and objectives to determine opportunities and increase business acumen to drive results through our employees. Provide guidance on facility workforce planning, succession planning process (9-box), and talent development. Collaborate with leaders identifying talent within hourly and salary staffing process. Maintains the development and ongoing execution of the location’s DE&I initiatives, Affirmative Action Plan and maintains a positive employee relations environment. Utilizes tools such as culture survey results. Collaborates with business partners and employees to improve working relationships and the employee experience, while increasing productivity and retention. Change agent leader to support MIQ, local and other corporate initiatives. Consult with business partners providing guidance, actively listens and provides constructive feedback, recognition, and gratitude. Serves as the Subject Matter Expert in a variety of HR related programs providing necessary resources to empower employees with the knowledge and materials needed (FMLA, LOA, ADA, Workday resources, etc.). Serves as a visible business partner, actively participating in leadership meetings. Visits the production floor to engage employees at all levels, relating openly and comfortably with diverse groups of people. Partners with Centers of Excellence and other HR departments, carrying organizational communication into practice at the functional level. Ensures hourly, administrative and management employee retention at the location is maintained at an acceptable level. Uses knowledge, experience, data, and continuous interpretation of facility dynamics to help understand and determine the training and educational needs of employees at the facility. Maintains oversight and responsibility for all HR related compliance audits including SMETA/SWA. Oversight of employment complaints including executing thorough investigations. QUALIFICATIONS To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals to perform the essential functions. Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited four-year college or university in Human Resources, Business Administration or related field and 8+ years’ relevant experience; or equivalent combination of education and experience required. 5+ years of demonstrated experience in team management/development or project leadership is required. Previous experience in administration of a union contract; grievances, arbitrations, and NLRB regulations, required. Prior experience in a manufacturing and union environment required. Food Manufacturing experience preferred. PHR/SPHR certification, preferred. Functional knowledge of employment laws and practices. Knowledge and use of commonly used HRIS such as Workday, payroll/timekeeping systems and Microsoft Office Suite. Possesses specialized knowledge of HR processes and procedures, including administration of benefits, compensation and other programs. Prior experience reading and interpreting documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions and procedure manuals. Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers and/or employees of the organization. Must be able to maintain a high level of confidentiality. Strong reasoning and math skills. Strong communication skills: speak, read, write, address groups, individuals, conduct investigations, counseling, training and mentoring. Bi-lingual skills preferred. Must be able to travel 50% of the time. Demonstrated ability to work well with others in a fast-paced, dynamic environment. Demonstrated ability to be respectful, approachable and team oriented while building strong working relationships and a positive work environment. Relocation Package Available Yes EEO Information Smithfield is an equal opportunity employer committed to workplace diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, gender identity, protected veterans status, status as a disabled individual or any other protected group status or non-job characteristic as directed by law. If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment selection process, please call us at 757-357-1595. At Smithfield, good food starts with good people. "Good food. Responsibly.®" is more than just our tagline; it's what we do. We provide good jobs. We take good care of our animals. We are good stewards of the environment. We do good in our local communities. Smithfield is proud to offer robust, flexible and affordable benefit plans and programs to support our team members and their loved ones, and with out-of-pocket costs, on average, 20 percent less than plans offered by other employers. Beyond our medical plans, our Be Well programs offer tools and resources to enhance your quality of life, at no additional cost. These programs are uniquely tailored to our Smithfield team and provide support for elective surgeries, weight loss, mental health, cancer, kidney disease, diabetes, smoking cessation, asthma, maternity management and more. Our company invests in your future. We offer comprehensive training and professional development programs designed to help you reach your full potential. Our partnership with GUILD supports your continuing education with tuition assistance covering English language learning and various certificate programs, while our leadership development initiatives nurture high-potential talent. For those looking to build specialized skills, we offer apprenticeship programs that combine hands-on experience with focused learning. We also offer unique benefits like our Smithfield Scholarship Program for employees’ children. Smithfield’s Education Reimbursement Program provides financial reimbursement to team members who want to further their formal education by obtaining a GED/High School Equivalency (HSE) Diploma or by pursuing an academic degree at an accredited college or university that is not a Guild learning partner. Headquartered in Smithfield, Virginia, since 1936, Smithfield Foods, Inc. is an American food company with a leading position in packaged meats and fresh pork products. With a diverse brand portfolio and strong relationships with U.S. farmers and customers, we responsibly meet demand for quality protein around the world. For more information, visit www.smithfieldfoods.com. We believe in the power of protein to end food insecurity and have donated hundreds of millions of food servings to our communities. Smithfield boasts a portfolio of high-quality iconic brands, such as Smithfield®, Eckrich® and Nathan's Famous®, among many others. For more information, visit www.smithfieldfoods.com and connect with us on Facebook, X, formerly known as Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram. Not finding the right fit? Let us know you're interested in a future opportunity by clicking Get Started below or create an account by clicking 'Sign In' at the top of the page to set up email alerts as new job postings become available that meet your interest!
This job posting was last updated on 12/9/2025