Job Details

Senior Manager Labor Relations Americas

The J.R. Simplot Company is a diverse, privately held global food and agriculture company headquartered in Boise, Idaho. We are a true farm-to-table company with an integrated portfolio including food processing and food brands, phosphate mining, fertilizer manufacturing, farming, ranching and cattle production, and other enterprises related to agriculture.

The role supports the development of Simplot's labor relations strategy and leads its execution across Americas for Simplot's Global Food division, ensuring local compliance within an industrial environment, and alignment with commercial objectives and company values. The Americas region includes 12 sites across Argentina, Canada, Mexico, and the USA. This role works under the guidance of the Director Labor Relations & Compliance, and partners with Legal, Business, and HR leaders to ensure labor relations regulatory compliance, build labor relations capability, manage risk, and foster constructive, cooperative, and contemporary employee relations practices in the region.

Key Focus Areas

• Labor Relations Strategy & Capability:
• Support the development of a contemporary labor relations framework for Simplot's Global Food division, and lead its implementation across the region.
• Lead or support the improvement of labor relations capability in the region across HR teams and business leaders, ensuring they have the capability to effectively manage frontline labor relations issues in accordance with applicable legislation and collective bargaining agreements.
• Monitor grievance and complaint activities in the region, providing insights, recommendations, and support to address trends.
• Monitor regulatory conditions in the region to ensure ongoing compliance and identify opportunities to enhance existing programs or introduce new initiatives that better serve business needs or respond to changing regulatory conditions.
• Ensure constructive and cooperative relationships with the union, while maintaining union-free status in specific locations.
• Labor Negotiations and CBA Administration:
• Lead enterprise bargaining across the region in partnership with local HR and plant leaders, embedding the global bargaining framework to ensure consistent application in all negotiations.
• Manage industrial actions, bargaining-related disputes, and support the legal team as required with litigation.
• Leverage technology, internal data, key metrics, benchmarking, and industry knowledge to inform strategic decision-making.
• Build and maintain relationships with union officials and leaders, ensuring alignment with Simplot's fair, flexible, and sustainable labor relations principles.
• Support the development and negotiation of any amendments outside of negotiation timeframes.
• Advice and Compliance:
• Support continuous improvement and ensure ongoing labor relations compliance by owning and regularly updating labor relations documentation and content, reviewing and improving related processes, and identifying and addressing compliance risks.
• Stay current with and ensure the organization complies with all relevant labor laws and regulations.
• Deliver coaching and commercially sound labor relations advice to support both project initiatives and BAU operations, while ensuring effective risk mitigation.
• Partner with key stakeholders, including the HR and Legal teams, to support the resolution of labor relations issues, cases, and complaints.
• Disputes and Litigation:
• Partner with local HR to investigate and resolve employee grievances, conflicts, and complaints.
• Partner with Legal regarding any litigation or administrative actions necessary to resolve labor disputes or grievances.
• Projects:
• Partner with the business to deliver expert and practical labor relations advice related to projects.
• Provide guidance on labor relations risks, obligations, and opportunities to ensure alignment with applicable legislation, CBAs, and internal policies and values.
• Lead or support global labor relations compliance projects.

Typical Education Bachelor's Degree (B.A. or B.S.) from 4 year college or university

Experience Details 8+ years related experience and/or training

Required Certifications Bachelors Degree: Law, Industrial Relations or Human Resources Relevant certification in labor relations. Example: Labor Relations Professional (CLRP), SHRM

Proven and demonstrated experience leading labor relations across multiple locations and multiple countries. Bi-lingual is an advantage, as this role will need to work closely with internal and external leaders in Argentina and Mexico.