Manager Labor Relations 1

At Northrop Grumman, our employees have incredible opportunities to work on revolutionary systems that impact people's lives around the world today, and for generations to come. Our pioneering and inventive spirit has enabled us to be at the forefront of many technological advancements in our nation's history - from the first flight across the Atlantic Ocean, to stealth bombers, to landing on the moon. We look for people who have bold new ideas, courage and a pioneering spirit to join forces to invent the future, and have fun along the way. Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity and bringing your whole self to work — and we have an insatiable drive to do what others think is impossible. Our employees are not only part of history, they're making history.

The Human Resources (HR) team at Northrop Grumman Mission Systems is seeking a candidate to join a growing community of committed HR professionals in Baltimore, MD as a Labor Relations Manager.  Our HR and LR community are composed of incredible people with different abilities, diverse thinking, and varied backgrounds who find professional fulfillment in strategic thinking, change management, understanding and advocating for employees, supporting the coaching and development of the management team, and solving organizational challenges through our partnership with business leadership.

The selected candidate will have ownership as the Labor Relations Manager responsible for the relationship between the International Union of Electronic, Electrical, Salaried, Machine and Furniture Workers (IUE) and our Manufacturing/Production Operations organization.  Come be a part of securing our nation’s freedom and make a difference with the work you do.  The selected candidate will partner with operations leadership on the implementation of Labor Relations and Human Resources strategies, including employee relations, Union negotiations, CBA implementation, performance management, rewards and recognition, leadership development and other areas as a Labor Relations subject matter expert.   The ideal candidate will be able to demonstrate leadership and relationship building skills, a commitment to ethics and integrity, and the capability to innovate while challenging traditional ways of doing business. Skillful verbal and written communication talents are required, and the ideal candidate will have prior success building or enhancing a collaborative, supportive and understanding work environment in a unionized setting.  The successful candidate will demonstrate how they have supported their prior teams through organization, self-motivation, and task ownership skills, with the ability to accomplish complex duties in a high-impact, time sensitive environment.

Specific duties and responsibilities include the following:

• Act as Labor Relations Manager for ~350 unionized manufacturing employees.
• Advise directors, managers, and supervisors on labor contract interpretation and the resolution of labor contract disputes. 
• Act as the primary labor relations liaison to union leadership and proactively maintain collaborative relationships with Union leaders.
• Administer the grievance procedures as outlined in the CBA, to include resolution of disputes arising from CBA interpretation, allocation of labor or duties, and disciplinary actions taken by Management.
• Participate in and lead arbitration process.
• Proactively identify solutions to issues or concerns arising from our work processes.
• Perform employee relations functions, including investigation of workplace misconduct, advising managers on the legal and administrative implications of disciplining employees, meeting with employees to discuss issues of conduct or performance, and rendering final disciplinary decisions in compliance with Company policy and the collective bargaining agreement (CBA).
• Serve as second chair negotiator at contract negotiations and first chair negotiator on mid-contract side agreements.
• Troubleshoot issues relating to payroll, benefits, and leave/PTO.
• Coordinate with a third-party administrator on special leave situations, such as medical leaves of absence for disability or FMLA, military leave, and donated/borrowed leave.
• Ensure compliance with Federal, State, and Local labor laws and regulations, together with consultation from the Legal Department.
• Develop and administer training and continuing education materials on labor relations topics.
• Establish intimate understanding of the business and build and expand relationships with operations leadership.
• Identify trends, risks, and opportunities within the organization and develop solutions in partnership with leadership.  Advise leadership on new ideas and winning practices in the areas of talent acquisition, assessment, development, compensation, organizational effectiveness, strategy, on-boarding, change management and communications .
• Analyze and concisely present information to the management team to enable business growth and sound decision making.
• Provide business insight through data analysis, research, and benchmarking.
• Relate to a unionized touch labor workforce as well as executive senior leadership, directors, managers, and supervisors.
• Challenge and push back on difficult people in a professional manner.
• Exhibit leadership and decision-making skills with the ability to realize results in an environment of ambiguity.

Candidate may be required to travel up to 10% of time for domestic business, sometimes with short notice.

Basic Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s degree and 8+ years of Human Resources experience supporting a manufacturing organization or an organization with represented employees – OR – a master’s degree and 6+ year of Human Resources experience supporting a manufacturing organization or an organization with represented employees.
• Proven experience in being proactive in building relationship with leaders as well as touch labor employees.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with demonstrated ability to effectively communicate with and influence others. Proficient in Microsoft office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Ability to support the business and Labor Relations team with minimal task supervision, utilizing relationships to ensure alignment with organizational priorities 
   

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Preferred degree in Industrial Labor Relations, Human Resource management, Business, Organization Development, or related field.
• Experience working in a Unionized environment and an understanding of applicable NLRB practices and policies.
• Experience as a labor relations professional, responsible for maintaining relationships with Union officials.
• Advanced problem-solving skills and the ability to be flexible and adjust direction when needed.

Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret clearance.

Salary Range: $97,200 USD - $145,800 USD

Employees may be eligible for a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay. Annual bonuses are designed to reward individual contributions as well as allow employees to share in company results. Employees in Vice President or Director positions may be eligible for Long Term Incentives. In addition, Northrop Grumman provides a variety of benefits including health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, savings plan, Company paid holidays and paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business.

The health and safety of our employees and their families is a top priority. The company encourages employees to remain up-to-date on their COVID-19 vaccinations. U.S. Northrop Grumman employees may be required, in the future, to be vaccinated or have an approved disability/medical or religious accommodation, pursuant to future court decisions and/or government action on the currently stayed federal contractor vaccine mandate under Executive Order 14042 https://www.saferfederalworkforce.gov/contractors/.

Northrop Grumman is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class. For our complete EEO/AA and Pay Transparency statement, please visit http://www.northropgrumman.com/EEO. U.S. Citizenship is required for most positions.