Labor Relations Senior Manager

Role Overview:

This role leads the development, administration, and execution of Clearwater Paper’s Augusta Mill unionized labor relations strategies, programs, and policies. This role serves as a key advisor to the senior HRM and site leadership, ensuring compliance and fostering positive labor-management relationships. Responsibilities include maintaining comprehensive knowledge of collective bargaining agreements, representing the organization in labor negotiations, and overseeing the interpretation and administration of labor contracts. The position plays a critical role in resolving labor disputes, guiding strategic decision-making, and supporting organizational objectives through effective labor relations practices.

In addition, this position is expected to support additional human resources tasks and projects as needed up to and including filling in for HRMs on an interim basis. Theses assignments may be local or national in scope.

This role reports to the Sr Director of Human Resources for Manufacturing.

Where you will work

Augusta houses Clearwater Paper’s largest paperboard facility and is home to more than 600 team members. Together, our team makes paperboard used in products across the United States, including food packaging, plates, cups and more. With nearly 65 years of operation, the mill spans 3,000 acres and runs two paper machines that collectively produce up to 1,940 tons per day.

Augusta is known worldwide for hosting The Masters golf tournament, but the city offers so much more. Located on the Savannah River on Georgia's eastern border, Augusta blends outdoor recreation with a vibrant arts and cultural scene. Explore the river walk, hike at the nearby wetlands, or the numerous downtown museums and restaurants.

Families benefit from strong public schools and nearby universities, including Augusta University—home to Georgia’s only dental school and a nationally recognized medical college—plus technical colleges offering career-focused programs.

What you will do

• Labor Relations Assist in negotiating, interpreting, and administering collective bargaining agreements across the organization. Maintain working knowledge of all union agreements and monitor for compliance with National Labor Relations Act and other applicable laws. Investigate unfair labor practices, facilitate and administer the bargaining process, mediate workplace conflict, and prepare disciplinary actions, grievances, and arbitration. Represent the organization in contract negotiations, grievances, and arbitrations as needed. Build and maintain relations with labor unions and union leadership. Serve as a trusted advisor to HR and business leaders to resolve business problems through broad and up-to-date knowledge of Labor Relations and Human Resources competencies. Coach HR and operational leadership teams to develop and implement employee positive employee relations strategies consistent with Clearwater Paper Values; comply with legal requirements (CBA) where applicable while fostering a climate of employee engagement across multiple sites Monitor and stay abreast of employment and employee relations trends and practices. Advise leadership on emerging HR and Labor trends and partner with the local leadership team to support the strategic direction.
• Human Resource Support. Serve as a member of the HR team to undertake and complete projects as assigned. May include duties such as providing HR support as a generalist to mill management; overseeing benefits and payroll administration; organizational design and talent acquisition.

What you will need

To be successful in this position, we are looking for candidates with the following:

• Demonstrated ability to lead in a matrixed and highly collaborative environment to influence change and core processes
• Confidence in dealing with ambiguity; bringing different perspectives to light and rallying others to aligned goals and objectives
• High degree of business curiosity; quick learner with a proactive and agile mindset
• Self-motivated with a strong ability and confidence to operate with autonomy, gaining and keeping organization stakeholder alignment
• Ability to gather data, analyze and interpret data, and set action plans based on the analysis (i.e Turnover root cause analysis)
• Understanding of change management and ability apply change management concepts and tools
• Ability to manage projects and interface directly with multiple stakeholders
• Demonstrated ability to understand the organizational impact in decision making; see the big picture and distil it into action plans
• Ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, Labor Relations, Business Administration, or related field required; master’s degree preferred
• 5-7 years of increasing experience and accountabilities within a manufacturing environment- multi site or complex site strongly preferred; pulp and paper experience strongly preferred
• Union manufacturing experience support required experience in the pulp and paper industry preferred
• SHRM- CP/SCP preferred but not required
• Continuous Improvement certification (Six Sigma) preferred but not required
• Skills and Abilities Demonstrated ability to work with a variety of people, mediate, persuade, and influence managers at all levels. Must have a solid understanding of the business and the environment they operate in. Demonstrated understanding of employment and labor law. Strong verbal and written communication skills and ability to effectively communicate with all levels of employees. Ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality. Intermediate skill level in the use of MS Office: Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint. Able to think strategically and act tactically. Demonstrated change management skills
• Other: Up to 25% domestic travel Position will require some after-hours work Long periods of sitting or standing

Clearwater Paper will not offer sponsorship for employment-based visa status (including, but not limited to, H-1B visa status and other employment-based nonimmigrant visas) for this position. Accordingly, all applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis and must not require Clearwater Paper's sponsorship to continue to work legally in the United States.

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This role will be open for a minimum of 2 weeks or at the point a successful candidate is selected.

Interested in learning more about career opportunities in Augusta, Georgia?