Labor and Employee Relations Specialist

Synthomer is a leading supplier of high-performance, highly specialised polymers and ingredients that play vital roles in key sectors such as coatings, construction, adhesives, and health and protection – growing markets that serve billions of end users worldwide. Headquartered in London, UK and publicly listed there since 1971, we employ c.3,900 employees across our 5 innovation centres of excellence and more than 29 manufacturing sites across Europe, North America and Asia. Around 20% of our sales volumes are from new and patent protected products.

At our innovation centres of excellence in the UK, Germany, China, Malaysia and Ohio, USA we collaborate closely with our customers to develop new products and enhance existing ones tailored to their needs, with an increasing range of sustainability benefits. Since 2021, we have been proud holders of the London Stock Exchange Green Economy Mark, which recognises green technology businesses making a significant contribution to a more sustainable, low-carbon economy.

Position Summary

The Labor and Employee Relations Specialist serves as the subject matter expert for a multi-site unionized manufacturing environment, partnering closely with Operations, Human Resources, Management, and Employees. The role is responsible for administering and interpreting multiple collective bargaining agreements, managing initial grievance processes across three facilities, and ensuring compliance with labor agreements, company policies, and employment laws. In addition, the position supports hourly recruitment efforts, provides guidance on employee relations matters and labor practices, and advises leaders on workplace issues and policy administration. A key aspect of the role is developing and maintaining positive working relationships with site union leadership and management while supporting the organization's labor relations strategy and fostering a collaborative, productive work environment.

Essential Responsibilities

• Build and maintain productive working relationships with management, multi-site union leadership, and bargaining unit employees to foster positive labor-management relations
• Serve as a trusted advisor to managers and employees on employee relations, performance management, corrective action, disciplinary matters, workplace concerns, and policy interpretation
• Act as the primary point of contact for employee relations issues, conducting and coordinating workplace investigations related to grievances, Ethics Hotline reports, employee complaints, and management escalations; analyze findings, recommend appropriate actions, and ensure consistent resolution
• Advise management for multiple facilities on collective bargaining agreement (CBA), past practice, company policies, employment laws, and Synthomer’s labor relations strategy
• Administer the initial grievance process for multiple facilities, including scheduling, preparing for, and conducting grievance meetings and hearings, while coordinating and facilitating disciplinary hearings in compliance with the CBA, company policy, and established practices
• Manage hourly recruitment activities, including candidate sourcing, interviewing, assessment administration, hiring coordination, and onboarding support, in partnership with hiring managers
• Collaborate with HR Center of Excellence (COE), Sr. HR Managers, and other stakeholders to deliver effective HR solutions and escalate complex employee and labor relations issues as appropriate
• Support collective bargaining preparation and labor relations activities by gathering information, maintaining records, identifying trends, and assisting with negotiation-related preparation and initiatives
• Maintain accurate and confidential documentation related to investigations, grievances, disciplinary actions, recruitment activities, and labor relations matters
• Ensure compliance with applicable labor laws, employment regulations, collective bargaining agreements, and company policies
• Participate in employee engagement and culture initiatives that support a positive, inclusive, and productive work environment
• Develop and deliver training and guidance to managers and supervisors on new company policies, collective bargaining agreement (CBA) provisions, labor relations practices, and employee relations matters to ensure consistent application, compliance, and effective workforce management
• Perform other duties and special projects as assigned
• Multi-site travel 25% of the time (Jefferson Hills, PA; Akron, OH; Magadore, OH)

Qualifications Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Employment and Labor Relations, Human Resources, Industrial Relations, Business Administration, or a related field
• Two (2) to five (5) years of experience in labor relations, human resources, employee relations, or a related field
• Experience working in a unionized environment
• Knowledge of collective bargaining agreements and grievance administration
• Strong communication, conflict resolution, negotiation, and interpersonal skills
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound judgment
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and HR information system (HRIS)

Preferred

• Three (3) to five (5) years of experience in labor relations
• Experience within the chemical, manufacturing, or heavy industrial industry
• Working knowledge of federal and state employment laws
• Experience supporting hourly recruiting and selection processes

🌍 Global Benefits Overview

• 💰 Competitive, market-aligned compensation

• 🎯 Discretionary global bonus scheme

• 📈 Discretionary Long-Term Incentive Plan (LTIP) – for senior positions

• 🚗 Company car or car allowance – varies by region and role

• 🩺 Healthcare – tailored to regional locations

• 👶 Parental leave and family support – maternity, paternity, adoption (aligned with regional policies)

• 🏡 Working options – flexibility where it matters, based on role and business needs

• 📚 Learning & development opportunities – training, online platforms, buddy/mentorship programs, Internal Synthomer University with L&D offers

• 💙 Wellbeing support – employee assistance program (EAP), mental health resources, wellbeing initiatives

• 🌱 Retirement / pension contributions – plans vary by country

• 🤝 Culture of Inclusion – where everyone can thrive

• 🏆 Performance culture, global reward & recognition programmes