Title:  Director, Labor & Employee Relations - Europe

Job Summary

In this role, you will play a pivotal role in shaping and driving the company’s regional HR strategy, focusing on labor relations, employee engagement, investigations, and policy management. This leadership position requires a strong strategic thinker with exceptional communication, leadership and interpersonal skills. Will ensure the company maintains a positive and productive work environment aligned with our organizational values and objectives in both unionized / work councils and nonunionized settings. Develop and support the design and delivery of labor and employee relations strategies and initiatives. The role fosters positive management-employee relationships and supports a diverse, fair, and respectful workplace. The position demands a balance of hands-on execution and strategic thinking, aligning initiatives with West’s strategic goals. This role champions a positive work environment, workplace harmony, and ensures all HR activities contribute to a productive and compliant workplace.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Act as chief spokesperson for the Company to the German Works Council and union, European Works Council or collaborate with the local HR Managers for negotiations with works councils or unions at European sites.
• Act as strategic advisor to other European sites for labor and employee relations issues.
• Responsible for German Works Agreements negotiations in collaboration with local HR Managers.
• Strategic Development and Implementation: Leads, develops and implements a comprehensive regional strategy for positive employee relations, leadership development and third-party relationships, ensuring that our business and customer needs are met with flexibility and efficiency.
• Create and implement employee relations programs to enhance job satisfaction, employee engagement, and productivity and provide guidance to HR managers and business leaders on managing complex employee relations issues.
• European Labor and Employee Relations Oversight. Lead matrix team supporting employee and labor relations initiatives in Europe.
• Develop and administer training to organizational leaders and human resources on positive employee relations, negotiations, and labor relations, etc.
• Partner with internal and external legal counsel on employee relations and labor relations matters to ensure compliance and mitigate risks.
• Oversee and participate in investigations and disciplinary process across European locations.
• Lead liaison to German Data Privacy Officer.
• Data Privacy Officer for Italy and Spain. 
• Human Resources Policy Management. Create, implement, standardize and harmonize site-level HR policies. Ensure policies are accessible and uniformly stored across all regions.
• Other duties as assigned.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Industrial Relations, Psychology, Business Administration, or equivalent experience

Work Experience

• 10+ years HR experience (strategic and operational) 
• 5+ years of experience in labor and employee relations
• Experience within an international manufacturing company

Additional Requirements

• Must be able to communicate effectively with written and oral skills, make quick decisions, interpret data, read and write, speak in front of groups, express and exchange ideas, understand direction and adhere to procedures.
• Minimum C1 level German and English communication skills.
• Organizational skills will enable planning, prioritization and achievement of goals especially of importance for the successful execution of related activities.
• Position operates in a professional office environment. May stand or sit for extended periods of time.
• This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines.
• Read and interpret data, information and documents.
• Must maintain the ability to work well with others in a variety of situations.
• Must be able to multi-task, work under time constraints, problem solve, and prioritize.
• Ability to make independent and sound judgments.
• Observe and interpret situations, analyze and solve problems.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Master's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Industrial Relations, Psychology or related field
• Experience in managing complex projects preferred 
• Experience and motivation to work in an international, cross-functional environment. preferred 
• Experience with employee relation data analysis, record, tracking, trending and data facts based decision preferred
• Strong understanding and experience with labor law, collective agreements, unions and works councils
• Ability to maintain confidentiality with sensitive issues
• Team player actively contributing to positive team spirit
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Demonstrated decision-making and objective problem-solving skills
• Works to the highest level of professional and ethical standards
• Liaising between HR management and all levels of the organization
• Ability to work with multiple sources of data and assimilate information quickly
• Fluency and experience with labor law, collective agreements, negotiations, unions and works councils
• An excellent communicator, able to present information in a clear and concise manner orally and in writing to ensure others understand ideas; appropriately adapt message, style, and tone to accommodate a variety of audiences

Travel Requirements

Physical Requirements