The Knorr manufacturing facility in Independence, MO—located just 15 minutes east of downtown Kansas City—is a unionized, 24/7 operation. The Associate Manager, HR Business Partner serves as the primary on site HR contact and trusted partner to approximately 300 hourly team members and front line leaders.
This role plays a critical part in delivering a positive employee experience while ensuring fair, consistent, and compliant application of company policies and the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). Working closely with HR Operations and People Partner teams, the Associate Manager, HRBP supports employee relations, performance management, onboarding, engagement, and change initiatives in a fast paced manufacturing environment.
Key Responsibilities
Employee & Labor Relations
• Serve as the first point of contact for employee relations questions, concerns, and grievances.
• Fairly and consistently administer the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) in a union environment.
• Support union negotiations and collective bargaining processes, including implementation of agreements.
• Conduct employee relations investigations, including interviews, documentation, corrective actions, and counseling.
• Promote a respectful, inclusive, and proactive employee relations environment.
Performance Management & Leader Support
• Coach and counsel hourly employees and front line leaders on performance, conduct, attendance, and policy matters.
• Support leaders through the performance management process, including feedback conversations and documentation.
• Provide guidance to supervisors on delivering effective feedback and corrective action in compliance with employment laws.
HR Operations & Compliance
• Act as a subject matter expert for HR policies, processes, and systems, partnering with centralized HR support teams as needed.
• Manage escalation of HR issues through resolution while maintaining clear communication with all stakeholders.
• Administer medical accommodation processes in alignment with company policy and federal and state regulations.
• Participate in affirmative action and compliance related activities.
Employee Engagement & Continuous Improvement
• Monitor employee engagement and climate indicators and identify opportunities to improve the employee experience.
• Partner with leaders to address people trends and implement practical, local solutions.
• Support continuous improvement of HR processes and ways of working at the site level.
Hiring, Onboarding & Projects
• Partner with recruitment on hourly hiring needs and support the end to end onboarding process.
• Coordinate onboarding activities with safety, operations, payroll, and benefits teams to ensure a smooth new hire experience.
• Lead or participate in local HR projects and initiatives from start to finish.
Qualifications
Required
• 5+ years of HR experience in a manufacturing or factory environment; union experience strongly preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience conducting employee relations investigations and handling grievances.
• Solid working knowledge of employment law and employee relations practices.
• Strong communication, judgment, and problem solving skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities independently in a fast paced environment.
Preferred
• Experience with Kronos timekeeping; UKG payroll and Workday or similar HR systems preferred.
Work Schedule
• Willingness to support off shift operations, including maintaining a stable schedule to support third shift team members.
• Flexibility to adjust schedule and travel as business needs require.
Pay: The pay range for this position is $88,600 to $133,000. Unilever takes into consideration a wide range of factors that are utilized in making compensation decisions including, but not limited to, skill sets, experience and training, licensure and certifications, qualifications and education, and other business and organizational needs.
Bonus: This position is bonus eligible.
Benefits: Unilever employees are eligible to participate in our benefits plan. Should the employee choose to participate, they can choose from a range of benefits to include, but is not limited to, health insurance (including prescription drug, dental, and vision coverage), retirement savings benefits, life insurance and disability benefits, parental leave, sick leave, paid vacation and holidays, as well as access to numerous voluntary benefits. Any coverages for health insurance and retirement benefits will be in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable plans and associated governing plan documents.
Earlier this year, Unilever announced an agreement to combine its Foods business with McCormick & Company, creating a scaled global flavour powerhouse. The proposed combination would bring together iconic Foods brands, including Hellmann’s and Knorr, with McCormick’s portfolio to create a global leader across spices, seasonings, condiments and complementary food categories, supported by strong retail and foodservice platforms. McCormick brings more than 135 years of heritage, a presence in 150+ countries and territories, and a portfolio of trusted brands. The transaction remains subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions, with completion estimated for mid-2027
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