Senior HR Advisor

Domtar is a leading producer of pulp, paper, packaging, tissue and wood products. Through our focus on safety and sustainability, as well as our commitment to operational excellence and our network of facilities across Canada and the United States, Domtar delivers high-quality and cost-effective products to customers around the world.

Our workforce is comprised of 14,000 talented and hardworking individuals. We are proud to offer competitive compensation, a supportive working environment, rewarding career paths and plenty of opportunities for learning and growth.

The location in Hawesville, (Kentucky, United States), is seeking talent to fill the position of Senior HR Advisor. This job is full-time permanent.

Job Summary

The Senior HR Advisor performs professional level HR duties and works closely with the HR Manager supporting mill needs. This role is part of a three-person HR department accountable for administering human resources and labor relations programs in a unionized environment for a paper mill with two paper machines, pulp and power facilities and waste treatment plant. Effective administration of HR programs in compliance with policies and procedures including legal and state statues, laws and regulatory compliance is prerequisite. The role requires an individual with the desire to work in a collaborative team environment with flexible assignments and evolving priorities. Creating and maintaining ongoing relationships with various local and corporate stakeholders including union representatives is fundamental to be effective in this role.

Employee & Labor Relations

• Engage with the HR Manager, Department Managers, Superintendents, and Team Leaders in the historical interpretation of the collective agreement.
• Serve in an advisory role regarding harassment allegations, disciplinary actions, performance issues, layoffs, terminations, workplace conflicts, and other management/employee/union concerns.
• Work with various department leaders, local union representatives and employees to address labor relations concerns and participate in their resolution.
• Investigate and evaluate grievances, determine grievance credibility and viability and support the HR Manager to effectively manage the grievance process.
• Attends mill meetings with the union and management, third step grievance hearings or others, writes the minutes, and maintain a follow-up list driving management alignment on the mill's responses.
• Facilitate attorney requests for information, gather and organize evidence required to review cases and defend company position in arbitration, mediation or litigation.
• Be aware of issues and challenges facing the departments and monitor the organizational climate.
• Draft contract proposals and/or counterproposals for collective bargain or other labor negotiations.
• Generate and complete annual labor workforce data requests from corporate and USW including local union data requests approved to be provided to the local union.
• Address disputes involving pay discrepancies, and provide notification to Payroll when required (e.g., non-paid union business, pay authorizations).

Recruitment

• Regularly maintain the headcount movements and hiring plan matrix.
• Posting job openings, screening resumes, scheduling panel interviews.
• Managing selection system including applicant flow and tracking new hire evaluations. • Organizing and facilitating new hire onboarding program across departments.
• Continuously improve recruitment process and onboarding program.

Administration

• Maintain employee records in the local database and liaison with local IT to ensure system integrity.
• Implement maintenance testing and maintain qualification and classification records.
• Monitor third party administrator for leave of absences and manage communications to ensure employee compliance with the Attendance Policy and return to work requirements.
• Complete HR Priority Special Projects as assigned.

Required Education/Professional Qualifications

• Ten (10) years of professional Human Resources Management experience.
• Bachelor's degree in business administration, economics, sociology, psychology, or communications.
• Minimum of five (5) years of experience performing a full range of labor relations activities related to the administration of an employer's labor relations program and collective bargaining agreement.

Preferred Education

• Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with concentration in Human Resources Management, Labor or Industrial Relations.
• Master's degree in human resources management, labor relations, business administration, economics.
• Professional facilitator certification.

Critical Competencies

• Thorough knowledge of human resource management and labor relations.

• Written and verbal communication skills.

• Knowledge of employment federal and state laws, statues, regulations and interpreting employment contracts.

• Building and maintaining professional collaborative relationships.

• Problem-solving and decision-making skills.

• Highly organized and an ability to manage multiple priorities.

• Experience in managing labor relations:

• Preparing for bargaining.

• Conducting negotiations.

• Writing technical contract provisions.

• Clarifying or changing the contract language.

• Applying administrative decisions to the provisions of labor agreements.

You will be required to successfully complete a selection process that could include interviews, an employment background check, a pre-employment drug and alcohol screen, reference verifications, aptitude tests (for some positions), and a fitness-for-duty test (for some positions).

Domtar is an equal-opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to age, race, color, sex (including gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, and pregnancy), marital status, religion, national origin, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. We are also committed to ensuring reasonable accommodations for individuals protected by Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1974, and Title I of the Americans with Disability Act of 1990.

Once your application has been submitted, you will receive a confirmation email. If you are selected to interview, you will be contacted by a member of our Human Resources team.

To learn more about our company, consult the Domtar Company Web Site and follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram and Twitter.