Human Resources Generalist

Our Client is seeking an experienced HR Generalist with strong union and labor relations experience to support its Hudson Valley facility. This is a highly visible, hands-on HR role for an HR professional who understands the complexities of a unionized workforce and can operate confidently in a rapidly changing business environment.

The ideal candidate will bring practical experience working with collective bargaining agreements (CBAs), union employees, seniority, hiring and recall processes, layoffs, investigations, grievances, and labor relations. Manufacturing experience is highly valued, while direct cannabis experience is a plus but not required.

Key Responsibilities

Union & Labor Relations

• Serve as the primary onsite HR resource for union and labor-related matters.
• Develop a strong working knowledge of the facility's collective bargaining agreement (CBA) and ensure HR and management practices remain compliant with its provisions.
• Partner with leadership and union representatives regarding employee relations, workplace issues, grievances, and contract interpretation.
• Support and participate in union negotiations and labor discussions as needed.
• Advise management on the implications of union agreements, seniority, recalls, layoffs, hiring, promotions, and other workforce decisions.
• Understand and appropriately apply union language and processes related to hiring rights, seniority, callbacks/recalls, layoffs, and workforce reductions.
• Maintain productive, professional relationships with union representatives while protecting company interests.
• Help leadership prepare for the transition to independently managing the unionized workforce.

Employee Relations & Investigations

• Conduct and support employee investigations involving workplace complaints, policy violations, performance concerns, and other employee relations matters.
• Provide guidance to managers on performance management, disciplinary actions, documentation, and policy interpretation.
• Handle sensitive employee issues with professionalism, discretion, and sound judgment.
• Identify potential employee relations and labor risks and proactively communicate them to HR and facility leadership.

HR Operations

• Support recruiting, onboarding, offboarding, and workforce planning activities at the facility.
• Ensure hiring practices are consistent with applicable union requirements and the CBA.
• Partner with management on workforce planning and staffing needs.
• Maintain accurate employee records and HR documentation.
• Support compliance with federal, state, local, and company HR policies and regulations.
• Serve as a visible and accessible HR presence for employees and managers throughout the facility.

Workforce Transition

• Support the facility through its ongoing operational and organizational transition.
• Develop a comprehensive understanding of existing workforce agreements, employment practices, and union requirements.
• Help coordinate the return/recall of eligible former employees in accordance with contractual seniority provisions.
• Partner with leadership as the organization transitions away from current management services and assumes greater responsibility for New York HR operations.
• Ensure HR processes are established and ready to support the facility as the transition progresses.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of progressive HR Generalist, HR Manager, Employee Relations, or Labor Relations experience.
• Demonstrated experience working with a unionized workforce is required.
• Strong understanding of collective bargaining agreements and union environments.
• Experience with labor relations, grievances, investigations, disciplinary processes, and employee relations.
• Working knowledge of union concepts including seniority, layoffs, recalls/callbacks, hiring rights, and contract interpretation.
• Ability to understand and apply CBA language in day-to-day HR decisions.
• Strong communication, conflict-resolution, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work independently and make sound decisions in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong documentation and organizational skills.
• Comfortable being a highly visible, hands-on HR presence within a facility.
• Ability to work onsite five days per week.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in manufacturing, production, agriculture, or another highly regulated operational environment.
• Cannabis industry experience.
• Experience supporting facilities undergoing organizational transitions, acquisitions, divestitures, restructurings, or other complex workforce changes.
• Experience participating in union negotiations or collective bargaining.
• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Labor Relations, or a related field.