Director, Employee Relations

We made history and now we work to transform the future – for our customers, our communities and our families. You'll see your work on the road every day, helping people move freely and pursue their dreams. At Ford, you can build more than vehicles. Come build what matters. As part of our Human Resources team, you’ll help us attract, hire and retain the top talent we need to achieve our bold vision. You’ll play a vital role in defining, developing and maintaining the winning culture that empowers diverse individuals to work together and create the impossible. We’re seeking change leaders, talent strategists, employee advocates and culture architects to enable our teams, partners, and businesses to do and be their best. Position Overview As the Director, Employee Relations (ER) – Labor Tools & Process (LL5), you will modernize, simplify, and standardize labor relations tools and processes across our manufacturing and FCSD footprint. This strategic leadership role requires deep expertise in national-level labor relations and extensive plant labor experience. What you’ll do Lead labor process standardization and continuous improvement. Collaborate with Mfg. HR and plant HR teams to simplify processes, eliminate waste, and streamline labor workflows. Design, implement, and maintain standardized labor relations processes and tools, such as SOPs, digital tools, and playbooks. Integrate national policies and initiatives into actionable processes for plant-floor execution. Serve as national labor SME on contract topics and provide strategic oversight on high‑impact plant HR subjects. Provide coaching and advisory support to Mfg. HR and plant HR teams through initiatives such as Intro to Labor and Labor Under the Hood. Manage escalations and assist with problem solving, including UAW interface. Build and deploy modern labor relations training programs to elevate plant HR capability. Lead strategic and transparent labor‑related communications for plant teams. Collaborate across Manufacturing HR, Operations, OGC, Finance, People First, and Total Rewards to align labor tools with company initiatives. Partner to design and implement user‑friendly digital tools that automate manual labor processes and provide data‑driven insights. Drive cross‑functional collaboration and change management to support broader business objectives. You’ll have Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Labor Relations, Business Administration, or a related field. 10+ years of progressive HR/Labor Relations leadership experience. Hands‑on experience in a manufacturing plant or industrial environment. Track record of managing and interpreting complex collective bargaining agreements at a national or enterprise level. Experience leading large‑scale organizational change or process transformation projects across a unionized manufacturing footprint. People‑leader experience with direct reports. Experience applying Lean, Six Sigma, or continuous‑improvement methodologies to simplify administrative HR processes. Technical aptitude with HR/labor technology solutions (e.g., grievance tracking systems, automated attendance tools). Even better, you may have Root‑cause problem‑solving mindset. Collaborative influence skills and ability to build trust with stakeholders at all levels. Strategic thinking with operational grit and ability to balance long‑term strategy with daily plant realities. Outstanding communication skills to distill complex labor topics into clear, actionable material. Master’s degree (MHRLR, MBA). Benefits Immediate medical, dental, vision and prescription drug coverage. Flexible family care days, paid parental leave, new‑parent ramp‑up programs, and subsidized backup child care. Family‑building benefits including adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement and fertility treatments. Employee vehicle discount program and management leases. Tuition assistance. Active employee resource groups. Paid time off for community service. Generous paid holidays, including the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day. Paid vacation and option to purchase additional vacation time. This position is leadership level 5 and ranges from $141,700 to $268,300. Final determination of salary grade will be based on candidate skills and experience, and base salary will be set within the applicable range. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States, with verification of employment eligibility required at the time of hire. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, age, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status or protected veteran status. In the United States, if you need a reasonable accommodation for the online application process due to a disability, please call View phone number on click.appcast.io. This position is hybrid. Candidates who are within commuting distance to a Ford hub location may be required to be on site four or more days per week. #J-18808-Ljbffr