Positive Employee Labor Relations Principal

Positive Employee Labor Relations Principal

At Blue Origin, we envision millions of people living and working in space. Achieving that future requires building a world-class workforce here on Earth. The Positive Employee Labor Relations Principal is central to making that vision a reality by ensuring effective labor relations and strong employee experience management.

The right leader for this role will focus on building efficient workplace systems and processes that support our mission to expand humanity's presence in space.

About the Role

We are seeking a seasoned and strategic Positive Employee Labor Relations Principal to serve as Blue Origin's expert in labor relations strategy and employee experience. This role is a cornerstone of the HR Employee ExperienceEmployee Relations organization, combining strategic labor relations leadership with senior employee relations expertise.

Reporting to the Director of the People Experience Team, you will operate with significant autonomy across Blue Origin's multi-site environments including Huntsville, AL, Merritt Island, FL, and Kent, WA serving as an advisor to executive leaders, HR Business Partners, site leaders, and managers.

You will be a proactive architect of workplace culture focused on operational excellence, integrity, and productivity building the programs, frameworks, and leadership capabilities that support Blue Origin's continued growth.

What You'll Do

Labor Strategy & Employee Relations Leadership

• Develop and implement comprehensive, site-specific labor relations frameworks that reflect workforce dynamics, regulatory environments, and operational requirements of each Blue Origin location
• Build labor strategies that support business growth objectives while maintaining productive employee relations at every site
• Partner with site and executive leadership to identify potential labor challenges and deploy preventative measures
• Lead cross-functional teams in creating standardized, enterprise-wide labor and employee relations policies with necessary site-specific adaptations
• Develop labor relations roadmaps aligned with organizational strategic initiatives and Blue Origin's Leadership Principles
• Implement workplace culture programs focused on integrity and operational excellence
• Monitor organizational workforce trends through data analysis and direct observation

Employee Relations & Investigations Excellence

• Lead workplace investigations involving employees at all organizational levels, including executives, ensuring thorough, objective, and legally compliant processes
• Manage complex employee relations matters from intake through resolution with professionalism and decisiveness
• Design conflict resolution frameworks that promote effective solutions and organizational learning
• Provide expert guidance on disciplinary matters, ensuring compliance and alignment with progressive discipline practices across all sites
• Identify workplace trends through pattern recognition and develop targeted intervention strategies
• Maintain accurate and thorough employee relations records utilizing case management systems
• Mediate workplace disputes, facilitating productive resolutions that maintain operational effectiveness

Collective Bargaining Support

• Provide strategic counsel to negotiating teams throughout collective bargaining processes, ensuring alignment with business objectives
• Analyze industry trends, peer agreements, and market data to inform bargaining positions and strengthen Blue Origin's labor strategy
• Interpret collective bargaining agreement provisions and provide guidance to operational and HR leaders on contract administration
• Support development of management proposals that balance operational requirements with business needs

Strategic Consultation & Compliance

• Partner with functional leaders and business units to navigate employment decisions with confidence and compliance
• Contribute to employee relations strategy and broader HR initiatives as both strategic thought partner and practitioner
• Compose and present comprehensive reports on employee relations matters, investigation outcomes, and labor strategy recommendations
• Monitor, interpret, and communicate evolving labor legislation including NLRA, NLRB regulations, and employment law across all jurisdictions
• Conduct risk assessments for proposed labor relations initiatives and recommend mitigation strategies
• Establish compliance audit protocols to identify and remediate potential labor relations vulnerabilities
• Collaborate with Legal, Safety, and Operations partners on complex compliance challenges
• Develop reporting mechanisms that track key compliance metrics and identify potential issues
• Ensure consistent application of company policies and employment law standards across all Blue Origin locations

Strategic Workforce Analytics & Data-Driven Decision Making

• Deploy analytics to identify workforce trends across all locations, translating data into actionable insights for leadership
• Develop predictive models based on historical trends, case data, and industry benchmarks to address workforce challenges
• Establish measurement frameworks and KPIs to evaluate the effectiveness of labor relations programs and employee relations initiatives
• Leverage HRIS and case management data to make evidence-based recommendations for policy improvements and resource allocation

Leadership Development & Organizational Capability Building

• Design and deliver training programs, toolkits, and coaching resources for executives, managers, and HR colleagues on labor relations, employee relations, policy application, and conflict resolution
• Create educational materials and workshops that build management capability for effective people leadership
• Mentor and develop junior HR and Employee Relations team members
• Facilitate organizational knowledge sharing through leadership forums and cross-site learning exchanges
• Build effective people management capabilities across the organization

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Labor Relations, Business Administration, or related field
• 10+ years of progressive experience in labor relations and employee relations, with demonstrated success in complex, multi-site environments
• Deep working knowledge of NLRA, NLRB processes, federal and state employment laws, and workplace investigation methodology
• Proven track record advising senior and executive leadership on labor strategy, employee relations matters, and organizational risk
• Demonstrated success leading thorough, objective, and confidential workplace investigations including matters involving senior or executive employees
• Experience managing all stages of the employee life cycle, including onboarding, performance management, corrective action, and offboarding
• Proficiency with HRIS platforms and case management software with commitment to data accuracy and documentation standards
• Strong negotiation, mediation, conflict resolution, and analytical problem-solving skills
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including ability to compose and present comprehensive reports to leadership audiences
• High standards of integrity, discretion, and professionalism in handling sensitive and confidential workplace matters
• Ability to remain objective and composed when managing complex or high-stakes situations
• Ability to travel up to 30% of the time across Blue Origin's Huntsville, Merritt Island, and Kent locations

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree (Master's or JD) in Human Resources, Labor Relations, Business Administration, or related field
• Professional HR certifications such as SHRM-SCP, SPHR, or equivalent; background in employment law is a plus
• Advanced conflict resolution credentials or investigative certifications (e.g., AWI, ATIXA)
• Experience in aerospace, defense, manufacturing, or other highly regulated, technical industry environments
• Demonstrated success developing and scaling labor relations and employee relations training programs across large, distributed workforces
• Experience navigating labor relations challenges during periods of organizational growth, restructuring, or workforce change
• Familiarity with collective bargaining in non-union or partially unionized manufacturing/production environments
• Experience in process improvement, program design, or organizational change management initiatives
• Track record of building productive relationships with union representatives and employee advocacy groups

Compensation Range for:

WA applicants is $157,059.00 - $219,882.60

Other site ranges may differ

Culture Statement

Don't meet all desired requirements? Studies have shown that some people are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single desired qualification. At Blue Origin, we are dedicated to building an authentic workplace, so if you're excited about this role but your past experience doesn't align perfectly with every desired qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

Export Control Regulations

Applicants for employment at Blue Origin must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (i.e. current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U