Employee Relations Specialist

When you join Smithfield, you become part of something special – a company that’s sustainably feeding people around the world, producing good food the right way with respect for our people, animals, communities and planet. With opportunities across locations and functions, a culture grounded in our Core Four values – gratitude, communication, respect and accountability – and a strong commitment to learning, collaboration, and innovation, Smithfield offers challenging and rewarding careers where you can grow, contribute and make a real impact. VALUE YOU’LL BRING: The position summary states the general nature and purpose of the job. Overall accountabilities are defined in this section. As an Employee Relations Specialist‑ Investigations, you will foster a productive and compliant workplace. You will take charge of investigating employee relations matters, providing thorough summary reports, and offering remediation recommendations that will help resolve issues effectively. You will identify trends through quarterly reporting, enabling the development of targeted training programs that promote a positive work environment. Your role will involve driving consistency in policies and best practices, ensuring that our workforce aligns with both the business goals of the organization and the positive work experience of our employees. You will lead the investigation process for the HR Department, conducting interviews with witnesses and involved parties, reviewing camera footage, and preparing detailed witness statements and notes. You will research past practices and cases to prepare comprehensive case summaries and provide well‑informed recommendations for issue resolution. By maintaining accurate records and properly filing completed cases, you will support the overall integrity of our employee relations practices. Your efforts will be instrumental in promoting a productive workforce, facilitating effective communication between employees and management, and ultimately contributing to the success of our organization. WHAT YOU’LL DO: Investigation and Reporting Investigates employee relations concerns, including but not limited to harassment, discrimination, wage/hours, and retaliation received through various channels. Conducts effective, thorough, and objective investigations, recommending resolutions while ensuring fairness and consistency with local policies and practices. Maintains accurate, complete, and confidential records in the investigation file for all investigations. Partnership and Policy Implementation Partners with legal when necessary to conduct investigations, research policies/practices, and create and gather appropriate documentation. Works closely with site leaders to ensure all policies and procedures are understood, communicated, and consistently administered. Recommends educational solutions to improve awareness of the Code of Conduct, policies, and other employee relations matters. Grievance Resolution and Best Practices Tracks grievances, investigates and drives issues to resolution, working with the HR Director and operations on any changes to practices or processes. Analyzes and evaluates employee relations trends, providing actionable feedback to the HR Director and operations partners. Assists with best practices content for monthly leadership roundtable discussions and other employee relations action plans. WHAT WE’RE SEEKING: Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited four‑year college or university in Human Resources or a related field and 2+ years of relevant HR and/or law enforcement experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience, required. Demonstrated understanding of the requirement to thoroughly document and maintain confidentiality of sensitive information. Demonstrated ability to handle multiple, possibly conflicting priorities. Strong communication and administrative skills Strong problem solving, conflict resolution, and decision‑making skills The ability to work well with employees at all levels of the organization Ability to work well with others in fast paced, dynamic environment Ability to be respectful, approachable and team oriented while building strong working relationships and a positive work environment PHYSICAL DEMANDS & WORK ENVIRONMENT: The physical demands described here are representative of those an employee should possess to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those a employee may encounter while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Frequently required to sit, use hands to handle, or feel and talk or hear. Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision and ability to adjust focus. The majority of time is spent in an office setting outside the production plant. The plant environment will include wet or humid conditions (non‑weather‑related), extreme heat or cold, (non‑weather‑related) working near moving mechanical parts, exposure to fumes or airborne particles, and chemicals. Relocation Package Available Smithfield is an equal opportunity employer committed to workplace diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, gender identity, protected veterans status, status as a disabled individual or any other protected group status or non‑job characteristic as directed by law. If you are an individual with a disability and would like request a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment selection process, please call us at View phone number on click.appcast.io. BENEFITS & DEVELOPMENT: Smithfield is proud to offer robust, flexible and affordable benefit plans and programs to support our team members and their loved ones, and with out‑of‑pocket costs, on average, 20 percent less than plans offered by other employers. Beyond our medical plans, our Be Well programs offer tools and resources to enhance your quality of life, at no additional cost. These programs are uniquely tailored to our Smithfield team and provide support for elective surgeries, weight loss, mental health, cancer, kidney disease, diabetes, smoking cessation, asthma, maternity management and more. Our company invests in your future. We offer comprehensive training and professional development programs designed to help you reach your full potential. Through LinkedIn Learning, employees can access on‑demand courses, professional certificates, and skill‑based training to build capabilities aligned with career and business needs. Our partnership with Guild supports your continuing education with tuition assistance covering English language learning, high school completion, and degree programs, while our leadership development initiatives nurture high‑potential talent. We also offer unique benefits like our Smithfield Scholarship Program for employees’ children. COMPANY OVERVIEW: Headquartered inSmithfield, Virginia,since 1936,Smithfield Foods, Inc. is an American food company with a leading position in packaged meats and fresh pork products. With a diverse brand portfolio and strong relationships with U.S. farmers and customers, we responsibly meet demand for quality protein around the world. For more information, visit We believe in the power of protein to end food insecurity and have donated hundreds of millions of food servings to our communities. Smithfield boasts a portfolio of high-quality iconic brands, such as Smithfield®, Eckrich® and Nathan's Famous®, among many others. For more information, visit and connect with us on Facebook, X, formerly known as Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram. #J-18808-Ljbffr Smithfield Packaged Meats Corp