Employee Relations Manager

Employee Relations Manager

Mission Linen Supply is seeking an experienced Employee Relations Manager to provide HR leadership and counsel across several locations. This role will drive key initiatives in performance management, organizational effectiveness, and employee communication.

This role requires hands-on experience working at a unionized employer. You must have direct, practical experience navigating a union workplace — responding to grievances, participating in collective bargaining and contract negotiations, and applying a collective bargaining agreement day to day. This is a required qualification, not a preferred one.

If you're looking for a stable industry with real influence over how employee relations and labor relations are handled across multiple sites — this role is built for that. Mission Linen Supply is a family-owned, privately held company and a leading provider of linen, uniform, and facility service products across five western states. Founded in 1930 and headquartered in Santa Barbara, CA, Mission has grown from a one-man operation into an industry leader, while remaining stable, essential, and steadily growing. Industrial laundry and linen services are a recession-resistant, essential industry — hospitals, hotels, and restaurants need clean linens and uniforms regardless of the economy. That means real, ongoing opportunities for career advancement, not a static org chart.

As Employee Relations Manager, you'll provide HR leadership and counsel across several Mission Linen Supply locations, driving initiatives in performance management, organizational effectiveness, and employee communication, while serving as the company's front-line expert on labor and employee relations matters, including union grievances and contract negotiations.

This is an onsite position, based out of one of the following Mission Linen Supply locations:

• Phoenix, AZ
• Santa Barbara, CA
• Chino, CA
• Sacramento, CA
• Newark, CA

Candidates must be able to work onsite full-time from one of these locations; this role is not remote or hybrid.

Base salary: $100,000–$120,000, based on education, experience, other qualifications, and location of assignment

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Retirement savings program
• Paid time off (sick, holiday, vacation)
• And more

Reviews and approves employment actions, including counseling and terminations

Consults with management regarding appropriate handling of employee relations issues

Handles employment-related inquiries and concerns from employees, referring complex matters to the appropriate staff

Answers policy and procedure questions

Participates in labor relations activities, including responding to grievances and participating in collective bargaining and contract negotiations

Develops strong interdepartmental partnerships across all levels of the organization

Conducts training and information sessions on Human Resources–related topics

Ensures compliance with state and federal working regulations, as well as internal company policy and procedures

• Bachelor's degree and/or HR certification preferred
• 5+ years of progressive Human Resources experience (required)
• Direct experience working in a union workplace — grievances, collective bargaining, and contract negotiations (required)
• Knowledge of employment law and practices, and an understanding of company policies, procedures, and state and federal laws, with the ability to apply that knowledge across multiple situations
• Practical experience in a production or service industry
• Ability to handle difficult or emotionally driven situations
• Ability to uphold the highest level of confidentiality
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with all levels of personnel
• Bilingual proficiency (English/Spanish) preferred
• Computer proficiency in MS Office applications