Senior Manager, Employee Relations

At Western Digital, our vision is to power global innovation and push the boundaries of technology to make what you thought was once impossible, possible.

At our core, Western Digital is a company of problem solvers. People achieve extraordinary things given the right technology. For decades, we’ve been doing just that. Our technology helped people put a man on the moon.

We are a key partner to some of the largest and highest growth organizations in the world. From energizing the most competitive gaming platforms, to enabling systems to make cities safer and cars smarter and more connected, to powering the data centers behind many of the world’s biggest companies and public cloud, Western Digital is fueling a brighter, smarter future.

We offer an expansive portfolio of technologies, storage devices and platforms for business and consumers alike. Our data-centric solutions are comprised of the Western Digital, G-Technology, SanDisk and WD brands.

Today’s exceptional challenges require your unique skills. It’s You & Western Digital. Together, we’re the next BIG thing in data.

Job Description

The Global Employee Relations Team supports Western Digital ensuring consistency and reducing compliance risks in our employment practices and policies worldwide. The ER Team partners closely with the regional people solutions representatives, HR Centers of Excellence, Ethics and Compliance and Employment Law to review, advise, and investigate workplace concerns and ensure Western Digital’s employees are treated fairly.

We are looking for a Senior Manager with a demonstrated passion for building innovative new programs and teams focused on creating and maintaining a positive employee experience for our employees worldwide. Our team is responsible for reducing risk to the business by developing programs to empower the next generation of high-performing, empathetic leaders. The Manager must have a fierce commitment to equality and excel in pursuing fairness for all.

As the Employee and Labor Relations Senior Manager, you will support the Global Director in reimagining work and expanding boundaries to ensure teams are ready for the future of work. You will grow complex investigative and coaching capabilities on the team while ensuring governance and due diligence to minimize risk. You be the primary liaison between Western Digital, site labor unions, and the Industrial Relations Office. You will own and maintain a collaborative labor/management relationship on the ground, serving as the company’s lead labor negotiator.

The ELR Senior Manager will help build a forward-thinking team that proactively identifies and acts in areas of opportunity. You will work cross-functionally to bring deep subject matter expertise to people processes and help build a roadmap for Employee Relations and Labor Relations programs and policies. This position reports to the Global Director for Employee Relations.

In this role, you will:

• Inspire, develop, empower and lead a highly skilled group of ER Partners.
• Be the point of contact for all union matters with management and the IR Office.
• Support investigators in highly sensitive HR and Employee Relations issues, including analyzing data from various internal systems; approving case adjudication; proposing remedial action based on investigation findings; production of thorough investigation documentation.
• Conduct investigative casework from end-to-end, inclusive of interviewing, data/evidence analysis, disciplinary/remedial action adjudication, and report writing.
• Analyze casework trends and produce strategic recommendations to the business to proactively address systemic issues.
• Support the creation and maintain standards around governance, case assignments, reporting and service level agreements.
• Use data to anticipate issues, identify opportunities, help design, and improve solutions that minimize reactive work.
• Help set up consistent processes for regular audits of ER cases, progressive discipline, separations, severance/unemployment, and restructuring activities.
• Collaborate, coach and influence leaders on critical elements of compliance, investigations outcomes and other ER matters.
• Stay current on business trends, HR and ER trends, employment law and the diversity and inclusion landscapes.
• Ensure operational excellence and develop a high-performance team.
• Work directly with internal and external partners to ensure a respectful and inclusive workplace culture.
• Drive innovation to solve both business and team member problems.
• Inspire, lead, and mentor your team members for their development and ensure accountability to both results and behaviors.
• Manage administration of labor contracts; provide interpretation of labor contracts to managers, employees and HR staff; oversee processes for review and resolution of employee grievances.
• Have in-depth knowledge of employee and labor relations trends, legal decisions, and statutory changes; in partnership with local HR teams, conduct research necessary to support contract negotiations.
• Use appropriate negotiation strategies to develop bargaining goals and negotiate contracts consistent with the company’s values and goals.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in Human Resources.
• 8+ years leading complex investigations.
• 8+ years of experience in labor relations including at least 5 years of experience as lead labor negotiator.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, demonstrating an ability to earn trust, dive deep and work successfully on a broad spectrum of employee and labor relations issues and business challenges.
• A strong grounding in labor and employment law, inclusive of union negotiations and investigative practices in Malaysia.
• Strong knowledge of labor relations and industrial relations court proceedings.
• Strong knowledge of RBA and internal audit processes.
• Passion for Talent Management and the Central Investigations processes.
• Strong project manager, capable of independently owning large-scale, network-wide projects. Demonstrates an inclusive leadership style and a commitment to equality.
• Experience developing high performing teams.
• Experience working in a global company leading cross-functional regional and global projects of significant scope, complexity, and of a highly sensitive nature.
• Demonstrated success leading programs and driving process improvements.
• High attention to detail including precise and effective customer communications and proven ability to manage multiple, competing priorities simultaneously.
• Proven record of accomplishment of confident communication and management of stakeholders across all levels of an organization, including the ability to propose complex solutions and explanations in writing.
• Able to demonstrate sound judgment even in ambiguous or stressful situations.
• Able to identify and anticipate client needs and make recommendations for implementation.
• The ability to understand business goals and recommend new approaches, policies, and procedures to drive continuous improvement.
• Robust understanding of key HR concepts and practices (employment law, compliance, engagement, retention, and performance).
• Due to the nature of the work within the organization, very short notice domestic and international travel may be required.
• With international activities, conference calls in the early morning or late evenings are a normal course of business. Flexibility on both your part and the company’s is expected.
• Many activities within your organization are highly sensitive in nature and will require discretion.
• Law Degree highly preferred.
• Experience in a manufacturing environment a plus.
• Knowledge of China and other APAC countries’ labor and employment law a plus.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

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Western Digital thrives on the power and potential of diversity. As a global company, we believe the most effective way to embrace the diversity of our customers and communities is to mirror it from within. We believe the fusion of various perspectives results in the best outcomes for our employees, our company, our customers, and the world around us. We are committed to an inclusive environment where every individual can thrive through a sense of belonging, respect and contribution.