Employee Relations Manager Iberia

CHEP helps move more goods to more people, in more places than any other organization on earth via our 347 million pallets, crates and containers. We employ approximately 13,000 people and operate in 60 countries. Through our pioneering and sustainable share-and-reuse business model, the world’s biggest brands trust us to help them transport their goods more efficiently, safely and with less environmental impact. 
What does that mean for you? You’ll join an international organization big enough to take you anywhere, and small enough to get you there sooner. You’ll help change how goods get to market and contribute to global sustainability. You’ll be empowered to bring your authentic self to work and be surrounded by diverse and driven professionals. And you can maximize your work-life balance and flexibility through our Hybrid Work Model.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities May Include:

• Develop and maintain strong partnerships with HR, business leaders, employees, and union representatives, ensuring open communication and collaboration on employee relations matters.
• Act as the subject matter expert on regional employment laws and union relations, providing guidance on compliance, legal requirements, and best practices.
• Conduct thorough investigations into employee inquiries, complaints, legal reviews, and compliance issues, ensuring timely and accurate resolution.
• Partner with the legal team to address complex or escalated cases, aligning on corrective actions and strategies to mitigate risks.
• Support labor union relations by managing grievance administration, collective bargaining processes, mediation, conflict resolution, and arbitration, ensuring positive outcomes and compliance with agreements.
• Respond to union requests for information and data, and provide consultation and support for union contracts, agreements, policies, and administration, while supporting union avoidance campaigns where applicable.
• Manage escalated cases related to leaves of absence and return-to-work processes, ensuring compliance with legal and company policies.
• Provide advice and guidance on employee relations cases, partnering with HRBPs to conduct investigations and implement recommended corrective actions.
• Design and deliver performance management training for managers, ensuring consistent application of performance management processes across the organization.
• Support HRBPs in developing and tracking Performance Improvement Plans (PIPs), monitoring progress, and closing PIPs as necessary.
• Lead the process for initiating separation agreements in coordination with HRBPs and legal, ensuring alignment with legal and organizational policies.

Qualifications :

Bachelor’s Degree in business, human resources, sociology, labor relations, and/or equivalent work experience.

Languages: Spanish native English – advanced level .

Skills & Knowledge:

• Excellent stakeholder management and coaching skills; able to influence without authority. Negotiation and conflict mediation.

Strong judgement and ability to assess complex employee issues objectively and confidentially.

• Clear written and verbal communication; strong documentation and reporting skills.

• Problem-solving and root cause analysis; able to identify trends and recommend preventative actions.

• High integrity, discretion and commitment to respectful workplace culture.

• Ability to work collaboratively across HR and the business, with a pragmatic and service oriented mindset.

• ER data literacy: trend analysis, severity mapping, drivers of engagement/turnover; data storytelling.

• Strong knowledge of Spanish labour law and familiarity with EU frameworks.

• Decision Quality

• Drive for Results

• Dealing with Ambiguity

• Priority Setting

• Listening

Experience:

Minimum 7 years’ experience in Employee Relations / HRBP with substantial ER case exposure.

• Demonstrated experience conducting workplace investigations and managing sensitive ER matters.

• Solid working knowledge of Spanish & Portuguese employment legislation and HR policy application.

• Experience supporting operational HR processes (performance, probation, employee lifecycle, benefits administration/governance, succession inputs).

• Proven ability to manage multiple cases/projects with strong prioritisation and time management.

• Working with employee representatives, consultations, and negotiations.

• Designing prevention plans and data‑driven ER dashboards.

• Training managers in ER (programme design, delivery, and impact evaluation).

• Operating in global matrix environments and pan‑European projects.

Remote Type

Hybrid Remote

Skills to succeed in the role

Adaptability, Empathy, Employee Experience, Employee Relations Investigations, Experimentation, Human Resource Case Management, Human Resources (HR) Policies, Industrial Relations, Organizational Change Management, Performance Management (PM), Relationship Building, Taking Ownership, Teamwork, Understand Customers, Work Performance

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, and we are committed to developing a diverse workforce in which everyone is treated fairly, with respect, and has the opportunity to contribute to business success while realizing his or her potential. This means harnessing the unique skills and experience that each individual brings and we do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state, or local protected class.

Individuals fraudulently misrepresenting themselves as Brambles or CHEP representatives have scheduled interviews and offered fraudulent employment opportunities with the intent to commit identity theft or solicit money. Brambles and CHEP never conduct interviews via online chat or request money as a term of employment. If you have a question as to the legitimacy of an interview or job offer, please contact us at [email protected].