Associate Relations Country Lead - Southern Cone

Within the Mars Global Services Division, the Associate Relations Country Lead for the LATAM region plays a pivotal, highly visible role in leading a remote team of Associate Relations professionals supporting a cross segment, cross functional client base. Responsibilities include relationship management (i.e. unions/works councils), resolution of complex AR issues, identifying and managing high risk situations, organizational change support and building AR capability and leveraging data to inform people strategies.

The role is responsible for proactively driving continuous improvement in AR that increases effectiveness while creating an environment of engagement, fair treatment and trust aligned with our Five Principles and Associate Concept.  It ensures the development of AR functional skills to build a robust talent pipeline.  This position is responsible for supporting the ongoing evolution of MyP&O by collaborating with clients, P&O Business Partners, Labor Relations, Legal Counsel, and other internal partners to provide advice, coaching and act as a proactive consultant to the business.   
 

This is a Hybrid role based out of Don Torcuato, Buenos Aires.

Key Responsabilities:

Relationship Management

• Safeguard the corporate culture by consistently applying Mars's Five Principles and The Associate Concept in guiding the business and coaching line managers.
• Build sustainable relationships through active stakeholder management with Line Managers, P&O Business Partners, Legal, Unions, site leadership, global security and MyP&O partners.
• Lead collective bargaining process including contract negotiations with local unions.
• Leverage AR insights to influence the enterprise people strategy with stakeholders.

Issue Resolution

• Coach and guide employees when escalations of complex, high risk issues occur.
• Leverage sound judgement and AR expertise in people decisions, applying consistency with appropriate flexibility.
• Review and approve all separations, severance/redundancy options and transition assistance.
• Perform investigations/fact findings and ensure issues are resolved fairly, objectively, and in compliance with country, province/state and local employment law and collective bargaining agreements; always aligned to The Five Principles and The Associate Concept.
• Analyze and evaluate investigative findings and apply to a resolution that considers the employees and business needs.
• In partnership with legal counsel, represent the business in legal, union and governmental proceedings.

Organization Change Initiatives

• This role provides the expertise and identifies the optimum methodology for the implementation of OD changes.
• Engage with key stakeholders to provide observations, insights and recommendations during organization change initiatives.
• Leads deployment of AR resources during organization initiatives (re-org, merger, acquisition, divesture).

Capability & Insights

• Leverage AR analytics to develop recommendations for key stakeholders that influence and guide actions against the people strategy.
• Balance managing individual cases with addressing AR strategy.
• Lead a team of Assocaiate Relations professionals. Responsible for team engagement, performance evaluation and employee development.
• Analyze associate relations trends to ensure root cause/broader issues are identified and determine proactive approaches to effectively reduce activity and sustain results.
• Provide regular coaching, counselling to senior managers and HR partners in areas related to employment law, performance management and collective bargaining agreements.
• Improve employee relations acumen by training and educating partners and clients.
• Develop and maintain a working knowledge of federal and local legal developments.

Team Leadership

• Manage the performance and service of the Associate Relations team.
• Foster a high performing culture that enables the team to achieve metrics and goals.
• Educate and coach team members, P&O partners, and clients.
• Lead capability building across the employee relations team.
• Oversee investigations, evaluate findings, and approve recommended actions.
• Resolve complex organizational level disputes and conflicts in collaboration with Business Partners.
• Represent the business on various labor relations topics with support of legal counsel.
• Build sustainable relationships with key stakeholders.
• Provide counsel to business leadership on Employee Relations topics to drive proactive issue identification and risk mitigation.
• Leverage knowledge of best practices, leading labor relations practices, and regulatory developments to identify areas of opportunities.

Requirements:

• Have a minimum of an University degree in Human Resources, Labor/Industrial Relations, Law or in related fields.
• 8+ years of progressive experience working in an Employee Relations, Labor Relations role.
• Previous team leading experience is required.
• In-depth knowledge required on applicable employment and labor relations regulations and laws.
• Experience interacting and developing relationships with all levels of collaborators, from junior profiles up to senior management, managing expectations, resolving conflicts, providing information, among other tasks.
• Full professional proficiency in English is required; additional regional language skills (Spanish/Portuguese) are highly preferred.