Principal Labor Relations Specialist

Application close date:

Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the requisition is closed.

At Blue Origin, we envision millions of people living and working in space for the benefit of Earth. We’re working to develop reusable, safe, and low-cost space vehicles and systems within a culture of safety, collaboration, and inclusion. Join our team of problem solvers as we add new chapters to the history of spaceflight!  

This role is part of Blue Origin corporate functions, providing centralized support across Blue Origin business unit teams, functions, and locations.

Blue Origin is assembling the leadership team that will enable humanity's future in space. As the company's Principal Labor Relations Specialist you will serve as the subject matter expert, you'll operate as a contributor responsible for all stages of the employee life cycle including onboarding, offboarding, employee relations, operations, HRIS management, balanced workplace practices, and partnering with functional and business units across Blue Origin.  In this role you will transact employment actions, ensure compliance, and empower our workforce. 

This role is critical in the HR Employee Experience-Employee Relations organization. You will be instrumental in cultivating a workplace culture defined by fairness, compliance, and unwavering integrity. Your role will involve spearheading complex, high-profile employee relations matters, ensuring consistent resolutions that seamlessly align with our policies, values, and legal obligations. You'll be at the forefront of developing and implementing HR programs and processes that significantly enhance the employee experience and bolster leadership capabilities across the organization.

Your deep expertise in employee relations, investigations, and emerging workplace trends will position you as a trusted advisor, providing strategic guidance to leadership and shaping key HR initiatives that drive positive employee experiences. This pivotal role will work in close collaboration with Human Resources to elevate and refine the overall employee journey.

In this position, you'll directly support and influence executive leaders and employees throughout the organization, demanding an exceptional level of discretion, analytical acumen, and the ability to navigate sensitive situations with utmost professionalism and confidence.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Labor Strategy Leadership

• Establish and implement comprehensive labor relations frameworks tailored to each manufacturing site's unique workforce dynamics and regulatory requirements
• Lead cross-functional teams to create standardized policies while allowing necessary site-specific adaptations for Alabama, Florida, and Washington locations
• Develop proactive labor strategies that support business growth objectives while maintaining positive employee relations
• Partner with site leadership to identify potential labor challenges and implement preventative measures
• Create and maintain labor relations roadmaps that align with organizational strategic initiatives and growth timelines

Collective Bargaining Support

• Provide strategic counsel to negotiating teams during collective bargaining processes, ensuring alignment with business objectives
• Analyze industry trends and competitor agreements to inform bargaining positions and labor strategy
• Interpret collective bargaining agreement provisions and advise leadership on contract administration
• Support development of management proposals that balance operational needs with employee concerns
• Facilitate resolution of contract interpretation disputes and grievances through effective collaboration with union representatives

Employee Relations Excellence

• Lead sensitive, high-profile investigations involving executive team members, ensuring thorough, fair, and confidential processes
• Design and implement conflict resolution frameworks that promote constructive dialogue and sustainable solutions
• Provide expert consultation on complex disciplinary matters, ensuring consistency and compliance
• Identify systemic workplace culture issues and develop targeted intervention strategies
• Partner with executives to integrate employee relations best practices into leadership approaches and organizational values

Compliance & Risk Management

• Monitor and interpret evolving labor legislation across multiple jurisdictions to ensure organizational compliance
• Conduct comprehensive risk assessments for proposed labor relations initiatives and recommend appropriate mitigation strategies
• Establish compliance audit protocols to proactively identify and address potential labor relations vulnerabilities
• Collaborate with Legal, Safety, and Operations teams to develop integrated approaches to compliance challenges
• Design and implement reporting mechanisms that track compliance metrics and provide early warning of potential issues

Strategic Workforce Analytics and Leadership Development

• Deploy sophisticated analytics to identify workforce trends across locations, translate complex data into actionable insights, and develop predictive models based on historical data and industry benchmarks
• Establish measurement frameworks including key performance indicators to evaluate labor relations program effectiveness and regular workforce sentiment analysis to proactively address potential concerns
• Design comprehensive leadership resources including specialized training programs, toolkits, and one-on-one coaching for executives and managers handling complex labor relations matters
• Facilitate organizational knowledge sharing through leadership forums and mentoring relationships between experienced and developing leaders to build labor relations capability and share best practices

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Labor Relations, Business Administration, or a related field; advanced degree preferred
• 10+ years of progressive experience in labor relations, with demonstrated success in complex, multi-site environments
• Deep understanding of NLRA, NLRB processes, employment laws, and investigative methodologies
• Experience advising senior leadership on labor strategy, employee relations matters, and risk mitigation plans
• Exceptional negotiation, conflict resolution, and analytical problem-solving skills
• High level of integrity, discretion, and professionalism in handling sensitive workplace matters

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience in aerospace, manufacturing, or other highly regulated technical industries
• HR certifications (e.g., SHRM-SCP, SPHR) or legal background in employment law
• Experience in process improvement and/or project management
• Labor relations experience during periods of organizational growth or change
• Demonstrated success in developing and implementing labor relations training programs

 

Compensation Range for:

WA applicants is $152,484.00 - $213,477.60

Other site ranges may differ

Culture Statement

Don’t meet all desired requirements? Studies have shown that some people are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single desired qualification. At Blue Origin, we are dedicated to building an authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every desired qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

Export Control Regulations

Applicants for employment at Blue Origin must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (i.e. current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum.

Background Check

• Required for all positions: Blue’s Standard Background Check

• Required for Certain Job Profiles:  Defense Biometric Identification System (DBIDS) background check if at any time the role requires one to be on a military installation

• Required for Certain Job Profiles: Drivers who operate Commercial Motor Vehicles with a Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW), Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) or combination of power unit and trailer that meets or exceeds 10,001 lbs. and/or transports placardable amounts of hazardous materials by ground in any vehicle on a public road while in commerce, may be subject to additional Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations including: Driver Qualification Files, Medical Certification (obtained before onboarding), Road Test, Hours of Service, Drug and Alcohol Testing (CDL drivers only), vehicle inspection requirements, CDL requirements (if applicable) and hazardous materials transportation/shipping training.

• Required for certain Job Profiles: Ability to obtain and maintain Merchant Mariner Credential, which includes pre-employment and random drug testing as well as DOT physical

Benefits

• Benefits include:  Medical, dental, vision, basic and supplemental life insurance, paid parental leave, short and long-term disability, 401(k) with a company match of up to 5%, and an Education Support Program.

• Paid Time Off:  Up to four (4) weeks per year based on weekly scheduled hours, and up to 14 company-paid holidays.

• Dependent on role type and job level, employees may be eligible for benefits and bonuses based on the company's intent to reward individual contributions and enable them to share in the company's results, or other factors at the company's sole discretion. Bonus amounts and eligibility are not guaranteed and subject to change and cancellation. Please check with your recruiter for more details.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Blue Origin is proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and is committed to attracting, retaining, and developing a highly qualified and dedicated work force. Blue Origin hires and promotes people on the basis of their qualifications, performance, and abilities. We support the establishment and maintenance of a workplace that fosters trust, equality, and teamwork. We provide all qualified applicants for employment and employees with equal opportunities for hire, promotion, and other terms and conditions of employment, regardless of their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin/ethnicity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic factors, military/veteran status, or any other status or characteristic protected by federal, state, and/or local law. Blue Origin will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with applicable federal, state, and local laws, including the Washington Fair Chance Act, the California Fair Chance Act, the Los Angeles Fair Chance in Hiring Ordinance, and other applicable laws. For more information on “Know Your Rights,” please see here.

Affirmative Action and Disability Accommodation

Applicants wishing to receive information on Blue Origin’s Affirmative Action Plans, or applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in the application and/or interview process, please contact us at EEOCompliance@blueorigin.com. Please note this is a publicly managed inbox. Please do not include any personal medical information in your request.

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If you are a California resident, please reference the CA Applicant Privacy Notice here.