Europe Labor Relations Leader

Job Description Summary

Advice and leadership on employee and union or works council relations. Advises management on legal/labour law/regulatory issues and risk management. Possesses in-depth knowledge and proven experience of labor relations legal frameworks at European and country levels. Significant experience with negotiation and consultation with employee representative bodies across Europe and advising on labor relations strategy and engagement, including negotiations and dispute resolution. Stays updated on best practices, macro trends, and legal and regulatory changes in labor and employee relations in Europe.

Location: Remote/Flexible in Europe.

Role Summary

The Europe Labor Relations Leader will provide leadership and execution for programs, projects, and initiatives supporting GE Vernova’s labor and employee relations strategies and business priorities across Europe. This role is responsible for managing the GE Vernova European Works Council, advising business and HR leadership on material preparation, process timing, engagement, and attendance at meetings. It involves liaising with country Labour Relations to align consultation and engagement and advising communications teams as needed. The role will develop standard work for information, consultation, and negotiation in all European labor relations engagements, including preparations for wage negotiations and business change/restructuring. Collaboration with the L&E legal function is crucial for ensuring compliance and adapting to evolving labor relations environments and risks. This role will also serve as a key liaison with Segment HR teams, Vernova HQ HR, People Operations, and other Global Functions to deliver high-quality labor and employee relations projects.

Responsibilities

• Manage and lead the European Works Council, enabling GEV labor and employee relations strategy by leading European-level projects in support of the CoE’s mission. Ensure alignment and execution of a holistic labor relations strategy across Segments.
• Liaise and ensure consistency and coordination across businesses on project proposals, information and consultation processes, implementation, and deployment of change.
• Develop standard work for preparing business changes requiring information and consultation.
• Develop Front Line Leadership training for People Leaders and HR to support best practice guidance on employee engagement, communication, and management of change.
• Lead planning and execution of L&ER projects, including transformation and restructuring programs, M&A/BD activity, consultations and negotiations, and trainings and programs, ensuring cross-segment alignment.
• Actively participate as a member of the L&ER COE team, taking responsibility for priorities that enable the CoE’s goals.
• Utilize lean tools within the lean culture to champion GE Vernova’s transformation.
• Identify and share best practices.
• Assist in providing governance by maintaining data and metrics.
• Partner with HR professionals to drive initiatives.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Industrial Relations, or a related discipline, or equivalent knowledge/experience.
• Demonstrated European experience operating multiple change projects in a complex organization.
• Experience managing a European Works Council and/or multiple country-level works councils (Group structure or other).
• Experience managing labor relations on a cross-jurisdictional basis to drive consistency, build a team to identify strategic priorities, and deliver meaningful change and support for business operations.
• Minimum significant experience of increasing HR responsibility (with emphasis on LR or ER in a Production, Maintenance, and/or Services environment).
• Demonstrated ability to make independent decisions, manage conflicting priorities in a fast-paced environment, and effectively interface at all organizational levels.
• Outstanding interpersonal and relationship-building skills and a customer-focused, “team first” mindset.
• Outstanding verbal and written communication skills, including strong PowerPoint and presentation skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Process and detail-oriented, including strong organizational and prioritization skills.
• Ability to travel ~35%+ of the time.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience operating at a European level in a complex/matrixed organization.
• Advanced degree in HR management, Law, or Industrial Relations, or equivalent knowledge/experience (such as MBA, MHR/IR, etc.).
• Experience driving business solutions through influence and collaboration in a matrixed organization.
• Resourceful, innovative, persuasive.