Labor Relations Manager

Location: Burns Harbor, IN

Cleveland-Cliffs Steel has an immediate opportunity for a Labor Relations Manager at our Burns Harbor facility. In this role, you will serve as a trusted advisor to plant leadership, helping to strengthen labor-management relationships, administer collective bargaining agreements, and support a productive, engaged workforce. This is an opportunity to make a direct impact by partnering with operations and union leadership to address complex workplace issues, manage labor risk, and support business success in a highly visible manufacturing environment.

Summary of Responsibilities

• Lead the administration and interpretation of collective bargaining agreements and labor relations practices across assigned operations.
• Manage grievances, investigations, and dispute resolution activities while developing effective company positions and recommendations.
• Advise plant leaders on contract administration, employee relations, workforce issues, attendance management, and corrective action matters.
• Represent the company in arbitrations, labor disputes, NLRB proceedings, unemployment hearings, EEOC matters, and other employment-related proceedings.
• Lead collective bargaining activities, including negotiation strategy, contract proposals, counterproposals, and settlement recommendations.
• Build productive working relationships with union leadership, employee representatives, and operational management.
• Analyze labor trends and workforce metrics, identify opportunities for improvement, and deliver labor relations training to leaders and supervisors.
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Labor Relations, Business Administration, Industrial Relations, or a related field.
• Minimum of seven years of progressive labor relations experience in a unionized manufacturing, industrial, mining, or heavy industry environment.
• Experience administering collective bargaining agreements and managing complex grievance and arbitration matters.
• Strong knowledge of labor and employment laws, including the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA).
• Experience advising and influencing leaders at multiple organizational levels.
• Strong communication, negotiation, presentation, and relationship-building skills.
• Proven analytical, problem-solving, conflict-resolution, and coaching abilities.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Ability to work effectively in a highly unionized, heavy industrial environment.
• Applicants must be currently legally authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Labor, Industrial Relations, Human Resources, Business Administration, or a Juris Doctor degree
• Ten or more years of labor relations experience in a unionized environment.
• Experience serving as a lead spokesperson or negotiator during collective bargaining.
• Leadership experience managing or mentoring labor relations professionals.
• Advanced knowledge of federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations.
• Experience within the steel, mining, manufacturing, or heavy industrial sectors.
• Demonstrated success developing labor relations strategies that support operational performance and positive employee relations.

Cleveland-Cliffs is a leading North America-based steel producer with focus on value-added sheet products, particularly for the automotive industry. The Company is vertically integrated from the mining of iron ore, production of pellets and direct reduced iron, and processing of ferrous scrap through primary steelmaking and downstream finishing, stamping, tooling, and tubing. We offer an excellent total compensation package, including competitive pay with variable compensation opportunity, health insurance, retirement plan, education assistance, paid time off, and more. 

Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please send an e-mail to [email protected] or call 1-(312) 899-3097 and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Do not email your application materials to this email address. Application materials sent to this email address will not be considered.

Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. is an equal opportunity employer – M/F/Veteran/Disability. We are a drug-free workplace and conduct pre-employment screening as a condition of employment.