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Employee Relations Associate Jobs in Iowa (NOW HIRING)

The Marzetti Company

Sr. HR Generalist

Altoona, IA · On-site

$66K - $85K/yr

Employee Relations & Associate Engagement: * Drives employee engagement, ensuring that employees voices are heard, suggestions are addressed, and continuous improvement actions are taken * Serve as ...

Cole Haan

Sales Associate

Altoona, IA · On-site

$13.50 - $18.25/hr

Contribute to positive employee relations through effective communication, teamwork and partnership with co-worker and the management team. * Able to effectively communicate in verbal and written ...

CFS

HR Manager

Newton, IA

... associates • Lead employee relations, engagement, and diversity & inclusion initiatives • Oversee compensation programs, staffing, and workforce planning • Ensure compliance with employment ...

Nestle

Warehouse Supervisor

Waverly, IA

Maintain positive employee relations, open communication while resolving employee discipline or ... and associates are using the appropriate PPE. Assure activities being performed having an ...

Randy's Flooring

Be Seen First

Payroll Specialist

Coralville, IA · On-site

$50K - $55K/yr

Handle employee relations issues with effective conflict management strategies while maintaining ... Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, HR, or related field preferred

Magna

Generalist, Human Resources

Victor, IA

Able to work well with others; build and maintain positive employee relations * Able to prepare ... Office environment with regular interactions with associates in a manufacturing environment ...

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All JobsEmployee Relations Associate JobsEmployee Relations Associate Jobs in Iowa

Employee Relations Associate information

See Iowa salary details

$23.5K

$44.2K

$62.9K

How much do employee relations associate jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 9, 2026, the average yearly pay for employee relations associate in Iowa is $44,229.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $37,600.00 and $47,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does an Employee Relations Associate do?

An Employee Relations Associate is responsible for supporting a healthy work environment by addressing employee concerns, mediating workplace conflicts, and ensuring compliance with company policies and labor laws. They assist in investigations related to complaints or grievances, help implement employee engagement programs, and advise both employees and management on best practices for workplace relations. Their goal is to foster positive relationships and maintain a productive, respectful workplace.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Employee Relations Associate, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Employee Relations Associate, you need a solid understanding of HR policies, employment law, and conflict resolution, typically supported by a degree in human resources or a related field. Familiarity with HR information systems (HRIS), case management tools, and certifications like SHRM-CP or PHR are often preferred. Exceptional interpersonal skills, discretion, and the ability to mediate sensitive situations make someone stand out in this role. These skills are crucial for fostering a fair, compliant, and productive workplace while minimizing organizational risk.

What types of cases or issues does an Employee Relations Associate typically handle on a daily basis?

As an Employee Relations Associate, you will frequently address matters such as workplace conflicts, employee grievances, investigations into policy violations, and performance management concerns. Your day-to-day responsibilities may include conducting interviews, documenting findings, providing guidance to managers on HR policies, and ensuring compliance with labor laws. You'll also collaborate closely with HR business partners, legal teams, and department managers to facilitate fair resolutions and foster a positive workplace environment.

What is the difference between Employee Relations Associate vs HR Coordinator?

AspectEmployee Relations AssociateHR Coordinator
Required CredentialsBachelor's degree in HR, Business, or related field; HR certifications beneficialBachelor's degree; HR certifications advantageous
Work EnvironmentFocus on employee engagement, conflict resolution, and communicationAssist with HR administrative tasks, onboarding, and record-keeping
Employer & Industry UsageUsed in various industries to manage employee relations and workplace cultureCommon in corporate HR departments handling administrative HR functions

The Employee Relations Associate primarily handles employee engagement, conflict resolution, and workplace communication, focusing on maintaining positive employee relations. In contrast, the HR Coordinator supports administrative HR functions like onboarding, record management, and policy implementation. While both roles require similar educational backgrounds and HR knowledge, their core responsibilities differ, with the Employee Relations Associate emphasizing employee well-being and the HR Coordinator focusing on HR operations.

What are the most commonly searched types of Employee Relations jobs in Iowa? The most popular types of Employee Relations jobs in Iowa are:
Employee Relations Associate jobs near you
Infographic showing various Employee Relations Associate job openings in Iowa as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 48% Full Time, 50% Part Time, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 97% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $44,229 per year, or $21.3 per hour.

Sr. HR Generalist

The Marzetti Company

Altoona, IA • On-site

$66K - $85K/yr

Full-time

Posted 19 days ago

Job description

About Us
The Marzetti Company (Nasdaq: MZTI) manufactures and sells specialty food products. Our retail brands include Marzetti® dressings and dips, New York Bakery™ garlic breads, and Sister Schubert's® dinner rolls, in addition to exclusive license agreements for Olive Garden® dressings, Chick-fil-A® sauces and dressings, Buffalo Wild Wings® sauces, Arby's® sauces, Subway® sauces, and Texas Roadhouse® steak sauces and frozen rolls. Our foodservice business supplies sauces, dressings, breads, and pasta to many of the top restaurant chains in the United States.
At Marzetti, our mission is to make every meal better through high-quality, flavorful food. Led by our purpose, to nourish growth with all that we do, our team members are dedicated to creating great tasting food and cultivating deep and lasting relationships.
Overview
We kindly request that recruitment agencies and staffing firms refrain from submitting unsolicited resumes to our company. Any resumes sent without a prior agreement and access to proper submittal into the ATS will be considered the property of The Marzetti Company, and we reserve the right to contact those candidates without any obligation to pay a fee.
The Senior Human Resources Generalist serves as the HR Business Partner for on-site leaders and associates across 3 plants in the IA area (Altoona, Clive, IA Cold Storage). This role provides strategic and hands-on HR support for approximately 200 associates and 10 leaders across all plants.
Operating with a high degree of autonomy, the Sr. HR Generalist partners closely with operations, safety, and HR leadership to build a culture of trust, care, and accountability. The role ensures consistent execution of HR strategies that drive retention, employee engagement, performance, and compliance - while supporting Marzetti's Growth Behaviors and People Strategy.
Responsibilities
Building Capability & Leadership Support:
  • Leads learning and development strategies aligned with business goals, including leadership development and succession planning.
  • Partners with management to implement initiatives that support growth, change management, and workforce optimization.
  • Supports and influences organizational design, change management, and workforce strategy tied to cultural transformation and operational excellence.
  • Partner with the site HR Leaders and Plant Leadership Teams to align people strategies with operational priorities and business outcomes.
  • Coach and influence leaders to model Marzetti's Growth Behaviors and uphold company values of Hunger, Respect, Courage, and Humility.
  • Partner with site HR Leaders on succession planning, high-potential identification, and development strategies.
  • Advises leaders on policy interpretation, performance management, and consistent application of HR practices.

Employee Relations & Associate Engagement:
  • Drives employee engagement, ensuring that employees voices are heard, suggestions are addressed, and continuous improvement actions are taken
  • Serve as primary point of contact for weekend employee relations issues, ensuring timely and fair resolution.
  • Lead onboarding, assimilation, and early engagement efforts for weekend shift new hires to drive retention success.
  • Build trust and connection through visible HR presence and employee communications: from Town Halls to beginning of shift meetings, ensuring that clear and consistent messages are shared between leadership and the workforce.
  • Coaches and counsels leaders and employees on employee relations matters consistent with company policies, legal considerations and company priorities, serving as an advocate for both employee and company concerns.
  • Partner with leadership to analyze and act on engagement data, driving improvement in retention and satisfaction

Talent Acquisition:
  • Partners with HR Manager, Talent Acquisition, and business leaders to forecast weekend talent needs and build strategic pipelines.
  • Analyzes talent metrics to improve hiring outcomes and retention strategies.
  • Identifies and supports ongoing activity related to succession planning.

Culture & Organizational Health
  • Champion an inclusive, positive, and high-performing work environment across both facilities
  • Reinforce Marzetti's "Better Together" mindset by fostering collaboration between weekday and weekend teams.
  • Identify opportunities to enhance recognition, communication, and development across all shifts.
  • Support implementation of organizational development, training, and retention initiatives led by Corporate HR and Supply Chain People Strategy.

Total Rewards Management
  • Collaborates with Total Rewards and sit HR leaders to implement and communicate compensation and benefits programs.
  • In partnership with the site HR leaders, guides leaders through performance calibration processes and strategic compensation reviews, aligning talent outcomes with performance expectations.
  • Acts as a resource for pay equity reviews and supports initiatives to ensure internal fairness and market competitiveness.

Other Responsibilities
  • Ensures compliance to all federal, state and local laws and company policies.
  • Lead proactive audit readiness and compliance with wage/hour, attendance and employee recordkeeping standards
  • Ensures compliance to quality, food safety, 5S, OSHA and HACCP support programs; assures conformity to all company, customer and government standards.
  • Collaborate with HR Manager to ensure timely and accurate HR transactions, reporting and communications.

Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business, or related field (or equivalent experience); Master's degree preferred
  • 5-7 years of progressive HR experience, preferably within manufacturing or supply chain environments
  • Strong business acumen and experience coaching and supporting operations leaders in a 24/7 or multi-shift environment.
  • Skilled in conflict resolution, organizational change, and leadership development
  • Strong knowledge of employment law, employee relations, performance management, and compliance
  • Proficient in HRIS systems and Microsoft Office
  • Exceptional communication skills (verbal and written)
  • Ability to manage multiple tasks efficiently.
  • Ability to work independently and work with minimal supervision.
  • PHR/SPHR or SHRM-CP/SHRM-SCP certification strongly preferred

Working Conditions/Environment
Works in an office environment with regular presence on the production floor in accordance with company expectations and guidelines. The associate will be required to speak, see, hear, sit, stand, walk, and bend while moving about the facility. The associate is occasionally exposed to fumes, odors, dust, oil, slippery floors. The noise level in the office is moderate and loud in the facility. Steel-toed shoes and high visibility workwear are required in the facility in accordance with company GMP and safety standards. Weekend shift schedule (4x10) designed to provide direct HR partnership during critical weekend operations.

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