Director of Human Resources
Northbrook, Illinois (3-5 days onsite)
Summary
The Director of Human Resources is a strategic and operational leader responsible for developing and executing people-focused initiatives that support the organization’s business objectives. This role plays a key part in organizational design, talent development, and workforce planning.
Working closely with senior leadership, the Director translates business priorities into effective HR strategies, leverages data to inform decision-making, and drives initiatives that strengthen talent acquisition, development, and retention.
This individual thrives in a fast-paced, intellectually demanding environment and serves as a trusted advisor and coach to leaders across the organization. The Director oversees the Human Resources Generalist.
Key Responsibilities
- Collaborate with senior leaders to evaluate and optimize organizational structure in alignment with strategic and growth objectives
- Design and refine scalable frameworks for career progression, goal alignment, and performance management
- Lead compensation planning, benefits strategy, and workforce planning to attract and retain high-performing talent
- Use data-driven insights to inform people strategies, guide leadership decisions, and promote a people-centered culture
- Act as a strategic advisor in executive conversations, identifying trends, risks, and opportunities within the organization
- Drive initiatives that enhance employee engagement, strengthen leadership effectiveness, and support overall organizational health
- Manage employee relations matters with professionalism, discretion, and sound judgment to ensure fair and consistent outcomes
- Oversee HR compliance, policies, systems, and documentation to ensure operational excellence and regulatory alignment
- Supervise and mentor the Human Resources Generalist to ensure efficient execution of HR programs and processes
- Coordinate with external partners, including legal counsel and consultants, on specialized matters such as compensation analysis, investigations, and compliance
Qualifications
- 6–10 years of progressive Human Resources experience preferably at a financial services firm
- Demonstrated success building and implementing scalable HR systems
- Strong communication and coaching capabilities
- Strategic thinker with a hands-on approach
- High integrity, emotional intelligence, and strong business judgment
