Associate Director, Human Resources

Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 105,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Benefits starting day one of your job

Free admission for family and friends

Free parking in museum garage

Job summary

The Griffin Museum of Science and Industry is seeking an Associate Director, Human Resources to partner with leaders and HR colleagues to build a high-performance organization and inclusive culture. This role serves as a change agent with influence across the museum, defining capabilities for the future and shaping people programs.

Responsibilities include policy development, employee relations, talent development, recruitment support, and managing ADP & Culture Amp systems.

Qualifications

• Seven to ten years of HR generalist experience, with 4+ years in people/team management.
• Bachelors degree in Human Resources or related field.
• Strong knowledge of HR functions: recruitment, compensation, benefits, L&D, org design, and employee/labor relations.
• Team player with ability to collaborate across functions and disciplines and knowledge of employment laws.

Responsibilities

• Partner with business unit leaders, managers and HR colleagues to build a high-performance organization.
• Act as influencer and change agent across the institution and advocate for change.
• Develop and deliver policies and programs; manage employee relations and unemployment processes.
• Lead Administrator for ADP and Culture Amp; manage annual and mid-year performance processes.
• Develop talent management, learning, development initiatives and programs.
• Provide guidance on compensation, market pricing, and policy interpretation.

Skills

HR Generalist

People Management

Collaboration

Communication

Employment Law

Education

Bachelors in HR

Tools

ADP

Culture Amp

Excel

Word

Job description

About Us

The Griffin Museum of Science and Industry is the largest and most interactive science museum in the Western Hemisphere. Griffin Museum of Science and Industry (Griffin MSI) exposes guests of all ages to awe-inspiring exhibitions that spark curiosity and bring science to life. Griffin MSI’s mission – to inspire the inventive genius in everyone – is realized through its world-class exhibitions and engaging guest experiences. The Griffin Museum of Science and Industry provides programs and experiences that deepen the engagement of students and teachers in science and science-related disciplines, with a vision to inspire and motivate our children to achieve their full potential in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math.

We offer a creative, collaborative, and innovative environment for our employees. Our employees get great perks such as: benefits starting day one of your employment, free admission to Griffin MSI for family and friends, free admission to other museums, free parking in Griffin MSI’s garage and more! If you are equally passionate about our vision and want to be surrounded by a team of dynamic, smart and innovative people, the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry is the right place for you!

The Job

The Associate Director, Human Resources will partner closely with business unit leaders, managers and HR colleagues to ensure the building of a high-performance organization and culture. In addition, this person will serve as a partner in building an inclusive culture, assisting with defining capabilities for the future and be advocate for change with a high degree of influence.

Responsibilities

• Build exceptional trust and partnerships with business leaders.
• Serve as influencer and change agent across the institution.
• Serve as proactive agent and contributor in the development and delivery of policies and programs across the museum.
• Manage employee/labor relations issues, including conflict resolution, disciplinary actions and improvement as well as the unemployment process.
• Serve as primary HR contact for Union matters and grievances.
• Proactively identify employee development training and compliance needs and work to develop methods and programs to meet the needs of the business. Serve as lead and point person for delivery.
• Primary Administrator, ADP & Culture Amp
• Lead mid-year and annual performance review process
• Build talent management, learning, and development initiatives and programs.
• Provide expertise to the business in the areas of employee relations, employee development, organizational development, compensation and market pricing and more.
• Build exceptional trust and partnerships with business leaders.
• Work with the business in resource planning, including recruiting, organizational design, job evaluation, definition and assisting with goal setting, advancement and compensation processes (internal and market) within the business.
• Actively capture, analyze and report data/metrics to identify HR needs within the business, with an eye toward developing solutions.
• Provide backup HR to HR colleagues.
• Work with the business in resource planning, including recruiting, organizational design, and assisting with the goal setting, advancement and compensation processes within the business
• Coach, lead and mentor employees and leaders to support business objectives
• Oversee and manage the Employee Engagement, Professional Development and Talent functions.
• Provide HR policy guidance and interpretation
• Actively capture, analyze and report data/metrics to identify HR needs within the business, with an eye toward developing possible solutions
• Manage employee/labor relations issues, including conflict resolution, disciplinary actions and improvement and exit strategies, and unemployment process.
• Proactively identify employee development training and compliance needs for and work to develop methods and programs to meet the needs of the business
• Support the HR team and department in various projects and initiatives.
• Other duties as assigned.

Key Competencies

• Collaborative: Seeks out and includes other’s strengths and proactively assists team members.
• Communicative: Delivers tailored communication transparently that inspires others to act, while providing a larger vision behind choices, changes, or decisions.
• Decisive: Consistently focused on top priorities while completing work with integrity and high standards.
• Inclusive: Ensures a sense of belonging for all by creating opportunities that include previously excluded voices and removes barriers to full inclusion.
• Innovative: Offers/implements ideas that challenge the status quo and continually pushes the Museum to grow.
• Solution-oriented: Develops solutions for difficult problems and brings clarity to ambiguous situations.
• Trustworthy: Works with integrity and supports/encourages others, whether it’s during regular day-to-day interactions or difficult situations.

Qualifications

• Seven (7) to ten (10) years of HR generalist experience with 4+ years people/team management experience.
• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources or a related field is required.
• Strong knowledge and having worked directly with all aspects of HR: recruitment, compensation, benefits, L&D, organizational design and employee /labor relations is required
• Must be a team player and able to work across multiple functions and disciplines and possess strong collaboration skills
• Must have and maintain a knowledge of employment law and regulations
• Strong Word and Excel skills required

Language

• Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, scripts, standard operating procedures, etc.
• Ability to speak effectively before groups of guests and employees.

Physical

• While performing the duties of this job the employee is regularly required to speak loudly and clearly
• The employee frequently is required to stand, walk, and reach with hands and arms.
• The employee is occasionally required to sit; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and taste or smell.
• The employee may occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment

• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

The salary range for this position is $105,000 - $120,000.

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans
• An attractive time off program including vacation, sick, and personal days
• 10 Company Holidays
• 401(k) plans (Traditional and Roth) including a generous employer match
• Robust Voluntary benefit plans including transportation, legal, and many others
• Free onsite garage parking

This position was posted on 11/5/2026

Our Inclusion and Belonging Statement

The Griffin Museum of Science and Industry is committed to advancing diversity, equity, accessibility and inclusion across our workforce, experiences, and day-to-day operations. As Griffin MSI employees, we are each responsible for making the Museum a welcoming place externally for guests and internally for our colleagues within the scope of our roles.

Griffin MSI is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer, which includes providing equal opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.