Associate Director, Human Resources

University of Chicago; United States; On-site; USD 95,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Chicago Booth School of Business is seeking an Associate Director, Human Resources to serve as an HR Partner for multiple departments, driving school-wide HR initiatives and ensuring effective execution of HR programs. The role requires proactive collaboration, adaptability, and a commitment to delivering high-quality HR services across the organization.

Key responsibilities include partnering with leadership, coaching leaders, supporting workforce planning, talent management,

Qualifications

• A college or university degree in related field.
• 5-7 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a strategic HR Business Partner to Booth leadership teams, aligning HR strategies with business objectives.
• Coach and develop assigned leaders to enhance effectiveness and leadership capability.
• Cover topics such as talent management, hiring, performance engagement, employee relations, corrective action, and separations.
• Assist with workforce planning, talent assessment, succession planning, compensation planning, and organizational design.
• Support talent strategies including workforce planning, acquisition, and onboarding.
• Leverage HR data and analytics to inform decision-making and drive process improvements.

Skills

Relationship-building

Stakeholder management

Strategic thinking

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Department Booth HR: HR Partners

About the Department The University of Chicago Booth School of Business is the second-oldest business school in the U.S. and second to none when it comes to influencing business education and business practices. Since 1898, the school has produced ideas and leaders that shape the world of business. Their rigorous, discipline-based approach to business education transforms students into confident, effective, respected business leaders prepared to face the toughest challenges. Chicago Booth has the finest set of facilities of any business school in the world. Each of the four campuses (two in Chicago, one in London, and one in Hong Kong) reflects the architectural traditions of its environs while offering a state-of-the-art learning environment. Chicago Booth is proud to claim: -an unmatched faculty. -degree and open enrollment programs offered on three continents. -a global body of nearly 56,000 accomplished alumni. -strong and growing corporate relationships that provide a wealth of lifelong career opportunities. At Booth, they constantly question and test ideas, and seek proof. This extraordinarily effective approach to business leads to new ideas and innovative solutions. Seven of the Booth faculty members have won Nobel Prizes for these ideas - the first business school to achieve this accomplishment. For more information about the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, please visit: http://www.chicagobooth.edu/.

Job Summary

The Associate Director, Human Resources serves as an HR Partner for the University of Chicago Booth School of Business (Chicago Booth), providing dedicated support to multiple departments and functions. This role contributes to the effective management of HR functions and operations by leading key internal processes and driving school-wide initiatives, projects, or programs. As an integral member of the HR team, the Associate Director performs a wide range of responsibilities, collaborates across functions, and serves as a back‑up for team members as needed. The role requires adaptability and a proactive mindset, with a willingness to take on new responsibilities as organizational needs evolve. A flexible, collaborative, and enthusiastic approach is essential to successfully support both existing and new HR initiatives. This position is not eligible for employer-sponsored employment authorization.

Responsibilities

• Coordinating with the Director, serves as a strategic HR Business Partner to selected Chicago Booth leadership teams, aligning HR strategies with business objectives and driving high levels of service, engagement, and responsiveness as well as influencing senior leadership decisions through data-driven insights and strategic guidance.
• Coaches and develops assigned leaders to enhance effectiveness, build leadership capability, and support the growth of high‑performing, inclusive teams.
• Covers topics such as talent management, including hiring, performance engagement (Invest4Growth), employee relations, corrective action, and separations.
• Assists with the annual workforce planning process for assigned units, partnering with senior leadership on talent assessment, succession planning, compensation planning, and organizational design.
• Supports integrated talent strategies, including workforce planning, talent acquisition, and onboarding to meet evolving organizational needs.
• Partners on compensation strategy, leveraging internal and external data to inform decisions on merit increases, equity adjustments, promotions, and workforce investments.
• Supports organizational change initiatives, and partners with leadership to navigate transitions and drive adoption of new structures, processes, and ways of working.
• Provides guidance on employee and labor relations, proactively managing risk, resolving complex workplace issues, and ensuring equitable policy application, in partnership with Booth HR Leadership.
• Consults on organizational design and job architecture, including job analysis and position development aligned to current and future business needs.
• Leverages HR data and analytics to inform decision‑making, identify trends, and implement process improvements that enhance organizational effectiveness.
• Champions a high‑performance culture, advancing performance management practices, employee engagement initiatives, and retention strategies informed by workforce insights.
• Represents HR as a trusted advisor, contributing to Chicago Booth and University‑wide initiatives, and enhancing the overall employee experience across the lifecycle.
• Follows HR policies as well as collaborate with our University HR partners within the central HR team, primarily the benefits and employee labor and relations partners.
• Guides staff hiring processes, including developing job descriptions, interviewing and reference checking, handling employment offers, and conducting orientation.
• Develops templates and drafts routine offer letters.
• Maintains appropriate human resources data and records, solving a range of problems using best practices.
• Has a deep understanding of unit's employee/labor relations efforts, including handling grievances, disciplinary warnings, and employee complaints.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

• Education: Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.
• Work Experience: Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 5-7 years of work experience in a related job discipline.
• Certifications: ---

Preferred Competencies

Strong relationship‑building and stakeholder management, critical thinking and influencing skills. Supporting workforce planning, organizational design, and talent strategy initiatives. Leading or supporting organizational change initiatives, such as restructuring, growth, transformation; guide leaders through change; and drive adoption of new processes and structures. Work independently with little supervision; possess a self‑motivated disposition; identify opportunities for improvement and recommend effective changes, all while achieving key objectives resulting in desired outcomes. Handle multiple detailed tasks/projects simultaneously and meet strict deadlines with frequent interruptions. Demonstrated ability to work effectively and diplomatically with colleagues, as well as with students, faculty and corporate contacts in a multitude of communication methods, including in person, email, and phone. Professional demeanor, including tact, discretion, and a customer service‑oriented approach.

Working Conditions

This position is currently expected to work a minimum three days per week in the office.

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)
• Cover Letter (required)

Pay Rate Type Salary

FLSA Status Exempt

Pay Range $95,000.00 - $120,000.00

Benefits Eligible Yes

The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.

Posting Statement The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination. Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form. All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history. A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment. Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case‑by‑case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position. The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at: http://securityreport.uchicago.edu. Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637. The University of Chicago is an urban research university that has driven new ways of thinking since 1890. Our commitment to free and open inquiry draws inspired scholars to our global campuses, where ideas are born that challenge and change the world. We empower individuals to challenge conventional thinking in pursuit of original ideas. Students in the College develop critical, analytic, and writing skills in our rigorous, interdisciplinary core curriculum. Through graduate programs, students test their ideas with UChicago scholars, and become the next generation of leaders in academia, industry, nonprofits, and government. To learn more about the university click here http://www.uchicago.edu/