Director of Human Resources

Thrive Physical Therapy Partners; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 110,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Thrive Physical Therapy Partners is seeking an experienced Human Resources Director to build Thrive's first dedicated HR function. This hands-on role requires vision, judgment, and the ability to establish scalable policies and processes across a growing multi-state healthcare organization.

You will partner with Operations, Talent Acquisition, Payroll, Finance, and outside counsel to implement practical HR infrastructure, employee relations, compliance programs, and performance management as

Qualifications

• Significant progressive human resources leadership experience.
• Strong expertise in employee relations, investigations, and multi-state compliance.
• Experience building or substantially professionalizing an HR function.
• Bachelor’s degree; SHRM-SCP or SPHR preferred.
• Healthcare or regulated multi-site operations experience is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Assess current HR environment and address immediate needs.
• Build scalable HR infrastructure and processes for growth to 2,500+ employees.
• Lead policy creation, templates, and documentation standards.
• Oversee leave, wage-and-hour, I-9, workers' comp, and records.
• Collaborate with leadership and cross-functional committees.
• Provide executive access and partner with Operations, Payroll, Finance, and outside counsel.

Skills

Leadership experience

Employee relations

Multi-state employment compliance

Policy development

Communication skills

Collaborative leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree

SHRM-SCP or SPHR certification preferred

Job description

Overview

Thrive Physical Therapy Partners is seeking an experienced, hands‑on Human Resources Director to become our first dedicated HR representative. This is a unique opportunity to build the foundation of a scalable HR function while making an immediate impact across a growing, multi‑state healthcare organization.

We are looking for a true builder-operator: someone who can assess the current environment, address immediate employee and compliance needs, and progressively introduce the policies, processes, tools, and structure needed to support Thrive’s continued growth.

In this role, you will build and lead Thrive's HR function in close partnership with Operations, Talent Acquisition, Payroll, Finance, practice leaders, and outside counsel.

The Right Fit

You are comfortable entering a newly created role without established infrastructure. You listen before implementing solutions, prioritize effectively, and introduce structure without creating unnecessary bureaucracy. You are empathetic, approachable, and able to navigate sensitive conversations with clarity, discretion, and sound judgment.

Why Thrive?

Thrive Physical Therapy Partners supports a growing network of physical therapy practices while preserving the local identity and strengths of each partner.

This role offers meaningful executive access, broad organizational influence, and the opportunity to build an HR function that will shape the employee and leadership experience for years to come. You will establish scalable HR infrastructure while remaining closely connected to the field and Support Center.

Responsibilities

What You’ll Do

You will work collaboratively with leadership to evaluate needs, present clear recommendations, outline risks and options, and secure alignment before implementing significant policies or programs. Areas where you will bring your expertise include:

• Assess federal, state, and local employment practices and develop a prioritized compliance and risk‑remediation plan
• Serve as the primary HR resource for complex employee relations matters, including investigations, discipline, accommodations, and terminations
• Build foundational HR policies, workflows, templates, documentation standards, and employee lifecycle processes
• Strengthen leave administration, accommodations, wage‑and‑hour practices, I‑9 compliance, workers’ compensation, and employee records
• Coach leaders and improve the consistency, responsiveness, and quality of HR support
• Use employee feedback, engagement, retention, and exit trends to recommend practical improvements
• Chair cross‑functional culture and benefits committees
• Collaboratively build an HR function capable of supporting growth from approximately 1,200 employees to 2,500 and beyond

Qualifications

What You’ll Bring

• A practical, builder‑oriented mindset with the humility to listen, the judgment to prioritize, and the willingness to work hands‑on
• An empathetic and approachable communication style, with exceptional listening skills and the ability to navigate sensitive conversations with clarity and discretion
• Significant progressive human resources leadership experience
• Strong expertise in employee relations, workplace investigations, and multi‑state employment compliance
• Experience building or substantially professionalizing an HR function
• Sound judgment in sensitive and higher‑risk employee matters
• The ability to translate complex requirements into practical, usable processes
• A collaborative leadership style with excellent communication skills
• Comfort balancing hands‑on execution with longer‑term strategy
• Experience in healthcare, multi‑site operations, or another highly regulated environment is a plus
• Experience supporting a distributed portfolio of locally branded businesses, each with its own identity and culture, is a strong plus
• Bachelor’s degree and SHRM‑SCP or SPHR certification preferred

Thrive Physical Therapy Partners is an equal opportunity employer. We consider qualified applicants without regard to any legally protected characteristic.

Pay Range

USD $110,000.00 - USD $130,000.00 /Yr.