Director of Human Resources - Northwestern University, Ryan Field

Compass Group USA; Evanston (IL); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Vision

Life Insurance/ AD

Disability Insurance

Retirement Plan

Flexible Time Off Plan

Holiday Time Off

Personal Leave

Associate Shopping Program

Health and Wellness Programs

Discount Marketplace

Identity Theft Protection

Pet Insurance

Employee Assistance Program

FSAs

Job summary

Levy partners with Northwestern University at Ryan Field to deliver exceptional hospitality experiences. The Director of Human Resources will lead the people function, partnering with senior leadership to guide recruitment, employee relations, training, compliance, engagement, and performance management across a high-volume venue.

The role emphasizes building strong relationships, maintaining a positive workplace culture, and ensuring staffing readiness for events and daily operations.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated HR leadership experience in hospitality, sports and entertainment, or high-volume environments.
• Strong knowledge of recruiting, employee relations, onboarding, compliance, and HR best practices.
• Ability to build trust with leaders, managers, and team members at all levels.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, event-driven environment with changing priorities.

Responsibilities

• Serve as HR leader and strategic partner for Ryan Field leadership.
• Lead full-cycle recruitment for salaried, hourly, seasonal, and game-day staff.
• Collaborate with hiring managers to build staffing plans for events.
• Support onboarding, orientation, training, and retention initiatives.
• Provide guidance on employee relations, performance management, coaching, and corrective action.
• Ensure compliance with policies, employment laws, and union requirements where applicable.
• Maintain HR systems, records, reporting, and administrative processes.
• Champion inclusion, hospitality, accountability, and recognition.
• Support leadership development and succession planning for managers and high-potential staff.

Skills

HR leadership

Recruiting

Employee relations

Onboarding

Compliance

Training

Performance management

Team development

Relationship building

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR/Business

SHRM/HRCI certification (plus)

Tools

HRIS

Job description

Director of Human Resources - Northwestern University, Ryan Field

Different perspectives make us better. We’re committed to creating an equal opportunity and fair treatment environment, where learning and growing together is just part of our every day. An environment where you can be your authentic self.

About Levy

The disruptor in defining the sports and entertainment hospitality experience, Levy is recognized as the market leader and most critically acclaimed hospitality company in its industry. Twice named one of the 10 most innovative companies in sports by Fast Company magazine and one of the top three Best Employers for Diversity in America by Forbes, Levy’s diverse portfolio includes award-winning restaurants; iconic sports and entertainment venues, zoos and cultural institutions, theaters, and convention centers; as well as the Super Bowl, Grammy Awards, US Open Tennis Tournament, Kentucky Derby, and NHL, MLB, NBA, NFL, and MLS All-Star Games.

Job Summary

Levy is proud to partner with Northwestern University at Ryan Field, creating exceptional hospitality experiences for fans, guests, student-athletes, and the campus community. As we continue to grow and elevate the guest and team member experience, we are seeking a strategic, hands‑onDirector of Human Resources to lead the people function at this premier collegiate sports venue.

The Director of Human Resources will serve as a key business partner to the leadership team, providing HR guidance and support across recruitment, employee relations, training, compliance, engagement, performance management, and team member development. This role is ideal for a thoughtful and proactive HR leader who enjoys building strong relationships, supporting high-volume operations, and creating a positive workplace culture.

Key Responsibilities

Serve as the HR leader and strategic partner for the Ryan Field leadership team.

Lead full-cycle recruitment efforts for salaried, hourly, seasonal, and game day team members.

Partner with hiring managers to build staffing plans that support event-day operations and business needs.

Support onboarding, orientation, training, and retention initiatives to create a welcoming and engaging team member experience.

Provide guidance on employee relations, performance management, coaching, and corrective action.

Ensure compliance with company policies, employment laws, union or labor requirements where applicable, and Levy/Compass standards.

Maintain HR systems, team member records, reporting, and other administrative processes.

Champion a culture of inclusion, hospitality, accountability, and team member recognition.

Support leadership development and succession planning for managers and high-potential team members.

Partner with operations before, during, and after events to ensure the team member experience supports an exceptional guest experience.

Ideal Candidate

Human Resources leadership experience in hospitality, sports and entertainment, food and beverage, retail, campus dining, or another high-volume environment.

Strong knowledge of recruiting, employee relations, compliance, onboarding, and HR best practices.

Ability to build trust with leaders, managers, and team members at all levels.

Comfortable working in a fast‑paced, event‑driven environment with changing priorities.

Strong communication, organization, and problem‑solving skills.

Experience supporting seasonal, hourly, union, or large‑scale event staffing preferred.

Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business, or related field preferred; SHRM or HRCI certification a plus.

At Levy, team = family. And we’ll always take care of family, learn more about Levy benefits offered.

• Medical
• Vision
• Life Insurance/ AD
• Disability Insurance
• Retirement Plan
• Flexible Time Off Plan
• Holiday Time Off (varies by site/state)
• Personal Leave
• Associate Shopping Program
• Health and Wellness Programs
• Discount Marketplace
• Identity Theft Protection
• Pet Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)

Associates may also be eligible for paid and/or unpaid time off benefits in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. For positions in Washington State, Maryland, or to be performed Remotely, click here or copy/paste the link below for paid time off benefits information.

Levy is a member of Compass Group USA. Compass Group/Levy is an equal opportunity employer. At Compass/Levy, we are committed to treating all Applicants and Associates fairly based on their abilities, achievements, and experience without regard to race, national origin, sex, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other classification protected by law.

Qualified candidates must be able to perform the essential functions of this position satisfactorily with or without a reasonable accommodation. Disclaimer: this job post is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all essential responsibilities, skills, tasks, or requirements associated with this position. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the position posted, the Company reserves the right to modify or change the essential functions of the job based on business necessity.

We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with a criminal history (including relevant driving history), in a manner consistent with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, and the New York Fair Chance Act. We encourage applicants with a criminal history (and driving history) to apply.

Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.