Director of People & Culture

Belvedere Trading; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 80,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a strategic Director of People & Culture to lead its HR initiatives in a fast-paced trading environment. This role involves collaborating with executive leadership to shape a people strategy that aligns with the firm's growth and core values. The ideal candidate will foster a culture of excellence and inclusivity, ensuring that all team members feel empowered and engaged. With a focus on talent acquisition, employee relations, and culture development, this position is crucial for driving the firm's success and maintaining its award-winning culture. If you are passionate about HR and thrive in dynamic settings, this opportunity is perfect for you.

Benefits

Flexible Work Hours

Professional Development Opportunities

Health and Wellness Programs

Team Building Events

Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives

Qualifications

• 10+ years of strategic HR experience in dynamic environments.
• Proven success in scaling People operations in high-growth firms.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a people strategy aligned with growth goals.
• Drive strategies to attract, develop, and retain top talent.

Skills

Strategic HR Management

Talent Acquisition

Employee Relations

Change Management

Data Analysis

Leadership Development

Communication Skills

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Human Resources or related field

Master's Degree in Business Administration or related field

Tools

HRIS

ATS

LMS

Job description

Belvedere Trading is a leading proprietary trading firm proudly headquartered in downtown Chicago. Our traders work hard to provide liquidity to the market through their market-making activities and are the masters of a diverse set of commodities, interest rates, exchange-traded funds (ETF), and equity index options. From the beginning, we began iteratively investing in our proprietary technology and committing to building our systems from the ground up. Our trading models and software systems are continually re-engineered, optimized, and maintained to stay on top of the industry.

Our People Team, part of the Intel department, focuses on delivering employee-first solutions to the business. We go all-out to understand and support our team member's needs, leverage data to gain insights and trends, and advance our human-capital-related applications for efficiency and consistency. We look for passionate team members that excel and their contribution is critical to our continued success. The People Team is comprised of Employee Experience, People Operations, Talent, and Training & Education. These groups work closely together to bring in the best talent for Team Belvedere and from day one, make sure that all team members have all the tools they need to succeed and develop through their tenure.

Belvedere Trading is looking for a strategic, culture-driven Director of People & Culture to shape the future of our team. In this highly visible role, you’ll partner directly with executive leadership to design and drive a people strategy that fuels our growth, strengthens our culture, and lives up to our core values. We're seeking a leader who will champion a performance-driven, collaborative, and inclusive environment where every team member is empowered to thrive and push the firm forward. The ideal candidate will play a critical role in cultivating a culture of excellence while ensuring we stay agile, innovative, and true to who we are.

What you'll do

• Strategic Leadership
• Partner with executive leadership to develop and execute a dynamic people strategy that aligns with Belvedere Trading’s growth goals and evolving business needs.
• Act as a trusted advisor to senior leaders, providing data-driven insights and guidance on organizational design, workforce planning, and long-term talent initiatives.
• Lead with a Team Belvedere mindset, building strong cross-functional partnerships and ensuring the People function is deeply integrated into the business.
• Talent Acquisition, Development, & Retention
• Drive strategies to attract, develop, and retain top talent across all levels of the firm, ensuring a high-performance, high-engagement environment.
• Oversee development programs that foster continuous learning, career growth, and leadership pipeline readiness.
• Champion diverse, equitable, and inclusive recruiting and development practices that strengthen our culture and reflect our values.
• Employee Relations
• Create a trusted environment where team members feel empowered to share feedback, voice concerns, and engage in Passionate Discourse.
• Oversee and manage employee relations matters with discretion, consistency, and fairness, balancing the needs of individuals and the broader business.
• Ensure policies, processes, and practices reinforce a positive, high-trust culture while supporting business agility.
• Culture Development
• Protect and evolve Belvedere’s unique culture, building programs and initiatives that reinforce our core values and create an exceptional employee experience.
• Actively listen to team member feedback and collaborate across teams to design initiatives that foster belonging, engagement, and purpose.
• Change Management
• Lead through change by communicating clearly, building alignment, and empowering teams to adapt quickly and confidently.
• Ensure people-centric change strategies are incorporated into firm-wide initiatives, balancing speed with long-term impact.
• Consult & Adapt
• Act like an owner by influencing across all levels of the organization, building strong stakeholder buy-in, and advocating for people initiatives.
• Collaborate with key leaders to identify needs, propose solutions, and adapt strategies based on real-time feedback and business shifts.
• Data, Analytics & Process
• Leverage data and analytics to measure the effectiveness of People programs, inform strategic decisions, and continuously iterate for improvement.
• Optimize and scale People processes to ensure they are simple, effective, and future-ready, supporting Belvedere’s fast-paced environment.

What you'll need

• 10+ years of progressive, strategic HR experience, including at least 5 years leading People teams across multiple HR disciplines in a dynamic environment.
• Proven success scaling People operations in high-growth, fast-paced organizations — experience within trading, fintech, or similarly agile industries preferred.
• Strong leadership presence with a track record of inspiring, developing, and empowering high-performing teams.
• Exceptional communication skills, with the ability to coach, consult, and challenge leaders through Passionate Discourse and creative problem-solving.
• Demonstrated ability to take initiative, drive projects forward with ownership, and deliver results aligned with business priorities.
• Deep knowledge of employment law and evolving regulatory trends, particularly in trading, financial services, or technology-driven environments.
• Skilled at building strong relationships across all levels of the organization, influencing outcomes, and earning trust through transparency and collaboration.
• Experience implementing and optimizing People technologies (HRIS, ATS, LMS, performance management platforms) with a mindset of Iterative Innovation.
• Thrives in a fast-paced, high-accountability culture where results matter and teamwork is the foundation for success.
• Comfortable navigating ambiguity and shifting priorities, with the ability to Act Like an Owner and drive clarity and progress.
• Strong executive presence and ability to influence and partner effectively at all levels

Women and underrepresented groups frequently apply to jobs only if they meet 100% of the qualifications.

We encourage you to break that mold and apply. No candidate is perfect; all have a lot to offer. We welcome your application.

Core Values

The secret to our award-winning culture is our Core Values:Team Belvedere, Me In Team, Own It, Iterative Innovation, and Passionate Discourse.We live and breathe these values every day.

Our Stance

Belvedere is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to providing a non-discriminatory employment environment for its employees. Discrimination against employees and applicants due to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, military, and veteran status is prohibited. Belvedere encourages initiatives to increase diversity and provide equal opportunity to all applicants and employees. Belvedere is committed to providing a positive environment in which team members are treated with respect, dignity, and courtesy. Our firm believes in a dynamic culture of inclusion and diversity, where people thrive on individual and organizational characteristics, values, experiences, and backgrounds.

Please note that Belvedere Trading does not accept unsolicited resumes from search firms or employment agencies. Any unsolicited resumes will become the property of Team Belvedere. No phone calls, please.

Any questions regarding the virtual recruiting process, please reach out [e-mail].

Work Schedule: Regular and reliable attendanceduring standard business hours.

Occasional nights and weekends.

Amount of Travel Required: Occasional travel to off-site events, conferences, and job fairs.

Physical: Ability to sit and concentrate for long periods of time as well as the ability to lift 30 pounds

Sponsorship: Not available for this position.