Head of Human Resources

The Christopher Group, Agile HR Business Solutions; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

The Christopher Group is partnering with a nationally recognized nonprofit to appoint a Head of Human Resources in Chicago, IL. This executive role advises the CEO and senior leadership, shaping enterprise people strategy and modernizing HR during a pivotal growth phase.

The Head of HR will lead a team of about eight HR professionals across Talent Management, Organizational Development, Talent Acquisition, HR Operations, HRIS, Payroll, Benefits, and Learning & Development, serving as a strategic

Qualifications

• 15+ years of progressive HR leadership with enterprise strategy.
• Experience leading multiple HR Centers of Excellence (Talent Management, Organizational Development, Total Rewards, HR Operations, Talent Acquisition).
• Demonstrated success partnering with executive leadership teams and Boards of Directors.
• Strong background leading organizational transformation, culture initiatives, and leadership development.
• Experience managing compensation, benefits, performance management, succession planning, and organizational design.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a strategic advisor to the CEO and Executive Leadership Team on organizational design, culture, leadership effectiveness, succession planning, and workforce strategy.
• Lead enterprise HR strategy across Talent Acquisition, Talent Management, Organizational Development, Total Rewards, HR Operations, Learning & Development, HRIS, and Employee Relations.
• Drive workforce planning initiatives including succession planning, leadership development, and organizational effectiveness.
• Evaluate and modernize HR programs, policies, and processes to improve efficiency, consistency, and employee experience.
• Lead compensation and benefits strategy, ensuring market competitiveness and regulatory compliance.
• Partner with executive leadership and the Board on executive compensation, governance, and people-related initiatives.
• Champion leadership development, performance management, employee engagement, and talent development programs.
• Oversee employee relations, compliance, investigations, and employment practices while fostering a positive and accountable workplace culture.
• Build strong relationships across all levels of the organization through influence and collaboration.

Skills

Strategic HR leadership

Executive advisory

Organizational transformation

Talent management

Leadership development

Employee relations

Succession planning

People strategy

Cross-functional collaboration

Change management

Education

Bachelor's degree

Advanced degree preferred

Job description

Head of Human Resources Location: Chicago, IL About the Opportunity The Christopher Group is partnering with a nationally recognized, mission-driven nonprofit organization seeking a Head of Human Resources to help lead the next phase of organizational growth and transformation. This executive leadership role serves as a trusted advisor to the CEO and Executive Leadership Team and will be responsible for shaping enterprise people strategy, strengthening organizational effectiveness, and modernizing the Human Resources function during a pivotal period of change. This is an opportunity for an HR executive who enjoys building organizational capability, influencing executive decision-making, and leading through transformation while supporting a highly respected organization with a meaningful national impact. The Opportunity Reporting to the CEO, the Head of HR will lead a team of approximately eight HR professionals spanning Talent Management, Organizational Development, Talent Acquisition, HR Operations, HRIS, Payroll, Benefits, and Learning & Development. The successful candidate will serve as a strategic partner across the organization while balancing enterprise strategy with operational execution. This leader will play a key role in helping the organization evolve its culture, strengthen leadership capability, improve organizational effectiveness, and ensure HR is positioned as a strategic business partner across the enterprise.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as a strategic advisor to executive leadership on organizational design, culture, leadership effectiveness, succession planning, and workforce strategy.
• Lead enterprise Human Resources strategy across Talent Acquisition, Talent Management, Organizational Development, Total Rewards, HR Operations, Learning & Development, HRIS, and Employee Relations.
• Drive organizational planning initiatives including workforce planning, succession planning, leadership development, and organizational effectiveness.
• Evaluate and modernize HR programs, policies, and processes to improve efficiency, consistency, and employee experience.
• Lead compensation and benefits strategy, ensuring market competitiveness and regulatory compliance.
• Partner with executive leadership and the Board on executive compensation, governance, and people-related initiatives.
• Champion leadership development, performance management, employee engagement, and talent development programs.
• Oversee employee relations, compliance, investigations, and employment practices while fostering a positive and accountable workplace culture.
• Build strong relationships across all levels of the organization while leading through influence and collaboration. What Success Looks Like The successful candidate will:
• Establish themselves as a trusted advisor to the executive leadership team.
• Strengthen organizational culture while helping lead enterprise transformation.
• Modernize HR practices, systems, and processes.
• Build leadership capability throughout the organization.
• Create scalable talent strategies that support long-term organizational objectives.
• Enhance organizational effectiveness while balancing strategic priorities with day-to-day operational excellence.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Ideal Background Successful candidates will likely bring:
• 15+ years of progressive Human Resources leadership experience, including enterprise HR strategy.
• Experience leading multiple HR Centers of Excellence, including Talent Management, Organizational Development, Total Rewards, HR Operations, and Talent Acquisition.
• Demonstrated success partnering with executive leadership teams and Boards of Directors.
• Strong background leading organizational transformation, culture initiatives, and leadership development.
• Experience managing compensation, benefits, performance management, succession planning, and organizational design.
• Strong executive presence with the ability to influence across all levels of an organization.
• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• Experience within healthcare, nonprofit, higher education, or similarly mission-driven organizations is beneficial but not required.