Sr Director of Human Resources

The Moody Bible Institute of Chicago; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Moody Bible Institute of Chicago is seeking a Senior Director of Human Resources to serve as the Institute’s senior HR practitioner and operational leader. Reporting to the CFO/COO, this role drives a comprehensive people strategy that advances Moody’s mission, supports institutional priorities, and fosters an organizational culture rooted in Moody’s values.

The Senior Director leads day-to-day HR operations, including Learning & Organizational Development, Recruiting, and Benefits, while

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Organizational Development, or related field.
• Minimum 7 years of progressive HR experience, with at least 3 years in a senior HR director or manager role.
• Strong knowledge of employment law, compensation administration, and employee relations.
• Experience in higher education, nonprofit, or mission-driven organizations is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead HR strategy aligned with CFO/COO guidance and translate priorities into actionable HR programs.
• Provide regular HR reporting on workforce trends and risks to inform leadership decisions.
• Oversee HR operations in Learning & Organizational Development, Recruiting, and Benefits.
• Ensure compliance with employment laws and Moody’s community standards.
• Develop leadership programs and drive performance management initiatives.

Skills

HR strategy

Employee relations

Policy interpretation

Data‑driven decision making

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Organizational Development, or related field

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

SHRM-CP/SHRM-SCP preferred

HRIS systems experience

Job description

• Hybrid
• Travel Required : Yes
• Human Resources
• Full-Time
• Requisition #: SRDIR002348

• IL - Chicago
• Chicago
• 820 N. Lasalle Blvd
• Chicago, IL 60610, USA

Description

Location: Onsite, Chicago, IL

Job-Type: Full-Time

The compensation above is the estimated hiring range for this position. Final offers are determined based on a variety of factors including skills, experience, qualifications, internal equity, and other job-related considerations.

What You Will Be Doing:

The Senior Director of Human Resources serves as the Institute’s senior HR practitioner and operational leader of the Human Resources function. Reporting to the CFO/COO, this role is responsible for implementing a comprehensive people strategy that advances Moody’s mission, supports institutional priorities, and fosters an organizational culture rooted in Moody’s values. The Senior Director leads the day-to-day operations of the HR department, including Learning & Organizational Development, Recruiting, and Benefits, while partnering with the CFO/COO to provide data, analysis, and recommendations that inform institutional decision-making on workforce planning, talent development, and organizational health.

This position requires a seasoned HR professional who combines operational excellence with a collaborative mindset, and who can elevate the HR function as a proactive, mission-aligned driver of organizational effectiveness. The Senior Director brings a practitioner’s depth to employee relations, compliance, and program execution while developing the HR team’s capability to serve Moody’s employees well.

Essential Functions

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

• Execute the human resources strategy in alignment with institutional direction set by the CFO/COO, translating organizational priorities into actionable HR programs and initiatives.
• Provide regular, transparent reporting to the CFO/COO on HR metrics, workforce trends, staffing activity, and people-related risks and opportunities, equipping leadership with the data needed to inform institutional decisions.
• Lead HR change management efforts in support of leadership transitions, restructuring, or strategic initiatives, serving as the primary HR implementation lead.
• Champion a culture of accountability, collaboration, servant leadership, and continuous improvement across the organization.
• Advise department leaders and managers on HR best practices, policy interpretation, and employee relations matters, serving as a trusted day‑to‑day resource.
• Coordinate with the CFO/COO on cross-functional initiatives that intersect with people strategy, providing HR perspective and analysis to inform executive-level decisions.

Talent Management & Organizational Development

• Oversee the full employee lifecycle: recruitment, onboarding, development, performance management, retention, and succession planning.
• Partner with academic and operational leaders to ensure recruiting strategies attract mission-aligned, high-caliber talent in a competitive market.
• Support the design and implementation of a leadership development pipeline, with particular attention to mid-level leader readiness.
• Implement and continuously improve a performance management system that drives accountability, professional growth, and alignment with institutional goals.
• Direct the Director of Learning & Organizational Development in building training programs that measurably improve organizational capability and employee engagement.
• Support the adoption and sustainment of organizational operating systems (e.g., EOS) in partnership with the CFO/COO and operational leaders.
• Oversee the administration of competitive compensation and benefits programs, ensuring alignment with market benchmarks and institutional budget constraints.
• Partner with the CFO/COO on annual salary budgeting inputs, position control tracking, and total compensation recommendations.
• Administer the employee benefits program, including providing staff support to the Employee Benefits Administration Committee as directed through the CFO/COO.
• Evaluate and recommend enhancements to total rewards programs that support recruitment, retention, and employee well‑being, bringing proposals to the CFO/COO for review and approval.
• Ensure institutional compliance with all federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations, including Title IX, ADA, FMLA, FLSA, and EEO requirements.
• Serve as the EEO compliance officer, coordinating the organization’s operational response to employment-related legal matters in conjunction with General Counsel and the CFO/COO.
• Develop, maintain, and communicate clear, consistent HR policies that reflect both legal requirements and Moody’s values and culture.
• Oversee employee relations, workplace investigations, and ethics reporting systems, ensuring fair and timely resolution of concerns.
• Identify and elevate HR-related risks proactively to the CFO/COO, including workforce data privacy, employment practices liability, and regulatory changes.

HR Operations & Technology

• Oversee HR systems (HRIS) and data infrastructure to ensure accurate, secure, and efficient management of employee records and reporting.
• Drive continuous improvement in HR processes, leveraging technology and data analytics to inform decision‑making and increase operational efficiency.
• Prepare and manage the HR department’s annual operating budget and the institutional employee benefits budget, in coordination with the CFO/COO.
• Lead, develop, and organize the HR team—including the Director of Learning & Organizational Development, Recruiting Manager, and Benefits Manager—fostering a collaborative, high‑performing departmental culture.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Organizational Development, or related field. Master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum 7 years of progressive HR experience, with at least 3 years in a senior HR director or manager role in a complex organization.
• Demonstrated ability to partner with senior leadership and implement HR strategy across a complex, multi‑functional organization.
• Strong working knowledge of employment law, organizational development, compensation administration, and employee relations.
• Experience in higher education, nonprofit, or mission‑driven organizations preferred; familiarity with faith‑based institutional culture is a significant advantage.
• SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, SPHR, or equivalent professional certification preferred.
• Strong interpersonal skills, emotional intelligence, and ability to build trust across diverse stakeholder groups.
• Proven ability to manage complex personnel situations with discretion, lead a small team, and drive results in a collaborative environment.
• A mature and growing personal faith in Jesus Christ, with a lifestyle consistent with Moody Bible Institute’s doctrinal statement and community standards.
• Commitment to the mission of Moody Bible Institute: to equip people with the truth of God’s Word to be faithful and fruitful in their callings.
• Ability to lead with humility, grace, and pastoral sensitivity in a Christ‑centered institutional environment.
• Active membership in a local church.

WORK ENVIRONMENT & CONDITIONS

Moody Bible Institute is a Christ‑centered higher education and media ministry. We exist to equip people with the Truth of God’s Word. If you are mission‑minded and have a servant’s heart, join us as we look to further impact the Kingdom of God.

This is a full‑time position based primarily at our downtown Chicago location. Standard hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Occasional travel may be required, primarily to Moody’s Spokane campus.

This role operates in a professional office environment using standard office equipment. While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to communicate verbally and in writing, stand, walk, and use hands. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Moody Bible Institute is a Christ-centered, multicultural community that values and seeks faculty and staff who are committed to diversity, work effectively with diverse populations, and engage others in ways that honor our rich cultural mosaic and biblical foundation. Candidates must align with MBI’s Christian identity. Employees are expected to sign a Statement of Faith and adhere to the Community Standards.

We comply with all applicable laws pertaining to nondiscrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, and any other applicable legally protected category. As a religious institution, we have the right to, and do, require that employees hold beliefs consistent with our Doctrinal Statement and conduct themselves in a manner consistent with our religious beliefs, as explained in our Community Standards.

Travel Required

Yes . Occasional Travel to Spokane.

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.