Vice President Human Resources

Kensington International Executive Search; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 260,000 - 420,000; Full time

Job summary

Kensington International Executive Search is seeking a senior HR leader to join a privately held, nearly 100-year-old distributor in the Chicago area. Reporting to the CEO, you will shape the people strategy, leadership capabilities, and talent processes for sustainable growth.

You will partner with ownership to design succession planning, culture-building, and organizational effectiveness initiatives, and you will lead a scalable HR function on-site with relocation support.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of progressive Human Resources leadership experience.
• Experience partnering with executive leadership on organizational strategy and talent initiatives.
• Experience leading leadership development, succession planning, organizational effectiveness, and culture-building efforts.
• Ability to influence at all levels of an organization, including ownership, senior leadership, and frontline management.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the company's senior HR executive and strategic business partner to the CEO and executive leadership team.
• Build and lead a scalable Human Resources function aligned with the organization's long-term objectives.
• Partner with leadership and ownership on succession planning, leadership development, organizational design, and talent strategy.
• Assess organizational capabilities and identify opportunities to strengthen leadership talent across the business.
• Develop and implement programs supporting employee engagement, performance management, talent acquisition, and workforce planning.
• Help preserve and strengthen the values-driven culture that has contributed to the company's longstanding success.
• Provide coaching and guidance to executives, managers, and emerging leaders.

Skills

Leadership

Executive presence

Strategic thinking

Influence

Education

Bachelor's degree

Advanced degree preferred

Job description

Our client is a highly successful, privately held, multi-generational family-owned distribution company with more than $1 billion in annual revenue and a nearly 100-year history.

The company serves customers throughout North America and select international markets and has built its reputation through long-term customer relationships, operational excellence, entrepreneurial thinking, and a strong commitment to its people.

As the organization continues to grow and evolve, ownership and leadership have made the strategic decision to establish a more formal human resources function to support the company's next chapter.

The Opportunity

This is the senior-most Human Resources role in the organization and represents a unique opportunity to build lasting impact within an already successful business.

Reporting directly to the CEO, the Vice President of Human Resources will serve as a strategic advisor to executive leadership and family ownership while leading the development of the company's people strategy, leadership capabilities, talent processes, and organizational effectiveness initiatives.

Unlike many HR leadership roles, this position offers the opportunity to help create and shape the function rather than inherit a mature corporate structure. The successful candidate will have a meaningful voice in how the organization develops leaders, approaches succession planning, strengthens culture, and prepares for continued growth.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the company's senior HR executive and strategic business partner to the CEO and executive leadership team.
• Build and lead a scalable Human Resources function aligned with the organization's long-term objectives.
• Partner with leadership and ownership on succession planning, leadership development, organizational design, and talent strategy.
• Assess organizational capabilities and identify opportunities to strengthen leadership talent across the business.
• Develop and implement programs supporting employee engagement, performance management, talent acquisition, and workforce planning.
• Help preserve and strengthen the values-driven culture that has contributed to the company's longstanding success.
• Provide coaching and guidance to executives, managers, and emerging leaders.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• 15+ years of progressive Human Resources leadership experience.
• Minimum of 5 years of leadership experience within a privately held, family-owned business.
• Demonstrated success partnering with executive leadership teams on organizational strategy and talent initiatives.
• Experience leading leadership development, succession planning, organizational effectiveness, and culture-building efforts.
• Strong business acumen and executive presence.
• Ability to influence at all levels of an organization, including ownership, senior leadership, and frontline management.
• This role is based in the Chicago area and is expected to work on-site alongside the executive team and business leadership. The company is committed to supporting a relocation package for the successful candidate. Full relocation to the Chicago area will be required.

Preferred Experience

• Experience serving as the lead HR executive or second-in-command HR leader within a company of approximately 500-2,500 employees.
• Background in distribution, supply chain, manufacturing, industrial, logistics, or other operationally intensive environments.
• Experience helping organizations navigate growth, professionalization, or generational leadership transitions.
• Experience working directly with founders, owners, or family shareholders.

All inquiries will be handled with strict confidentiality.