Human Resources Associate- Onboarding

Our Story

Founded in 2008, Hightower is a wealth management firm that provides investment, financial and retirement planning services to individuals, foundations and family offices, as well as 401(k) consulting and cash management services to corporations. Hightower’s capital solutions, operational support services, size and scale empower its vibrant community of independent-minded wealth advisors to grow their businesses and help their clients achieve their financial vision. Based in Chicago with advisors across the U.S., we operate as a registered investment advisor (RIA).

Your Future Team

We are seeking a dynamic and detail-oriented Onboarding Specialist to join our HR Talent Management team in a role focused on the strategy and execution of onboarding and offboarding administration. This individual will be the face of the firm’s onboarding experience, ensuring a seamless and engaging integration for all new hires. Reporting to the Talent Management Executive Director, this role is ideal for someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment, enjoys process improvement, and is passionate about delivering exceptional employee experiences.

What You’ll Do

Onboarding, Integration & Offboarding (70%)

• Lead and execute on employee onboarding for all new hires, serving as the primary HR representative during their initial experience with the firm.
• Design, refine and execute scalable onboarding processes that reflect the firm’s culture and support long-term employee success.
• Continuously evaluate and update onboarding philosophy, content and materials to ensure relevance and effectiveness.
• Manage and refine Onboarding Buddy program across Home Office and design and execute on a similar program for Hightower Signature Wealth and advisory practices.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (IT, Operations, Compliance, etc.) to ensure a seamless onboarding experience.
• Develop and maintain onboarding metrics to track engagement, feedback, and areas for improvement.
• Think strategically about integration needs for new hires and acquired teams, ensuring alignment with firm-wide practices.
• Execute on end-to-end onboarding for all M&A activity, collaborating with the HR Business Partners to develop tailored onboarding experiences that ensure seamless cultural and operational integration for newly acquired employees.
• Lead and execute employee offboarding, collaborating across departments to create a consistent employee experience in conjunction with scalable workflows, automation and efficiency.
  
  
  

Workflow Automation & Process Optimization (10%)

• Identify opportunities to automate and streamline onboarding, offboarding and HR operational workflows. Collaborate with internal teams to develop workflows and system integrations, creating data consistency flowing from one system of truth.
• Build and maintain scalable systems, processes and templates to support growth and consistency across the firm.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to implement tools and technologies that enhance the employee experience.
  
  
  

Learning & Development (20%)

• Assist the L&D team in the development and execution of periodic learning sessions offered to the Hightower community.
• Assist in the administrative execution of formal development programs including Hightower Center for Leadership, Managing at Hightower and Leading at Hightower.
• Assist the L&D Manager with the annual internship program, engaging with the cohort in a proactive and productive manner ensuring the experience is high level.
• Collaborate with the L&D team to develop and manage the L&D annual calendar of events.
• Collaborate with L&D team and Recruiting team on campus recruiting initiatives and events.
  
  
  

What You’ll Bring

• A background in HR operations, onboarding, or a related field.
• Strong presentation and communication skills; comfortable speaking in front of groups and representing HR.
• Experience with HRIS systems and workflow automation tools (e.g., Workday, Dayforce, Asana).
• A process-oriented mindset with a passion for continuous improvement and operational excellence.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and work cross-functionally in a collaborative environment.
• High attention to detail, strong organizational skills, and a proactive approach to problem-solving.
• A positive, people-first attitude and a commitment to delivering exceptional employee experiences.
  
  
  

What We Offer

• Coverage on the first day of employment for medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Paid parental leave (16 weeks for primary caregiver and 8 weeks for secondary caregiver)
• Mother’s lounge onsite
• Flexible PTO plan
• In-office Monday through Thursday and work from home on Fridays
• Free brand-new gym in the Chicago office
• 401k matching plan
• HSA employer contributions
• Student loan assistance
• Pet insurance
• Base salary of up to $85,000 plus discretionary bonus (exact base salary amount will be dependent on experience)
  
  
  

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER: Hightower is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based upon race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, marital status, national origin, citizenship, veteran status, ancestry, age (over 40), physical or mental disability, medical condition (cancer-related), gender identity or expression, genetic information including sickle cell or hemoglobin C trait, or any other consideration made unlawful by applicable federal, state, or local law.

You are a U.S. citizen, U.S. permanent resident or possess other unrestricted U.S. work authorization and will not require sponsorship for U.S. work authorization now or anytime in the future.