Human Resources Director

We’re partnering with our client, a highly regarded Chicago-based investment firm, to identify a HR Director to join their team. This is a unique opportunity to step into a high impact, strategic role where you’ll work closely with senior leadership to shape, build, and execute the firm’s people strategy.

This individual will play a key role in organizational design, performance management, and compensation strategy, while also serving as a trusted advisor to leadership. The environment is fast paced, analytical, and collaborative, ideal for someone who enjoys building structure, implementing strategy, and driving meaningful change.

What you’ll be doing:

• Partner closely with senior leadership to assess current organizational structure, identify gaps, and design and implement scalable people strategies that align with business goals and future growth

• Build, roll out, and continuously refine performance management, career pathing, and goal setting frameworks that drive accountability, clarity, and employee development across the organization

• Own compensation and benefits strategy, including benchmarking, planning cycles, and long term incentive structures, ensuring programs are competitive, equitable, and aligned with retention goals

• Leverage HR data, metrics, and insights to inform decision making, guide workforce planning, and proactively advise leadership on trends, risks, and opportunities

• Act as a trusted advisor and coach to leaders, influencing decision making and helping navigate complex organizational and interpersonal dynamics

• Oversee all aspects of HR operations, including compliance, policies, systems, and employee relations, ensuring consistency, discretion, and strong business judgment

• Lead and develop a Human Resources Generalist while also managing external partners such as legal counsel and compensation consultants to support specialized initiatives

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree required

• 6 to 10 years of progressive HR experience with clear exposure to senior leadership and strategic decision making

• Proven ability to build HR strategies from the ground up and successfully implement them in a fast paced, evolving environment

• Demonstrated experience designing and scaling core HR programs such as performance management, compensation structures, and talent development initiatives

• Strong business acumen with a data driven mindset and the ability to translate insights into actionable strategies

• Ability to operate effectively in a high performance, intellectually rigorous environment with shifting priorities

• Excellent communication, influencing, and stakeholder management skills across all levels of an organization

• Hands on, roll up your sleeves mentality with the ability to balance strategic thinking and day to day execution

The Equus Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer and takes pride in maintaining a diverse environment. We do not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion, or any other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status.