Director of Human Resources

Position: Director of Human Resources, People & CultureReports to: Edgar D. and Deborah R. Jannotta President & CEOLocation: 1601 N. Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60614The OpportunityThis is a meaningful opportunity to shape and build a people-centered HR function at one of America's great urban history museums. The Director of Human Resources will join a talented, committed team at an exciting inflection point-with an organizational renewal underway and new senior leadership in place-to elevate the employee experience, strengthen HR infrastructure, and serve as a trusted, approachable resource for all staffThe ideal candidate will:Build the systems, policies, and operational infrastructure needed to establish a modern, service-oriented HR function that sustainably supports the museumPartner closely with the CEO and senior leadership anticipating people-related needs, removing barriers, and enabling colleagues across the Museum to do their best work.Thrive as a people-centered leader who inspires, mentors, and empowers staff and managers to take shared ownership of a strong and accountable workplace culture.Combine strategic vision with disciplined operational rigor: set clear HR priorities, implement measurable plans, and drive consistent and equitable execution.Center equity, inclusion, and staff well-being in all decisions, ensuring the Museum's people practices reflect its values and its commitment to Chicago's diverse communities.MissionThe Chicago History Museum (CHM)'s mission-to serve as the primary destination for learning, inspiration, and civic engagement to connect people to Chicago's history and each other-underpins CHM's exhibitions, educational initiatives, community-responsive programs, partnerships, research and access services, and collecting activities that serve communities across Chicago.About the Chicago History MuseumFounded in 1856 (originally the Chicago Historical Society), the Chicago History Museum (CHM) is one of the nation's oldest and most respected urban history institutions. After a major renovation and strategic repositioning, CHM adopted its current name in 2006. The Museum stewards more than 23 million artifacts, documents, photographs, and published materials that together form one of the most significant national and regional history collections in the United States. CHM operates at the intersection of learning, public history, and community engagement, serving more than 100,000 visitors annually and providing extensive digital access-currently approximately 2.75 million collection images online.CHM maintains strong partnerships across the civic, cultural, and educational landscape (Chicago Park District, Chicago Public Schools, universities, peer institutions, community organizations) and houses notable holdings such as the Studs Terkel Radio Archive. In 2024, CHM was reaccredited by the American Alliance of Museums. The Museum's annual budget is approximately $14 million, its endowment is approximately $85 million, staff size is approximately 100, and governance is provided by a 40-member Board of Trustees. Staff are represented by Chicago History Museum Workers United/AFSCME (Council 31).Position SummaryReporting to the Edgar D. and Deborah R. Jannotta President & CEO, the Director of Human Resources is CHM's senior people operations leader, responsible for building and sustaining a service-oriented HR function across an organization of approximately 100 staff. This role leads a two-person team consisting of a Labor Relations Coordinator and an HR Assistant. Additionally, the role partners closely with Finance and senior leadership on workforce planning, headcount tracking, employee relations, compliance, and organizational culture.The successful candidate will be a hands-on HR generalist and function-builder who is energized by creating structure, developing people programs from scratch, and serving as a visible, approachable partner to staff and managers alike. Experience in a unionized nonprofit environment is a plus.Core ResponsibilitiesHR Strategy & Function LeadershipContinuously improve HR policies, procedures, and programs that reflect CHM's values and support a positive, inclusive workplace culture.Center CHM as the go-to place for all things Chicago-topical, thoughtful, serve as a visible, trusted advisor to department heads and senior leadership on workforce planning, organizational design, and people-related decisions.Partner with Finance to develop and maintain headcount tracking, workforce analytics, and departmental staffing reporting that supports sound institutional decision-making.Develop and track HR metrics including turnover, time-to-fill, and engagement, and present periodic reporting to senior leadership.Represent CHM externally by cultivating relationships with civic, academic, cultural, community-serving, K-12 education, and funding partners.Talent Acquisition & OnboardingOwn the full-cycle recruitment process for staff and management positions, partnering with hiring managers to define needs and assess candidates efficiently and equitably.Design and maintain an onboarding experience that sets new hires up for success and reflects the Museum's culture and mission from day one.Build talent pipelines for hard-to-fill and seasonal roles, with a focus on diverse candidate outreach and community-connected sourcing.Maintain and continuously improve job description standards and hiring practicesEmployee Relations & CultureServe as the primary resource for employee relations matters-coaching managers, mediating concerns, and ensuring fair and consistent application of policy across all teams.Lead investigations into employee complaints and conduct matters with objectivity and discretion; advise management on appropriate resolution.Champion a staff-centered culture through an open-door philosophy, proactive communication, and visible presence across all levels of the organization.Support staff engagement initiatives and identify opportunities to strengthen morale, communication, and connection across departments.Labor RelationsOversee the Labor Relations Coordinator in ongoing administration and compliance with the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with Chicago History Museum Workers United/AFSCME (Council 31).Ensure management is trained and equipped to apply the CBA consistently and appropriately across all covered positions.Compensation, Benefits & HR AdministrationAdminister and periodically benchmark compensation structures to ensure market competitiveness within nonprofit sector norms.Manage benefits open enrollment, vendor performance, and employee communication in partnership with the HR Assistant; support leave administration (FMLA, ADA, IL-specific) in compliance with applicable law.Ensure organizational compliance with federal, state, and local employment law including FLSA, FMLA, ADA, EEOC, NLRA, and Illinois-specific statutesMaintain accurate employee records and HRIS data integrityStrengthen and maintain the employee handbook.Learning, Development & PerformanceIdentify training needs across the organization and coordinate or deliver programming on topics such as management effectiveness, DEI, and employment law compliance.Support performance management processes including goal-setting frameworks and review cycles; coach and develop managers to strengthen internal leadership capability.Qualifications & Characteristics (summary)Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related fieldrequired; PHR, SPHR, or SHRM-CP/SCP certification strongly preferred7+ years of progressive HR experience, with at least 3 years in a department leadership role; nonprofit or cultural institution experience a plusDemonstrated experience building or significantly restructuring an HR function, with a service-oriented and staff-centered philosophyWorking knowledge of collective bargaining agreements, grievance administration, and labor relations in a unionized environmentStrong command of employment law and compliance requirements including FLSA, FMLA, ADA, EEOC, NLRA, and Illinois-specific statutesExperience with benefits administration, compensation benchmarking, and HRIS platformsExcellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills; able to engage effectively and build trust across all levels of the organizationExperience managing HR operations in an organization of comparable size and complexity, including multi-department environmentsPersonal qualities: discretion, empathy, approachability, integrity, and a genuine commitment to staff development and organizational cultureCompensation, Benefits & LogisticsSalary range: $105,000-$115,000 annually, commensurate with experienceBenefits include medical, dental, vision, life insurance, voluntary short-term disability and voluntary life insurance, 401(k) with employer match, paid time off, and 12 paid holidaysPosition requires on-site presence approximately 80% of the timeCHM operates with a staff union: Chicago History Museum Workers United/AFSCME (Council 31)How to ApplyTo apply, please submit a current resume and a letter of introduction via the Chicago History Museum application link. For best consideration, submit materials by Monday, June 1, 2026.Employment Opportunity Statement