Head of HR

Head of Human Resources - 300 Employees (IT/Finance/Investment/Benefits/Customer Service all in one location)

📍 Location: Northbrook, IL (Chicago Suburbs) 4 days on site

About the Company

Our client is one of the most respected financial services and investment organizations in the Chicago suburbs. With over 100 years of history and a national customer base, the company combines mission-driven values with Fortune 500–caliber governance.

• 300 employees with under 5% turnover.
• Known for loyalty and careers that last decades, many leaders have served 10–30 years.
• Over one-third of employees are from diverse backgrounds.
• A collaborative, employee-first culture where leaders are visible, approachable, and trusted.
• A beautiful, forest-like campus near Metra, widely regarded as one of the best working environments in the area.

About the Role

After 15 years of steady HR leadership, the organization is ready for its next chapter. The retiring HR leader leaves behind a foundation of trust, loyalty, compliance and approachability; now, the mandate is clear: 👉 Audit. Recalibrate. Modernize. Partner.

• The new Head of HR will align the function with 2025 standards to attract, retain, and reward top talent while keeping pace with a competitive marketplace.
• This is the top HR executive role, reporting directly to the COO (who oversees two-thirds of employees), partnering biweekly with the CEO, and working hand-in-hand with the C-Suite across Legal, Finance, IT, Investments, and Operations.
• You’ll lead a team of 15 HR professionals (including strategic and training roles) while balancing approachability with executive presence.
• This is not a caretaker position. It’s a career-defining opportunity to shape, build, and create the future of HR in one of the Midwest’s most stable and respected organizations.

Key Responsibilities

Executive Leadership & Partnership

• Serve as a trusted advisor to the senior team.
• Elevate HR from operations to strategic performance driver.

Organizational Development & Succession

• Build leadership pipelines and career architecture to prepare for retirements.
• Audit and recalibrate HR systems for a progressive, future-ready model.

Talent & Retention

• Partner with IT (65+ staff), Investments, and Customer Service to retain scarce, high-value talent.
• Create targeted strategies for technical and professional populations.

Culture & Engagement

• Preserve a collaborative, loyal culture while delivering measurable engagement outcomes.
• Balance compassion with business rigor.

HR Operations & Compliance

• Oversee compensation, benefits, compliance, and HRIS with excellence.
• Ensure policies reflect modern best practices and workforce standards.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of progressive HR leadership, including 10+ years managing teams of 10+ HR professionals.
• Proven success in financial services, investments, insurance, benefits, or professional services.
• Track record of building succession plans, OD programs, and leadership pipelines.
• Experience supporting customer service, IT, and finance/investments employee groups.
• Strong executive presence balanced with visible, approachable leadership.
• Commitment to long-term impact — a builder, not a short-term opportunist.

Preferred Candidate Profile

• Scaled HR strategy in mega-organizations and eager to apply that expertise in a collaborative mid-size environment.
• Excited to audit, modernize, and implement systems that align with 2025 standards.
• Strong Chicagoland network and credibility in attracting high-performing talent.
• Values both employee advocacy and business alignment.

Equal Opportunity Statement

We are committed to diversity and inclusivity in our hiring practices. With a truly global customer population, the organization embraces and celebrates employees across languages, religions, ethnic groups, and backgrounds.

📩 Reach out in confidence: zach@crucialhire.com

Subject line: Head of HR 1014