HR Consulting Director (Chicago)

Grant Thornton is seeking an accomplished Director to join our HR Consulting practice, supporting clients with HR Diligence, designing modern HR Operating Models and leading complex HR and people-focused transformations. This role combines strategic advisory capability with hands on delivery experience, spanning HR due diligence, post deal integration/separation, organizational design, and HR operating model redesign.

The ideal candidate brings deep expertise across the HR value chain, strong consulting acumen, and a proven track record of steering clients through large scale change while influencing executive stakeholders and driving measurable outcomes. This role will also lead sales and proposal opportunities, contribute to firm-building activities such as thought leadership and go-to-market offerings, and develop talent on project teams and across the practice.

Your day-to-day may include:

• Lead HR due diligence for M&A, assessing people, culture, structure, costs, and risks.
• Analyze HR data to identify value opportunities and liabilities.
• Produce diligence reports and recommendations.
• Partner with cross‑functional deal teams throughout the transaction process.
• Align structure, roles, and governance to business strategy.
• Design future‑state HR operating models and service delivery structures.
• Evaluate current capabilities and identify improvement opportunities.
• Develop process frameworks, workforce plans, and tech‑enablement strategies.
• Build business cases and implementation road maps.
• Lead multi‑workstream HR transformation initiatives.
• Drive org design, process redesign, policy alignment, and culture change.
• Oversee change management and transformation governance.
• Advise senior HR leaders and the C‑suite on people strategy and modernization.
• Build strong executive relationships and expand account opportunities.
• Facilitate workshops and executive decision‑making sessions.
• Contribute to new offerings, frameworks, and market insights.
• Support proposals, solution design, pricing, and sales efforts.
• Publish thought leadership and represent the firm externally.
• Lead, mentor, and develop consulting teams.
• Build capabilities and support career growth.
• Foster an inclusive, high‑performing team culture.
• Other duties as assigned.

Technical skills and qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business, Organizational Development, or a related field.
• Master’s degree (MBA, MSOD, MHR) strongly preferred.
• HR or change-related certification (e.g., SHRM SCP, SPHR, Prosci).
• 10+ years in HR transformation and consulting, with a proven track record of managing large projects and teams.
• Deep knowledge of HR operating models including people, process, technology, and service delivery.
• Experience leading and executing on HR Diligence across all aspects of people and the HR function.
• Exceptional leadership, strategic thinking, and executive-level communication.
• Ability to influence senior stakeholders and deliver high-impact solutions in complex environments.
• Ability to align transformation initiatives with broader business strategy and workforce trends.
• Familiarity with automation tools and data analytics to drive process improvement.
• Track record of mentoring teams, developing intellectual capital, and driving practice growth.
• Strong project management, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Can travel as needed. Up to 50%.

The base salary range for this position in Chicago, IL is between $187,500 and $312,500.

The base salary range for this position in New York, NY is between $202,500 and $337,500.

The base salary range for this position in Washington, DC is between $202,500 and $337,500.