Human Resources Business Partner - Investments

It is inspiring to work in an organization where individuals are deeply committed to the mission and values that drive our success.

We are dedicated to delivering expert pension service to Illinois public educators as they earn their promised retirement security.

Excited to grow your career?

We value our talented employees and are committed to supporting their professional growth. If you believe the open position is a good fit for you, we encourage you to apply!

Mission Statement:

Delivering expert pension service to Illinois public Educators as they earn their promised retirement security.

The Investments Team:

The Investments team at TRS plays a critical role in advancing the System's mission by managing and monitoring more than $83.7 billion in assets in a highly specialized, performance-driven environment.

Comprised of more than 30 investment professionals and continuing to grow, the team is responsible for evaluating and selecting external investment managers across the portfolio. Investments span a broad range of strategies, including public equities, fixed income, real assets, hedge funds, and private markets. The team's investment process is rigorous and highly analytical, grounded in deep qualitative and quantitative due diligence. Investment professionals engage directly with existing and prospective managers to assess performance, risk, and portfolio fit. The Investments team operates with high expectations for talent, accountability, and collaboration, where the strength of the team directly drives long-term outcomes for the System and its members.

Why This Role Matters:

The HR Business Partner - Investments plays a critical and highly visible role in shaping the team behind the performance. This position ensures the Investments function is positioned to attract, develop, and retain top-tier talent, bringing forward the talent strategies, leadership support, and organizational effectiveness needed to compete for the best in the market and sustain a best-in-class investment platform. The HR Business Partner supporting Investments will help shape high-performing teams, navigate complex compensation and retention strategies, and drive organizational effectiveness within a specialized function. This role offers a rare combination of hands-on partnership, strategic impact, and the opportunity to support one of the most critical functions within TRS.

Job Summary:

Under the direction of the HRBP Supervisor, this position serves as a strategic advisor to investment leadership, aligning human capital strategies with the operational and long-term objectives of the investment department. The role is responsible for driving talent strategies that support the attraction, development, and retention of highly specialized investment professionals within a competitive market.

The HRBP - Investments provides consultative expertise in workforce planning, organizational design, and performance management, while assisting in the development and administration of compensation strategies that balance market competitiveness, internal equity, and public sector accountability. This position partners closely with leadership to assess organizational effectiveness, mitigate talent-related risks, and support succession planning for critical roles.

A strong understanding of investment management organizations and/or asset allocators and investment functions is essential to provide informed guidance and advance the performance and sustainability of the investment department.

Essential Functions:

• Partner with investment leadership and business units to develop and implement HR strategies that support investment performance and long-term system goals.
• Provide consultative support on organizational design, workforce planning, succession planning, and talent development specific to investment functions.
• Advise on and administer compensation strategies aligned with investment benchmarks, ensuring market competitiveness, and internal equity.
• Collaborate with Talent Acquisition to attract and retain specialized investment talent in a competitive labor market.
• Provide oversight and guidance on onboarding and integration strategies for highly specialized investment hires to accelerate time-to-productivity.
• Support performance management processes, including goal setting, evaluations, and development planning, tailored to investment team objectives.
• Serve as a trusted advisor by supporting leadership in navigating complex employee relations matters that may have reputational, legal, or fiduciary implications.
• Develop and monitor retention strategies for critical investment talent, including career pathing and succession pipelines.
• Partner with Learning & Development to design programs that enhance investment team capabilities and leadership effectiveness.
• Collaborates with investment leadership to support learning and development needs through TRS University, helping to coordinate the delivery of targeted programs that enhance technical expertise, leadership capability, and overall workforce effectiveness within the investment function.
• Analyze workforce data and trends to inform decision-making and recommend solutions to leadership.
• Support change management efforts related to shifts in investment strategy, departmental restructuring, or market-driven adjustments.
• Facilitate workforce and organizational effectiveness assessments to ensure optimal team structure and alignment with investment strategy.
• Maintain awareness of industry trends in institutional investing and human capital practices to proactively advise leadership.
• Assists HR Operations Supervisor on initiatives/projects
• Performs other duties as assigned

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Strong strategic consulting and business partnering skills, with the ability to influence senior leadership.
• Advanced analytical skills, including the ability to interpret workforce data, evaluate highly specialized positions for talent acquisition, compensation data, and market trends to inform decisions.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to translate complex HR concepts into clear, actionable guidance that align with evolving investment priorities and market conditions.
• Effective problem-solving and critical thinking skills in complex, high-impact situations.
• Strong relationship-building skills, with the ability to establish trust across diverse stakeholder groups.
• Knowledge of investment functions.
• Knowledge of workforce planning, organizational design, and talent management strategies.
• Ability to handle highly confidential and sensitive information with discretion and professionalism.
• Demonstrated ability to navigate complex organizational dynamics and provide sound, unbiased recommendations.
• Ability to think strategically while executing operationally in a fast-paced, specialized environment.
• Ability to assess organizational risk and proactively develop mitigation strategies related to talent.

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Finance, or related field required; Master's degree preferred.
• 5 years of progressive HR experience, including experience as an HR Business Partner or strategic HR advisor.
• Experience supporting investment, finance, or highly specialized technical teams strongly preferred.
• PHR or SHRM-CP certification preferred

If you thrive in a dynamic environment and enjoy collaborating with driven, enthusiastic professionals, you will find a rewarding career with us.

For Illinois job seekers:

Pay Range
$106,139.00 - $165,577.00

Compensation will be determined based on the qualifications and experience of each candidate.

Benefits
TRS is an agency of the State of Illinois. As such, full and part-time employees are eligible for the State of Illinois comprehensive benefits program which includes medical, dental and vision coverage. All employees participate in the TRS retirement pension plan and have the option to contribute to additional State of Illinois deferred compensation plans. The TRS pension plan is a reciprocal system to other state and local pension plans (SERS, SURS, IMRF, etc.)