Director of Human Resources

Location: Chicagoland area (Hybrid) Are you passionate about making a difference in your community and helping people thrive? Meals on Wheels for Northern Illinois (MOWFNI) is seeking a Director of Human Resources to join our leadership team and help shape the future of our organization. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced HR professional to bring fresh ideas, strengthen organizational culture, and build innovative people-focused systems that support our employees and volunteers. As the Director of Human Resources, you will provide strategic leadership and expert guidance across all areas of human resources, helping to ensure MOWFNI remains a welcoming, supportive, and mission-driven workplace. We are looking for someone who is collaborative, forward-thinking, and passionate about developing effective HR practices that empower people and advance our mission. ABOUT MEALS ON WHEELS FOR NORTHERN ILLINOIS: Our mission is to provide meals and resources for older adults and people with disabilities to assist them in leading active and healthy lives. Our team remains committed to ensuring that no senior in our service area goes hungry or feels forgotten. As the senior population continues to grow, Meals on Wheels for Northern Illinois will continue its mission of nourishing lives, strengthening communities, and advocating for the well-being of older adults. To learn more, visit us at POSITION OVERVIEW: Reporting to the President & Chief Executive Officer, the Director of Human Resources plays a key leadership role in creating a positive, engaging, and supportive experience for MOWFNI employees and volunteers. In your role you will oversee all human resource areas and ensure that every stage of the employee and volunteer journey-from recruitment through offboarding-is well-coordinated, people-focused, and aligned with MOWFNI\'s mission and values. Leading the Human Resources Department, this role partners closely with Finance to ensure all personnel-related processes are accurate, compliant, and well-documented. While Finance manages payroll and financial administration, the Director serves as the primary champion for employee and volunteer engagement, support, and overall experience, helping to foster a culture where people feel valued, connected, and empowered to make a difference. RESPONSIBILITIES: Lead the Human Resources Department and ensure timely, accurate, professional, and mission-centered support to employees, volunteers, supervisors, and leadership. Assess Human Resources Department staffing, systems, workflows, and priorities, and recommend department structure, role design, and implementation steps as the function develops. Serve as the primary internal resource for employee relations matters and consistent employment policy application. Ensure employment practices are applied consistently and in alignment with MOWFNI policies and applicable federal, state, and local requirements. Develop and maintain pay-scale recommendations and hiring ranges. Review job descriptions, job titles, classification, benefits eligibility, and pay ranges before recruitment begins. Oversee employee recruitment and selection processes in coordination with hiring managers. Ensure new employees receive a consistent introduction to MOWFNI, required employment documentation, benefits information, training requirements, and supervisor support. Own employee-facing benefits administration, including eligibility interpretation, employee communication, open enrollment coordination, benefits education, qualifying event support, and employee-facing escalation. Work with the Finance Team, broker, and CEO on benefits recommendations and implementation. Partner with the Finance Team to ensure employee changes and other payroll-impacting information are properly documented, communicated, and reviewed before final action. Interpret and apply leave policies, attendance policies, and employee status rules, including leave eligibility, benefits eligibility implications, and related exceptions. Own the organization-wide employee and volunteer training framework, including required compliance training, supervisor training, funder-required training, and training completion standards. Lead employee appreciation strategy and recognition planning in coordination with the CEO and department leaders. Review separation documentation and recommend the organizational position. Oversee workers\' compensation claim coordination, employee communication, return-to-work follow-up, and related documentation. Review employee and volunteer metrics to identify trends, gaps, delays, risks, and opportunities for improvement across the employee and volunteer life cycles. WHAT WE OFFER: The hiring range for this role is $117,000 - $120,000/year. Salary offered will be based on experience level and education. Medical insurance with employer-paid premium contribution Life Insurance Short-term and long-term disability insurance 403(b) retirement plan with employer match Voluntary dental and vision insurance available at the employee\'s expense Voluntary life and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance available at the employee\'s expense Paid vacation and sick leave 14 paid holidays annually, plus four floating holidays prorated based on start date Paid birthday leave: One paid day or shift during the employee\'s birthday month Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Flexible work schedule REQUIREMENTS AND PREFERENCES: Bachelor\'s degree in human resources, business administration, nonprofit management, public administration, or a related field, strongly preferred. SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, SPHR, or similar certification, strongly preferred. (7) + years of progressive human resource experience Experience with employee relations, employment compliance, recruitment, benefits administration, compensation, performance management, and training required. Prior supervisory experience required. Experience working with volunteers or volunteer-supported programs preferred. Experience in a nonprofit, human services, healthcare, aging services, food service, logistics, or multi-site environment preferred. Paylocity experience is strongly preferred, including experience managing employee records, onboarding, benefits, time and attendance, leave administration, reporting, and HRIS configuration. Ability to visit Meals on Wheel\'s locations across Illinois to foster meaningful connections with team members, support mission-driven operations, and identify opportunities to enhance processes and employee experience, required. REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES: Strong knowledge of human resources practices, employment compliance, employee relations, recruitment, compensation, benefits administration, performance management, and personnel records. Ability to interpret and apply policies consistently and exercise sound judgment in sensitive employee and volunteer matters. Strong discretion and ability to maintain confidentiality. Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to advise supervisors and managers clearly and practically. Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, including the ability to develop, follow, and improve written procedures, checklists, and controls. Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines. Ability to work collaboratively with Finance, Operations, senior leadership, outside advisors, employees, and volunteers. Commitment to MOWFNI\'s mission and respectful service to older adults, persons with disabilities, employees, volunteers, and community partners. FOR CONSIDERATION: Meals On Wheels is an equal opportunity employer. Key works: HR Director, Director of HR, Director of Human Resources, Human Resources Director, HR, Human Resources, HRD, HR #J-18808-Ljbffr Recruitpro