Senior HR Business Partner (Chicago, IL)

With roots dating back to the 1800s, our Customer is a global professional services firm HQ’d in New York City with businesses in insurance brokerage, risk management, reinsurance services, talent management, investment advisory, and management consulting. Today, they are a unique group of businesses with many enduring competitive advantages. Among them are the quality of their colleagues, deep client relationships, vast global footprint, depth of intellectual capital, and cohesive and collaborative culture.

We are seeking a Senior HR Business Partner on a contract basis to support our Customer’s business needs. This role is on-site in Chicago, IL.

This position leverages data and analytics to diagnose talent priorities, identify organizational challenges, and deliver insights that inform decision-making and strategic planning, including initiatives such as organizational design, restructuring, and workforce development.

This role collaborates closely with Centers of Excellence (CoEs) and peer People Partners to implement initiatives across the full spectrum of HR solutions. This role proactively identifies opportunities to drive consistency and deploy enterprise-wide programs, while tailoring approaches to meet local business needs where appropriate.

In addition, the role partners closely with HR Managers to ensure alignment on business priorities and a shared understanding of workforce strategies and execution plans.

Responsibilities:

Strategic HR Partnership

• Partner with business leaders to develop and execute talent strategies aligned with business objectives
• Stay closely embedded in business operations to understand workforce challenges and capability gaps
• Build strong partnerships with HR Managers to drive the effective implementation of HR programs

Talent & Development

• Support career development, leadership development, and learning initiatives
• Assess bench strength and workforce capabilities across business units
• Track program effectiveness and provide insights to improve outcomes
• Monitor internal mobility trends and provide recommendations to leadership

Workforce Planning & Performance

• Support workforce planning, including hiring, development, and contingent workforce strategies
• Identify critical roles and succession risks; support succession planning processes
• Facilitate talent reviews and calibration sessions with leadership
• Partner with leaders on reward strategy and performance management initiatives
• Analyze HR data and metrics to inform business decisions and adjust strategies

Organizational Effectiveness & Change Management

• Partner with leaders on organizational design, restructuring, and effectiveness initiatives
• Develop business cases and support change management efforts
• Define and track metrics to measure the success of organizational interventions
• Advise on internal communications strategies

Inclusion & Diversity

• Identify inclusion and diversity challenges and develop action plans with leadership
• Assess and monitor I&D health across the business

Recruiting Support

• Provide input on sourcing strategies aligned with business needs
• Support interview processes and advise on candidate selection

Employee Engagement & Culture

• Champion company culture within business units
• Support engagement initiatives and action planning based on survey results
• Advise leaders on improving employee experience and engagement

Skills and Qualifications:

• Experience as an HR practitioner supporting both strategic and operational HR functions
• Experience supporting the US and/or Canadian workforce; global exposure preferred
• Strong business acumen with the ability to align HR strategies to business goals
• Proven ability to coach, influence, and challenge business leaders effectively
• Strong experience in workforce planning, talent management, and succession planning
• Experience using HR data, analytics, and technology to drive decision-making
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills
• Ability to operate independently in a fast-paced, complex environment
• Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills
• Ability to collaborate effectively across diverse teams

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience supporting global leaders or operating in a global HR role
• Experience in organizational design, change management, and restructuring initiatives
• Strong knowledge of HR trends, market practices, and talent strategies
• Demonstrated ability to drive innovation and continuous improvement in HR practices

We offer a competitive salary range for this position. Most candidates who join our team are hired at the median of this range, ensuring fair and equitable compensation based on experience and qualifications.

Contractor benefits are available through our 3rd Party Employer of Record (Available upon completion of waiting period for eligible engagements) Benefits include: Medical, Dental, Vision, 401k.

An Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.