Manager Human Resources

Title: Manager, Human Resources

Exemption Status: Salaried, Exempt

Department: Human Resources

Reports to: AVP Talent Acquisition and Human Resources

Year-round Full-time

Supervise: HR Coordinator (after a transition period)

Year-Round Full-time employees of the Chicago Botanic Garden are eligible for the following Benefits:

• 2026 A Guide to Your Benefits JP.pdf

Compensation Philosophy:

At the Chicago Botanic Garden, our compensation philosophy is rooted in our core values: Growth, Understanding, Resilience, and Trust through Transparency. We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels respected, valued, and appreciated.

Our objective is to create compensation and growth opportunities for our employees that are highly competitive, internally equitable and transparent. The foundation of our efforts is a straightforward approach that can be easily communicated by managers with defined pay ranges for all positions. When posting job openings, we share the minimum salary up to the budgeted amount.

The starting salary for new staff members is determined by considering the salary range assigned to the position and by reviewing the candidate's qualifications for the job as compared with job responsibilities. Prior work experience should be considered in determining the salary offer, provided that it is relevant to the job. Additional factors such as secondary language proficiency or advanced degrees that enhance performance may also be considered. A candidate's salary may exceed the minimum amount based on factors such as experience, additional skills (e.g., secondary language proficiency), or pertinent degrees that enhance the individual's contribution to the role but are not required. Opportunities for increased compensation are provided through referral bonuses, shift differentials, Thank You Pay, promotions, and periodic pay increases based on the Garden's overall performance and financial budgets.

Our total compensation and benefits package is people centric. We prioritize employee wellness across three pillars: physical, mental, and financial. Our goal is to offer innovative total rewards that support continuous professional growth, personal development, and provide the flexibility needed to balance personal and professional commitments.

Position Overview:

The manager, Human Resources, serves as the on-site HR leader for the Glencoe campus, providing comprehensive support across the employee life cycle. The person in this role is the main point of contact for day-to-day HR matters, offering guidance on policies and procedures, supporting managers and employees, and contributing to a positive, compliant, and inclusive workplace. Key areas include HRIS data management (ADP), onboarding, performance processes, training (including Spanish-language delivery), compliance, workers' compensation, recruitment, employee relations, recordkeeping, and employee engagement initiatives.

The position collaborates closely with the HR team (including the senior benefits manager and HR coordinator), contributes to communications and events, and leads or supports special projects and process improvements under the direction of the AVP, Talent Acquisition and Human Resources.

Responsibilities

In this role you will be responsible for the following:

• Collaborate on HRIS management (ADP), ensuring data integrity for new hires, pay rates, employment status changes, rehires, terminations, annual reviews, and goal setting; run reports as needed and audit data for accuracy.
• Lead annual required training through the Garden's learning management system (NAVEX), including partnership with NAVEX to ensure the most current modules are deployed and aligned with Garden policies; deliver specific trainings in Spanish as needed.
• Manage the onboarding process in partnership with the HR coordinator, ensuring a smooth and welcoming new-hire experience, including paperwork, benefit enrollment, and goal setting.
• Provide guidance and consultation to employees and managers on policies, procedures, and conflict resolution; escalate complex issues to the AVP of Talent Acquisition and Human Resources or the Vice President of Human Resources.
• Support employee relations by providing guidance on conflict resolution and performance concerns and assist with investigations under the direction of HR leadership when needed.
• Conduct investigations into employee relations matters under the direction of the VP of HR or the AVP of Talent Acquisition and Human Resources.
• Manage the onboarding process with the HR coordinator, ensuring welcome letters, new-hire paperwork, benefit enrollment, and goal setting are completed, and support employees through their first year and ongoing.
• Provide backup support for facilitating new hire orientations, lead sessions in Spanish, and deliver Garden-specific training as needed.
• Collaborate with the senior benefits manager to provide employee support during onboarding and open enrollment, including serving as a translator when needed.
• Lead assigned recruitment activities and support hiring efforts.
• Maintain accurate and compliant employee files (active and terminated) and other confidential HR records (e.g., FMLA, I-9s) in accordance with federal, state, and HIPAA requirements.
• Manage I-9 compliance, verify employment eligibility using E-Verify and initiate background checks through the preferred vendor; serve as backup to the HR coordinator.
• Act as the primary contact for workers' compensation at the Glencoe campus and off-site locations (serve as workers' compensation backup for Windy City Harvest) and OSHA annual compliance.
• Ensure compliance postings are current across Glencoe locations in collaboration with the HR coordinator and, as needed, the HR manager-Windy City Harvest.
• Support in employee events, annual employee recognition, and engagement events.
• Provide backup coverage for the HR main telephone line and email inbox, triage inquiries as needed.
• Lead special projects as assigned, with a focus on process improvements and strategic HR initiatives.

Qualifications

Our ideal candidate will have the following:

• Minimum five years of progressive HR generalist experience, with an emphasis on onboarding, HRIS administration, compliance, performance processes, employee relations, and training.
• Hands-on experience with HRIS systems; ADP Workforce Now proficiency strongly preferred.
• Bachelor's degree in human resources or related field; in lieu of a degree, more than seven years of progressive HR experience demonstrating increasing responsibility.
• At least five years of full-cycle recruiting experience and experience with benefit plans with the knowledge to answer benefit-related questions for employees and applicants.
• Working knowledge of federal, multistate, and local employment laws; affirmative action plan experience a plus.
• Compassionate and patient, with genuine care for people and an understanding that all concerns, however small, are significant to those affected.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint) and virtual meeting platforms such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams.
• Strong customer service orientation, with excellent written, verbal, and listening skills; ability to communicate process status, keep teams informed, and respond clearly to inquiries.
• Independent work style with strong attention to detail, organizational skills, problem-solving abilities, and the capacity to manage multiple projects, adapt to change, and meet deadlines.
• Ability to make independent decisions and identify opportunities for strategic process improvements that enhance HR programs and services.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) required, with excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Effectively manage time and prioritize workload; assume and manage multiple projects or tasks, adapt to change, and consistently meet deadlines.
• High degree of integrity and ability to maintain strict confidentiality.

Physical Demands:
Office setting. Frequent sitting, standing, walking, bending, listening, speaking, and typing. Use of office equipment including computers, telephones, copiers, scanners, and fax machines. Some requirements for lifting, pushing, or pulling items less than 30 pounds.

Why Apply?
Come work in a setting that is like no other as you support our mission: We cultivate the power of plants to sustain and enrich life. Take the first step toward being one of the employees who make the Garden one of the treasures of the Forest Preserves of Cook County. Apply today. Please note that applicants who do not meet the required qualifications will not be considered.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, or basis of disability, or any other federal, state, or local protected class.

Disclaimer: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and qualifications required of personnel so classified.

In accordance with Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, the Chicago Botanic Garden does not discriminate on the basis of sex in its programs or activities, including in employment or admissions. Please call (847) 835-8264 to contact our Title IX coordinator should you have questions or concerns. Please do not call this number to inquire about job postings or the status of your application, or with solicitations from companies or third-party recruiters.