our garden – Employment

Vice President, Human Resources

POSITION DESCRIPTION

The Chicago Botanic Garden seeks a mature, experienced, energetic, and passionate leader to serve the Chicago Botanic Garden as its first vice president of human resources.

Purpose
Provide overall strategic human resource leadership to the Garden. Oversee the development and implementation of human resources policies, programs and services, including recruitment, selection, retention, legal compliance, employee compensation and benefits, employee relations, employment practices and procedures, employee communications, employee events, and volunteer services.

Primary Functions

Foster a workplace environment consistent with the values and mission of the Chicago Botanic Garden
Serve as internal consultant to the management team, supervisors, and employees on personnel issues that affect performance, safety, compliance, and a positive Garden culture
Actively participate in the redesign of the employee benefit program covering 205 covered employees (368 covered lives, $2.2 million in total), building a comprehensive and competitive benefits package while ensuring cost effectiveness
Oversee the day-to-day administration and cost modeling of the employee benefit program, including health, life insurance, disability, worker’s compensation, flexible spending accounts, COBRA, and unemployment compensation. Provide employees with information as needed
Direct and maintain the health and safety program in compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) standards
Develop an effective orientation program and employee resource kit that emphasizes the importance of welcoming and integrating new employees into the Garden. Coordinate job training with position supervisor to ensure beneficial starting experience for new employees
Oversee the process and records related to new hires, employee reviews, promotions, transfers, separations, and exit interviews
Implement and maintain current knowledge and understanding of regulations, industry trends, current practices, new developments, and applicable laws regarding human resources
Create strong employee development plans and succession plans, and, when necessary, recruit top caliber employees from outside the Garden
Select, develop, evaluate, and lead a team of human resource professionals
Interface with the finance department to manage and maintain confidential information systems records for activities such as recruitment, benefits enrollment, and compensation and benefits
Develop, coordinate and deliver programs for staff training, including workshops, presentations and external training and educational programs
Work with Events staff to plan and implement staff social and recognition functions
Prepare regular staff communications, including minutes from the Interdepartmental Management (ID) meeting
Coordinate the staff uniform program, including selection of vendors and meeting staff needs

Reports to:

President and CEO
Serves as staff liaison to the Personnel and Compensation Committee of the Board
The vice president of Human Resources is a member of the senior management team, participating in development of all Garden strategies, tactics, and operations.

Supervises:

Full-time coordinator, Human Resources, and part-time Human Resources assistant
Full-time manager, Volunteer Services, and full-time Volunteer Services assistant
Position is responsible for helping to build a strong sense of community and well-being of 250 full-time employees (500 employees in the high season) and nearly 2,000 volunteers (including corporate volunteers).

POSITION REQUIREMENTS

Fifteen years of management-level Human Resources experience
Proficiency in Spanish preferred
A JD, Master's degree in business, HR, social work, or directly related field preferred
Current knowledge of benefits programs and labor laws
Superior oral, written, and computer communication skills
Demonstrated capability to interface and maintain effective relationships with all departments and employees in a team-oriented environment
Detail-oriented, logical, and methodological approach to problem solving
Ability to provide vision and leadership
A passion for the outdoors and a strong interest in the Chicago Botanic Garden
Ability and willingness to be “on-call” as an officer of the institution
Interest in making a long-term commitment to the Garden

HOURS/BENEFITS/COMPENSATION
37.5 Hours/week (standard Garden work week); full benefits; salary and vacation commensurate with experience

No Phone Calls, Please
Please send letters of inquiry to hrposition@chicagobotanic.org

Or to:
Sophia Siskel
President and CEO
Chicago Botanic Garden
1000 Lake Cook Road
Glencoe, IL 60022