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.

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 fni.org.

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.

• 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…