Director of Human Resources

Millennium Hotels and Resorts•Chicago, IL

9h•$120,000 - $135,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Millennium Knickerbocker Hotel Chicago—one of the city’s most iconic historic properties—is seeking a highly experienced Director of Human Resources to lead all aspects of the people strategy within a complex, unionized hospitality environment. This role serves as a key member of the Executive Committee, acting as a strategic advisor to the General Manager and leadership team while ensuring operational excellence, compliance, and a highly engaged workforce. The ideal candidate brings deep union labor expertise, a hands-on leadership style, and a proven ability to navigate Chicago’s highly regulated hospitality landscape.

Requirements

Minimum 8–12 years of progressive Human Resources leadership experience, preferably in hospitality
Direct union labor relations experience required
Experience with Local 1 and/or Local 399 strongly preferred
Demonstrated success managing grievances, arbitration, investigations, and labor compliance
Strong working knowledge of Chicago labor regulations, ordinances, and union environments
Proven ability to influence senior leadership and drive organizational results
Exceptional interpersonal, communication, negotiation, and problem-solving skills
Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field preferred
HR certification (PHR, SPHR, or SHRM-CP/SCP) preferred

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary liaison with union partners, including Local 1 and Local 399
Administer and interpret collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) and ensure property-wide compliance
Lead grievance investigations, disciplinary processes, and arbitration preparation
Represent management in grievance meetings and support arbitration proceedings
Partner with legal counsel on labor strategy, compliance, and risk mitigation
Support collective bargaining negotiations and union information requests
Act as a trusted advisor to the General Manager and department leaders on workforce strategy and organizational effectiveness
Align HR initiatives with operational, service, and financial objectives
Drive a high-performance culture focused on accountability, engagement, and service excellence
Provide guidance on labor forecasting, staffing models, and organizational design
Partner with leadership to drive change management and workforce planning initiatives
Lead complex employee relations matters, workplace investigations, and conflict resolution
Oversee performance management and disciplinary consistency across union and non-union associates
Coach leaders on employee performance, documentation, and corrective action
Champion engagement initiatives that improve retention, morale, and workplace culture
Foster a culture of inclusion, respect, accountability, and operational excellence
Ensure compliance with all federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations, including: Chicago Fair Workweek Ordinance, Illinois labor laws, Federal wage and hour regulations
Maintain the integrity of HR systems, personnel records, reporting, and documentation
Oversee audits, unemployment claims, workers’ compensation matters, and legal responses
Ensure policy consistency and proactive risk management across the property
Lead recruitment strategy across all hotel departments
Drive succession planning, leadership development, and internal mobility
Implement training initiatives aligned with brand standards and operational needs
Analyze turnover trends and develop retention strategies to improve workforce stability
Support long-term talent pipeline development for key operational roles
Ensure payroll accuracy for both union and non-union associates
Oversee benefits administration and vendor relationships
Partner with Finance on labor reporting, forecasting, and cost management
Monitor labor expenses and identify opportunities for operational efficiency