HR Generalist (Chicago)

TXODDS•Chicago, IL

1d•Onsite

About The Position

We’re looking for an experienced HR Generalist to be the standalone People & Culture representative in our Chicago office, supporting local senior leadership and reporting to the Chief of Staff in London, partnering closely with our global People & Culture team. This is a hands-on, autonomous role with ownership of the full employee lifecycle, employee relations, HR operations, and local employment law compliance. You'll be the trusted HR expert for the Chicago office, providing practical advice to leaders, driving best practice, and ensuring a positive employee experience. The role offers the opportunity to shape and develop the local People function, bringing ideas, improving processes, and contributing to global People & Culture initiatives as the business continues to grow. It's an ideal opportunity for someone ready to step into a standalone role where they can make a genuine impact while benefiting from the support of an experienced global HR team. The Chicago office has fewer than 30 permanent employees throughout most of the year, with a significant seasonal increase to approximately 100–200 employees between September and December. This requires someone who enjoys variety, can adapt quickly, and thrives in a fast-paced, evolving environment.

Requirements

Progressive experience in an HR Generalist or similar role.
Strong knowledge of U.S. employment law and HR best practices, with the confidence to advise managers and ensure compliance.
Experience independently managing employee relations matters, including investigations, performance issues, and conflict resolution.
Experience supporting the full employee lifecycle, including recruitment, onboarding, benefits administration, leave management, and offboarding.
A collaborative approach with proven experience partnering directly with managers to provide practical HR guidance.
Confidence working autonomously in a standalone HR role, taking ownership and making informed decisions with minimal direction.
Excellent interpersonal, communication, and organisational skills, with the ability to build credibility and influence at all levels.
Experience using HRIS platforms such as Rippling or similar systems.
A proactive, resourceful mindset with a passion for improving HR processes, enhancing the employee experience, and bringing new ideas to the table.

Nice To Haves

Experience in a growing, fast-paced or start-up environment would be advantageous, as would experience in a larger HR team before stepping into a standalone role.

Responsibilities

Act as the primary HR partner, providing guidance and support to employees and managers across the U.S. business.
Build trusted relationships with employees across both the full-time and part-time workforce.
Advise managers on employee relations, performance management, workplace issues, and HR best practices.
Conduct workplace investigations and support disciplinary, grievance, and conflict resolution processes.
Partner with hiring managers to deliver an effective recruitment, onboarding, and employee lifecycle experience.
Prepare employment documentation and oversee changes including promotions, transfers, leave administration, and offboarding.
Administer employee benefits and leave programs, acting as the main point of contact for employee queries.
Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment legislation, maintaining accurate HR records and policies.
Coordinate performance review processes, compliance training, and support employee and manager development.
Collaborate with Payroll, HRIS, and external partners to ensure accurate employee data and seamless HR operations.
Drive employee engagement and continuous improvement initiatives, contributing to HR projects that support business growth.