Human Resources Business Partner

Ariel Investments • Chicago, IL

11d • Onsite

About The Position

Ariel Investments is a premier, boutique, asset management firm. Our primary goal is to drive exceptional investment returns by bringing diverse perspectives together. The only way to beat a benchmark is to not look like one. As value investors, our thinking is deliberate and unconventional. We offer an independent, patient investing approach and aim to deliver excellence in any environment. We uphold our fiduciary responsibility to every shareholder, no matter how big or small. At Ariel, we strongly believe that teamwork yields results—which is why we have Co-CEOs. John W. Rogers, Jr. and Mellody Hobson share a desire to cultivate leaders who are curious, focused and disciplined. We are nimble and efficient. Our drive is fanatical and intentional. Everyone plays their position, and each contribution is critical to our firm’s success. We seek subject matter experts who are unapologetically themselves. We encourage our employees to reach their full potential and we give them the runway to do so. After four decades of active investing, we remain committed to our clients, our teammates and our community. We strive to be best-in-class investors and pioneer a path for those who entrust us with their financial future. Position Summary: The Human Resources Business Partner will provide comprehensive HR support across all areas of the organization. This individual will collaborate with various departments, implement HR strategies, foster employee engagement, and ensure compliance with HR policies and procedures. The HR Business Partner will interpret workforce analytics to help leaders make informed decisions and highlight areas of improvement to ensure and advance organizational goals. This individual additionally needs to have strong business acumen and a strategic mindset to better optimize productivity and performance of the HR department and business as a whole. The position will be located in our Chicago Office.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Human Resources, or related field required.
• 7+ years of Human Resources experience, specifically within asset management is highly desired.
• Experience in developing and improving compensation plans suited for the financial industry.
• Understanding of benefit plans, especially those tailored to the unique needs of asset management professionals, ensuring alignment with company goals and industry standards.
• Advanced competency in Microsoft applications such as Excel, Word, PowerPoint, OneNote and SharePoint.
• Familiarity with human resource policies and procedures to ensure the HR departments meets organizational needs and goals including knowledge of industry trends, labor laws and regulations.
• Strong attention to detail in all duties and responsibilities; ability to work independently, take initiative and responsibility; versatile enough to achieve short-term results in a fast-paced, change-oriented environment, while simultaneously helping shape the future of the HR department.
• Practical experience with HR database administration, systems and processes.
• Self-starter with high level of initiative; the ability to identify and capitalize on opportunities to bring greater automation and ensure delivery on a variety of HR related processes.
• Excellent written and verbal communication.
• Proven ability to prioritize and manage a number of ongoing, diverse projects effectively.
• Strong business acumen, emotional intelligence and analytical skills.
• Prior history of working with private and sensitive information and ability to maintain the confidentiality of such records and information.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement leadership development strategies and professional development training programs in alignment with organizational goals
• Administer employee benefits programs, including enrollment, compliance, vendor management, and employee support while maintaining a strong knowledge of benefit offerings across industry
• Lead employee onboarding and offboarding processes including orientation, I-9 and E-verify, documentation, compliance checks, and exit interviews
• Assist with full-cycle recruitment, including job postings, candidate screening and background checks, interviews, and offer coordination
• Have deep experience with managing compensation processes across teams that include market analysis, benchmarking, and providing insights to industry best practices
• Vendor management including benefit carriers, broker, leave of absence administrator, COBRA, and others
• Document management including personnel files, employment agreements, employee handbook, internal templates, vendor contracts and due diligence documentation
• Collaborate with HR colleagues to ensure consistency in employee experience and processes across offices
• Coordinate with the Office Services team to help drive employee engagements and be a culture carrier
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of employment laws and regulations; conduct routine audits to assess compliance and implement necessary changes
• Maximize the use of HR technology and assist with current and future HR technology initiatives to improve efficiency of workflows and processes

Benefits

• Coverage for same-sex partner (domestic or spouse)
• Coverage for children (natural born, step, adopted or foster)
• Fully paid medical insurance that covers fertility treatments, gender affirmation
• Employer contributions to a Health Savings Account
• Maternity leave at 100% pay (12 weeks)
• Paid Parental Leave (up to 12 weeks depending on tenure)
• all employees have access to Ariel-sponsored educational, training, and recreational activities

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 101-250 employees