Senior Associate, Employee Relations

Hightower Advisors•Chicago, IL

8d•$0 - $105,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Our Story Founded in 2008, Hightower is a wealth management firm that provides investment, financial and retirement planning services to individuals, foundations and family offices, as well as 401(k) consulting and cash management services to corporations. Hightower’s capital solutions, operational support services, size and scale empower its vibrant community of independent-minded wealth advisors to grow their businesses. Based in Chicago with advisors across the U.S., we operate as a registered investment advisor (RIA). Your Future Team As part of the Human Resources team, you will work in close partnership with the Organizational Strategy & Delivery team to implement strategic frameworks and infrastructure that support the integration and growth of advisory practices. This role is critical in translating strategy into action, ensuring that people operations are aligned with business goals and executed effectively across the organization.

Requirements

5–7 years of experience as a Business Partner or HR Generalist, organizational development, or talent strategy—preferably in financial services or a high-growth environment.
Strong understanding of organizational design, change management, employee relations and strategic HR planning.
Proven ability to translate strategy into operational execution and drive cross-functional collaboration.
Excellent communication, relationship-building, and problem-solving skills.
You are a U.S. citizen, U.S. permanent resident or possess other unrestricted U.S. work authorization and will not require sponsorship for U.S. work authorization now or anytime in the future

Nice To Haves

Experience with project management tools (e.g., Asana) and HRIS platforms is a plus.

Responsibilities

Collaborate with HR Business Partners and serve as a main point of contact for employee relations matters, managing intake, documentation, and resolution tracking.
Build and maintain scalable, repeatable processes for handling employee issues, including underperformance, investigations, and terminations.
Partner with HR Business Partners and managers to provide coaching and guidance on employee performance and conduct.
Oversee the firm’s employee complaint platform (WorkShield), ensuring timely and appropriate responses.
Manage the annual administration of mandatory trainings, including Sexual Harassment Prevention Training.
Partner with HR Business Partners to monitor and ensure compliance with workplace policies and employment laws across all office locations (Poster Guard).
Partner with Executive Director of Human Resources and the HR Business Partners to assist with reductions in force and other sensitive organizational changes, ensuring compliance and consistency.
Partner with the Advisor Services and Human Resources teams to operationalize frameworks related to succession planning, compensation strategy, and advisor development.
Serve as a liaison between HR and advisory practices to ensure alignment and adoption of strategic initiatives.
Support the execution of integration strategies for newly acquired advisory firms, ensuring a seamless transition and employee experience.
Facilitate the rollout of talent development programs and succession planning initiatives for second-generation (G2) advisory leaders.
Assist in implementing compensation models that align advisor incentives with firm-wide goals.
Act as a trusted advisor to business leaders, providing guidance on organizational design, talent planning, and performance management.
Assist with performance management processes, including goal setting, feedback, and development planning.
Work with People Insights team to analyze HR metrics and trends to inform business decisions and proactively address workforce challenges.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams (HRIS, Finance, Operations) to ensure consistent execution of strategic initiatives.
Develop and maintain playbooks, toolkits, and templates to support advisory practice integration and growth.
Monitor KPIs and provide feedback to Executive Director, Human Resources refine and improve frameworks.
Champion a high-performance culture by supporting onboarding, engagement, and retention strategies tailored to advisory practices.
Ensure HR processes and systems are aligned with the needs of integrated teams and scalable for future growth.

Benefits

Coverage on the first day of employment for medical, dental, and vision insurance
Paid parental leave (16 weeks for primary caregiver and 8 weeks for secondary caregiver)
Mother’s lounge onsite
Flexible PTO plan
In-office Monday through Thursday and work from home on Fridays
Free brand-new gym in the Chicago office
401k matching plan
HSA employer contributions
Student loan assistance
Pet insurance