Senior People Business Partner

Jack Morton Worldwide•Chicago, IL

7d•Hybrid

About The Position

At Jack Morton, we create and build brand experiences that turn heads, inspire smiles, and drive impact. We aim to redefine what experiential marketing can achieve, helping clients unlock its full value. This requires a team that is bold, curious, and works cohesively, building on ideas, pushing boundaries, and supporting each other. You will do your best work here, grow rapidly, and collaborate across clients, disciplines, and global teams to bring new ideas to life. This is a place where curiosity fuels innovation, boldness raises standards, and success is a collective effort. Ownership is expected, egos are checked at the door, and the work reflects the people behind it. We offer experience without limits – in your work, your growth, and your impact. This role requires a hybrid work arrangement in Addison, IL, with potential flexibility for those based in Chicago. We are currently in an ambitious phase, integrating Jack Morton with Impact XM to create a larger, more connected, and globally capable entity. The People team is integral to this evolution, not an afterthought. Your contributions will shape the employee experience for years to come. You will collaborate with intelligent, creative individuals who are passionate about their work and supportive of each other. You will have leaders who seek genuine partnership rather than mere process management, and you will have the autonomy to build.

Requirements

8+ years of progressive HR/People experience, with at least 3 years as a dedicated business partner to senior leaders.
Experience in agency, creative, professional services, or another fast-paced, project-based environment is strongly preferred.
A builder mindset, with a proven track record of developing or redeveloping processes, programs, or work methods.
Strong understanding of core HR functions: employee relations, performance management, compensation basics, employment law, and organizational design.
Comfort navigating ambiguity and change; experience with M&A or post-merger integration is a plus.
Hands-on, regular use of AI tools (e.g., Microsoft Copilot, ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini) as an integral part of your workflow, with ideally some experience designing AI integration into team or function operations.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to be direct yet empathetic, and clear without being overly clinical.
Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.
SHRM-SCP/SPHR certification is a plus, but not required.

Nice To Haves

Experience in agency, creative, professional services, or another fast-moving, project-based environment.
Comfort with ambiguity and change — bonus points for M&A or post-merger integration experience.
SHRM-SCP / SPHR a plus, not required.

Responsibilities

Partnering with leaders on org design, workforce planning, talent strategy, performance, and managing difficult conversations within creative teams under client pressure.
Owning the employee lifecycle for client groups, including onboarding, development, performance management, employee relations, and offboarding, while identifying and rectifying inefficiencies or pain points.
Coaching managers to improve their leadership skills through direct, specific, and practical guidance.
Driving talent and succession planning discussions that align with the business's future direction.
Leading and supporting change initiatives during a significant period of agency transformation, specifically the integration of Impact XM and Jack Morton.
Integrating AI into People function operations, such as talent reviews, manager enablement, and engagement surveys, to enhance efficiency and leverage.
Collaborating with global People partners to ensure a cohesive global employee experience rather than fragmented local solutions.