Croke Fairchild Duarte & Beres is a growing law firm headquartered in Chicago, with a team of over 100 staff. Formed by partners who worked at preeminent international law firms, with a deep bench of sophisticated and experienced corporate lawyers and litigators, our team provides exceptional legal service while affording our clients the benefits of working with an agile and entrepreneurial-minded team of results-oriented, well-rounded professionals. We are a driven by our core values: humility, respect, collaboration, partnership, and innovation.

We represent a diverse group of interesting clients, which include private equity firms, founders, startups, venture capital investors, family offices and public companies (among others), in sophisticated and complex legal matters and transactions.

Croke Fairchild is WBE Certified and a member of the national association of minority and women owned law firms (NAMWOLF).

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We are seeking a part-time or full-time HR Manager based in Chicago to join our team and lead our human resources efforts. Our ideal candidate is an empathetic and progressive leader with a strategic mindset. You see the big picture and work as a hands-on contributor to the Firm’s success. This position will play a vital role in the daily execution related to recruitment, onboarding, managing benefits, maintaining HR policies and compliance, and promoting a positive and inclusive work environment.

As the HR Manager, you stay current with employer best practices and employment laws and provide white-glove service to potential and current team members from talent acquisition through retirement. You have a passion for building authentic relationships, fostering trusted connections, and creating an extraordinary people experience. This position reports to the Chief Operating Officer.

Areas of focus include:

Legal Compliance and HRIS 

• Oversee compliance with employment, benefits, insurance, safety and other laws, regulations, and requirements; ensure the Firm complies with federal, state, and local legal requirements in the states employees preside. Conduct audits and investigations as necessary.
• Lead response to annual census reporting as necessary.
• Manage employee handbook updates, including annual evaluation of employment policies, practices, and processes.
• Communicate policy changes and updates to employees and ensure adherence.

Onboarding and Offboarding

• Implement the onboarding process for new employees, including input into HRIS system, orientation, and training.
• Manage the offboarding process, including exit interviews and necessary documentation.

Benefit Management 

• Be a point-of-contact for employee benefits programs, including health, retirement, and other benefits.
• Lead annual enrollment with broker and facilitate benefit enrollment, changes, and communication to attorneys and staff.
• Evaluate and recommend enhancements to the Firm’s benefits package.

Recruitment and Talent Acquisition

• Develop and execute recruitment strategies to attract and retain top talent.
• Assist with the recruitment process by identifying candidates, conducting reference checks, conducting pre-employment screening, and issuing employment contracts as needed.
• Define a thorough, efficient, and welcoming recruitment process, including working with attorneys for job descriptions, job postings, candidate screening, interviews, candidate selection and notification.
• Build and maintain relationships with law schools, legal associations, recruiters and other recruitment sources.

Performance Management

• Collaborate with practice group heads and managers to implement performance management processes, including goal setting, evaluations and feedback.
• Set-up and implementation of mid-year and annual reviews in our software system.

Employee Relations

• Address employee concerns and conflicts, providing guidance and resolution.
• Promote a positive and inclusive work culture by fostering open communication and collaboration.

Employee Development

• Work with Chief Operating Officer and Management Committee to identify and facilitate training and development opportunities for employees.

External Partner Management

• Collaborate with external HR service providers, such as payroll and benefits vendors, to ensure efficient and compliant HR operations.

Wellness & Safety

• Maintain wellness and safety initiatives to support employee well-being.

HR Metrics and Reporting

• Collect and analyze HR data to identify trends and make data-driven recommendations to improve HR processes.
• Prepare quarterly HR reports for the Management Committee.

Qualifications

• Extensive knowledge of HR policies and functions. Experience in planning, creating, and implementing HR strategies.
• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field.
• HR certification (e.g., SHRM-SCP, SPHR or PHR a plus.)
• Previous experience working in small to mid-size professional services firms (law, accounting, engineering, marketing, communications, higher education). Superior team leadership, project management, negotiation, and vendor relations skills.
• Strong knowledge of employment laws and regulations in Chicago, Illinois. Resourceful in understanding employment laws for out-of-state employees.
• Outstanding communication skills, both verbal and written. Strategic, nimble, creative, entrepreneurial, and resourceful approach to problem solving. Motivated self-starter known for being kind and good-humored.

Technical expertise:  HRIS and ATS systems. Microsoft Office, LinkedIn Recruiter, employee surveys and communication platforms.

About Croke Fairchild Duarte & Beres

Croke Fairchild Duarte & Beres is a corporate law firm providing services to businesses, private equity and venture firms and their portfolio companies, public companies, founders and family offices. Formed by partners who worked at preeminent international law firms, the firm boasts a deep bench of sophisticated and experienced corporate lawyers. With offices in Chicago and Milwaukee, our team provides exceptional legal service while affording our clients the benefits of working with a small, agile, and driven law firm. For more information, please visit us online at crokefairchild.com.

Benefits

Croke Fairchild Duarte & Beres offers a wide range of benefits including discretionary annual bonus, medical, dental and vision insurance, HSA/FSA options, disability Insurance, 401(k), paid paternity leave, paid maternity leave and commuter benefits.

At Croke Fairchild Duarte & Beres, we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We are committed supporting and encouraging diversity in the workplace. We welcome our employee’s differences regardless of race, color, creed, religion, gender, national origin, sexual orientation, marital status, age, gender identity, disability or veteran status.