Talent Director

WHO WE ARE

At Make-A-Wish Illinois®, we are more than a great place to work:  our work is life-changing.  Together, we create life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses.  Nearly 40 years ago, the inspiration for Make-A-Wish began with one little boy’s with to be a police officer.  Today, together with our volunteers, donors, staff and supporters, Make-A-Wish Illinois has granted more than 17,00 life-changing wishes and transformed countless lives.  We typically serve over 700 children per year with the goal to double our impact across our communicates.  The diversity of our team of staff and volunteers, and our board, are of critical importance for us as it positions us to reach every child eligible for a wish with an equitable, high quality and impactful wish experience.

The Illinois chapter of Make-A-Wish is one of the largest chapters in the Make-A-Wish enterprise.  It has a reputation for being an innovator and often is a collaborator on national opportunities, co-creating solutions for all chapters to adopt.

THE ROLE

The Talent Director at Make-A-Wish Illinois is responsible for overseeing all talent & human resource functions related to the organization’s one workforce model, which includes staff, interns, and volunteers. This role ensures the successful execution of our people strategy through talent acquisition, engagement, learning and development, performance management, and organizational culture initiatives. The Talent Director leads the Talent Team, fostering an inclusive and high-performing environment that aligns with the mission of Make-A-Wish Illinois.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

Talent Strategy & Leadership:

• Craft a comprehensive talent strategy supporting the needs of staff, interns, and volunteers within the one workforce model.
• Guide the Talent Team to ensure alignment with organizational objectives while encouraging professional development within the team.
• Collaborate with leadership to shape and sustain a mission-driven organizational culture that emphasizes inclusion, engagement, and innovation.
• Advise leadership on workforce planning, succession planning, and organizational design, providing strategic HR insights and recommendations.

Talent Acquisition & Onboarding:

• Direct the recruitment process for staff, interns, and volunteers, ensuring effective and inclusive hiring practices.
• Ensure smooth and comprehensive onboarding experiences that reflect the organization's values and long-term goals.
• Partner with department heads to customize recruitment and onboarding processes that align with role-specific needs.

Employee & Volunteer Engagement:

• Develop initiatives aimed at fostering a positive and inclusive work environment for all workforce members.
• Spearhead programs such as recognition, team-building activities, and wellness to promote a supportive and engaging work culture.
• Evaluate engagement levels through surveys and focus groups, using insights to enhance the overall experience and drive retention.

Learning & Development:

• Lead the design and execution of training and development programs that support the continuous growth of staff, interns, and volunteers.
• Work with department leaders to identify skill gaps and create targeted development programs that align with organizational goals.
• Assess the effectiveness of learning programs and adjust strategies to maximize impact and relevance.

Employee Benefits Program:

• Manage the employee benefits program, ensuring offerings are competitive and meet the needs of the workforce.
• Oversee the annual benefits review process, collaborating with external vendors to assess and select appropriate packages.
• Review and analyze the effectiveness of the benefits program, making data-driven recommendations for improvement.

Performance Management & HR Administration:

• Lead the performance management process, ensuring alignment with organizational goals through structured goal setting, feedback, and evaluations.
• Ensure full compliance with employment laws and organizational policies across all workforce groups.
• Maintain comprehensive and accurate workforce records through effective use of HRIS systems.
• Support leadership with data-driven HR reporting and analytics to inform strategic decision-making.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion:

• Champion DEI initiatives, fostering a workplace where all members of the workforce feel respected, valued, and empowered to contribute.
• Ensure diversity and inclusion principles are embedded into all HR functions, including recruitment, onboarding, and development initiatives.

Requirements

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, organizational development, business administration, or a related field.

Experience & Skills:

·       Minimum of 7 years of experience in HR leadership, with experience managing diverse workforce models that include staff, interns, and volunteers.

·       Demonstrated success in talent management, employee engagement, and organizational culture development.

·       Strong leadership and team management skills, with the ability to motivate and guide a team toward achieving organizational goals.

·       In-depth knowledge of HR best practices, employment laws, and compliance.

·       Excellent interpersonal, communication, and conflict-resolution skills.

·       Proficiency in HRIS systems, Microsoft Office Suite, and relevant software.

·       A commitment to the mission of Make-A-Wish Illinois and a passion for fostering a strong, mission-driven workforce.

Additional Attributes:

·       Ability to focus on the tasks and details relevant to the position and the organization, while also switching quickly between functions

·       Ability to exercise excellent independent judgment and take ownership of decisions.

·       Ability to think on a broad, systems-level relative to the scope of the position.

·       Ability to work independently and self-manage to achieve goals while being a strong team player.

·       Ability to organize, meet deadlines, and delegate appropriately.

·       Ability to cope with and embrace change, risk, and uncertainty.

·       Ability to develop strong relationships within a collaborative setting that values diverse opinions; enthusiasm for helping drive change as MAWI becomes a more data-driven organization.

Benefits

WHAT WE OFFER

Hiring Range: $90,000 - $105,000

Work Schedule & Location:

-       Hybrid Schedule – Tuesday and Thursday in-person at the corporate office (200 W. Monroe, Suite 1801, Chicago, IL 60606) and M/W/F are remote. Business needs may dictate occasional need to adjust the hybrid schedule and team member is expected to be able to accommodate the organization’s physical presence needs as part of their hybrid work agreement.

Benefits:

-       Comprehensive benefit package:  Blue Cross Blue Shield Medical, Vision, Dental, and Wellness

-       Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Account (FSA) Options

-       Medical Leave Bank

-       Short Term Disability, Long Term Disability, Life Insurance, and AD&D Insurance

-       Additional Insurance Plans:  Accident and Pet Insurance through SPOT Pet

-       Additional Benefits:  Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and Commuter Benefits

-       403(b) Retirement Savings Plan with 25% match on 1st 6% of contributions

-       Eligibility for student loan forgiveness through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program

-       Milestone Benefit Program

-       Discounts and special offers for theme parks, events, hotels, concerts, and movie tickets

Time Off:

-       15 PTO days

-       8 Sick Days

-       8 Paid Holidays

-       1 Employee Appreciation Day per year

-       4 Professional Development Days for continuous learning and growth

-       1 Make-A-Wish Volunteer Day per year

HOW TO APPLY

We know interviewing can be challenging, so our goal is to make it as positive of an experience as we can, which includes keeping you informed across the process.

Here’s what you can expect if invited to participate in the interview process:

1)     30-minute Human Resources video screen (typically less than 30-minutes to complete)

2)     60-minute virtual Hiring Manager interview

3)     45-minute onsite/in-person panel interview with team members

4)     90-minute onsite/in-person panel interview with leadership

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Make-A-Wish Illinois is committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, sex, color, religion, age, national origin, marital status, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other reason prohibited by law in provision of employment opportunities and benefits.