Human Resources Business Partner

About the role

The Study at the University of Chicago is seeking a Human Resources Business Partner to lead and execute all Human Resources functions for the hotel and restaurant.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage all Human Resources functions for the hotel and restaurant, including recruiting, onboarding, payroll, benefits administration, employee relations, performance management, and compliance.
• Serve as a strategic partner to the General Manager and property leadership team, supporting operational performance, workforce planning, organizational effectiveness, and team member engagement.
• Own talent acquisition for the property, leading all full-cycle recruiting efforts from workforce planning and sourcing through interviewing, hiring, and onboarding.
• Partner closely with department leaders to proactively identify staffing needs, build talent pipelines, reduce time-to-fill, and ensure every hire aligns with Study Hotels’ culture, service standards, and operational goals.
• Develop and execute proactive sourcing strategies to attract qualified candidates for hotel, restaurant, culinary, leadership, and other operational positions.
• Coordinate and oversee new-hire onboarding, orientation, employment documentation, background screening, and other pre-employment requirements.
• Own the full-cycle payroll process, ensuring accurate, compliant, and timely submission.
• Oversee benefits administration, including the enrollment of newly eligible team members, qualifying life events, employee inquiries, and adherence to Affordable Care Act compliance requirements.
• Lead the property’s performance management process, including annual reviews, coaching, corrective and disciplinary actions, performance improvement plans, and employee development planning.
• Provide guidance and support to managers on employee relations matters, ensuring concerns are addressed promptly, consistently, fairly, and in accordance with company policies and applicable laws.
• Conduct or support workplace investigations, document findings, recommend appropriate action, and maintain confidentiality throughout the process.
• Implement and execute Home Office HR initiatives, policies, procedures, and programs to support consistency and alignment across the Study Hotels portfolio.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local employment laws, wage and hour requirements, payroll regulations, and recordkeeping obligations.
• Maintain accurate, complete, and up-to-date personnel files, payroll records, benefits documentation, performance records, and other employment-related information.
• Monitor HR and recruiting metrics, including staffing levels, open positions, time-to-fill, turnover, retention, and employee relations activity. Provide reporting and actionable insights to property and Home Office leadership.
• Foster a positive, inclusive, service-oriented, and high-performance work environment that supports team member engagement, professional development, and retention.
• Partner cross-functionally with department leaders to anticipate operational needs and promote consistent HR practices throughout the property.
• Handle confidential and sensitive information with discretion, professionalism, and sound judgment.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Hospitality Management, or a related field required.
• Experience: Minimum of three to five years of progressive Human Resources experience, preferably within hospitality, restaurants, or another service-oriented environment.
• Demonstrated success managing full-cycle recruiting, including sourcing, interviewing, selection, hiring, and onboarding.
• Experience partnering with hiring managers to assess staffing needs and develop effective recruitment strategies.
• Strong knowledge of benefits administration and Affordable Care Act compliance requirements.
• Experience working with HRIS and payroll platforms; ADP Workforce Now strongly preferred.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Excel, Word, and Outlook.
• Excellent organizational, written communication, verbal communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build credibility with candidates, team members, managers, and senior leaders.
• Ability to exercise discretion and professionalism when handling confidential information.
• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple responsibilities in a fast-paced, on-site environment.