Director of Human Resources

Hotel Name: The Millennium Hotel Knickerbocker Chicago

Location: Onsite – Chicago, IL

Salary Range: $120,000 - $135,000

Join the Team at The Knickerbocker Chicago

At The Knickerbocker Chicago, hospitality is where timeless style meets the energy of the city. We create experiences that feel both elevated and welcoming—where every guest interaction leaves a lasting impression.

About The Knickerbocker Chicago

Located just steps from Chicago’s iconic Magnificent Mile, The Knickerbocker Chicago places you at the center of it all—world-class shopping, renowned dining, and vibrant city life.

Blending classic charm with modern comfort, the hotel offers a sophisticated yet approachable experience for both business and leisure travelers. From the buzz of the city outside to the warm, inviting atmosphere inside, The Knickerbocker delivers a stay that feels distinctly Chicago—stylish, dynamic, and full of character

As part of Millennium Hotels & Resorts, a global hospitality leader with over 145 hotels across key destinations worldwide, our hotel is backed by a legacy of quality, consistency, and service excellence—driven by a passion for hospitality, an entrepreneurial spirit, innovation, and a progressive, solutions-oriented approach."

At Millennium, we are guided by our core values:

• Passion for Hospitality – Delivering meaningful and memorable guest experiences
• Entrepreneurial – Taking ownership and acting with agility
• Innovation & Progressive – Continuously improving how we operate and serve
• Solutions & Results Oriented – Staying adaptable and focused on results

These values shape how we work, how we lead, and how we create exceptional experiences for our guests and our teams.

About the Role

The Millennium Knickerbocker Hotel Chicago—one of the city’s most iconic historic properties—is seeking a highly experienced Director of Human Resources to lead all aspects of the people strategy within a complex, unionized hospitality environment.

This role serves as a key member of the Executive Committee, acting as a strategic advisor to the General Manager and leadership team while ensuring operational excellence, compliance, and a highly engaged workforce. The ideal candidate brings deep union labor expertise, a hands-on leadership style, and a proven ability to navigate Chicago’s highly regulated hospitality landscape.

Key Responsibilities

Labor Relations & Union Leadership

• Serve as the primary liaison with union partners, including Local 1 and Local 399
• Administer and interpret collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) and ensure property-wide compliance
• Lead grievance investigations, disciplinary processes, and arbitration preparation
• Represent management in grievance meetings and support arbitration proceedings
• Partner with legal counsel on labor strategy, compliance, and risk mitigation
• Support collective bargaining negotiations and union information requests

Strategic HR Leadership

• Act as a trusted advisor to the General Manager and department leaders on workforce strategy and organizational effectiveness
• Align HR initiatives with operational, service, and financial objectives
• Drive a high-performance culture focused on accountability, engagement, and service excellence
• Provide guidance on labor forecasting, staffing models, and organizational design
• Partner with leadership to drive change management and workforce planning initiatives

Employee Relations & Culture

• Lead complex employee relations matters, workplace investigations, and conflict resolution
• Oversee performance management and disciplinary consistency across union and non-union associates
• Coach leaders on employee performance, documentation, and corrective action
• Champion engagement initiatives that improve retention, morale, and workplace culture
• Foster a culture of inclusion, respect, accountability, and operational excellence

HR Operations & Compliance

• Ensure compliance with all federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations, including:
• Chicago Fair Workweek Ordinance
• Illinois labor laws
• Federal wage and hour regulations
• Maintain the integrity of HR systems, personnel records, reporting, and documentation
• Oversee audits, unemployment claims, workers’ compensation matters, and legal responses
• Ensure policy consistency and proactive risk management across the property

Talent & Organizational Development

• Lead recruitment strategy across all hotel departments
• Drive succession planning, leadership development, and internal mobility
• Implement training initiatives aligned with brand standards and operational needs
• Analyze turnover trends and develop retention strategies to improve workforce stability
• Support long-term talent pipeline development for key operational roles

Payroll & Benefits Oversight

• Ensure payroll accuracy for both union and non-union associates
• Oversee benefits administration and vendor relationships
• Partner with Finance on labor reporting, forecasting, and cost management
• Monitor labor expenses and identify opportunities for operational efficiency

Requirements

• Minimum 8–12 years of progressive Human Resources leadership experience, preferably in hospitality
• Direct union labor relations experience required
• Experience with Local 1 and/or Local 399 strongly preferred
• Demonstrated success managing grievances, arbitration, investigations, and labor compliance
• Strong working knowledge of Chicago labor regulations, ordinances, and union environments
• Proven ability to influence senior leadership and drive organizational results
• Exceptional interpersonal, communication, negotiation, and problem-solving skills
• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field preferred
• HR certification ( PHR, SPHR, or SHRM-CP/SCP) preferred

Benefits

At Millennium Hotels & Resorts, we support our employees with a competitive benefits package designed to promote wellbeing and long-term success:

Benefits may include:

• Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance
• Company-paid Life and AD&D Insurance
• Short-Term and Long-Term Disability Coverage
• 401(k) Retirement Plan with Company Match (where applicable)
• Paid Time Off & Paid Holidays
• Hotel Room Discounts across our global portfolio
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Benefits eligibility and offerings are subject to plan terms and company policy.

Why Join Us

At Millennium Hotels & Resorts, you’re not just taking a job—you’re joining a team passionate about hospitality, growth, and creating memorable experiences.

Whether you’re behind the scenes or on the front line, your work makes an impact. If you’re ready to learn, grow, and be part of something meaningful, we’d love to meet you.