Director of Human Resources

Title: Director of Human Resources

Supervised by: Deputy Director

Status: Full-time 32 hours, exempt; Director-level position

Date: May 2025

Organization Description

The mission of the Chicago Abortion Fund is to advance reproductive autonomy and justice for everyone by providing financial, logistical, and emotional support to people seeking abortion services and by building collective power and fostering partnerships for political and cultural change. We envision a world where everyone has the freedom and autonomy to create lives, families, and communities that are healthy, safe, thriving and where the full range of reproductive choices, including abortion, are accessible and affirmed.

Summary of Position

The organization has grown rapidly to a current staff of 30 FTE. The Director of Human Resources is a new position, as the Director of Operations has been overseeing the HR function until now. The Director of HR will be responsible for shaping the employee experience and ensuring thoughtful integration of new staff, ongoing professional development for all staff, overall alignment with CAF’s values, and compliance with all applicable professional standards and local, state, and federal laws. The Director of Human Resources creates, strengthens, and standardizes all HR policies and processes, ensuring proper documentation, and communication with staff. As a member of the leadership team, they serve as a collaborative partner in aligning the strategic function of HR and people with CAF’s organizational goals. The Director will receive some administrative and tactical support from other Operations staff.

Compensation

• A starting range of $92,823-$114,604 per year for a four day workweek, depending on experience and qualifications, as determined by CAF’s Compensation Philosophy Policy.
• A 401K with 5% employer match.
• Unlimited paid time off, mandatory two weeks off, four weeks strongly encouraged, paid parental leave; federally observed holidays.
• 100% employer-paid health insurance premiums, including dental and vision, with 50% coverage for dependents; abortion care coverage in the event abortion care is not covered.
• A work phone and computer; full internet reimbursement; access to CAF’s downtown office, convenient to public transportation.
• Paid professional development opportunities.

Work schedule

• A full-time work week at CAF is defined as a minimum of 32 hours over four days. This may change in the future.
• Illinois residence is required by the start of employment. Work is partially remote. A minimum of 2 days in the office is required, preferably 3 days. The office is in the West Loop. This may change in the future.

Essential Job Functions:

Policies & Compliance (approximately 15% of the position)

• In collaboration with the rest of the leadership team, incorporate innovative, value-aligned, employee-centered policies, benefits, and internal practices that reflect CAF’s values.
• Maintain current knowledge and understanding of regulations, current practices, new developments, and applicable laws regarding human resources.
• Update and maintain employee policies handbook, ensuring accuracy, consistency, adherence to professional standards, legal compliance, and alignment with CAF’s values.
• Oversee the creation and maintenance of other HR policies and procedures.
• Work closely with Finance to ensure smooth processes and compliance as related to payroll, wage, and hour laws, and benefits administration.
• Ensure integrity and confidentiality of HR data systems and personnel files; oversee digital HR recordkeeping and compliance with privacy laws

Employee Engagement and Lifecycle (approximately 45% of the position)

• Design and lead comprehensive onboarding processes that integrate new staff into CAF’s values, culture, and policies
• Incorporate values aligned organizational culture when creating HR systems, benefits, policies, and procedures.
• Oversee & continuously improve all HR systems and life-cycle processes. Select and oversee relationships with HR consultants, attorneys, training specialists, insurance brokers, third party administrators, and other outside sources.
• Lead the annual evaluation of benefits, recommending restructuring benefits if necessary, to better meet staff needs and budget requirements.
• Oversee benefits administration and open enrollment providing support to the broker when administering benefits; handle non-routine problem escalation.
• Write and/or edit job descriptions, approving all job descriptions and postings, and ensuring proper classification for all positions.
• Offer staff support, deep listening, and coaching in a values aligned workplace culture, enabling staff to balance professional demands alongside personal commitments.
• Support staff around concerns or grievances and facilitate supportive processes for mediation if applicable and relevant to grievance.
• Manage employee leaves and terminations in compliance with CAF policy.
• Collaborate with Deputy Director and/or Executive Director around any HR matters of significance.
• Oversee offboarding processes including conducting and analyzing exit interviews and attrition rates.
• Design and manage equitable accommodations processes, supporting staff with needs related to disability, mental health, parenting, and other life circumstances

Performance Management & Leadership Development (approximately 20% of the position)

• Manage goal setting, ongoing performance feedback and coaching, and evaluate and lead annual performance evaluation process.
• Provide ongoing coaching for supervisors. Provide training in implementing the HR policies and standards of CAF.
• Develop strategies to maintain/enhance morale and retention of staff.
• Collaborate with Executive leadership to identify evolving staff learning needs and promote internal professional and leadership development opportunities for all staff.

Organizational Leadership (approximately 15% of the position)

• Serve as a key member of the Leadership Team.
• Represent and serve as a CAF representative amongst various external stakeholders.
• Prepare and present reports and analysis to the Leadership Team, Board of Directors, and funders, when necessary.
• Translate organizational values into organizational culture and support effective coordination across departments.
• Participate in the development, oversight, and evaluation of the Strategic Plan, create, and monitor department budget and annual operating plan.

Other (approximately 5% of the position)

• Actively participate in required CAF meetings and respond in a timely manner to CAF staff communications.
• When required, participate in reproductive justice movement-building initiatives.
• Update professional knowledge by participating in educational opportunities approved by CAF and professional organizations as relevant to the role.
• Co-create and maintain an organizational culture that fosters deep collaboration, trust, and coordination across functional areas.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the supervisor.

Qualifications

• Commitment to reproductive justice and abortion access for all people.
• Knowledge of intersectionality and the impact that privilege and oppression can have on people’s ability to access abortion.
• Ability to integrate a racial equity lens into HR systems and practices.

Experience

• A degree in human resources management or the equivalent years of full-time work in this field. Certification in HR (such as the PHR, SHRM-CP, CHRP, or AIHR) preferred.
• Willingness to become certified within the first 18 months of employment is required (employer-paid).
• 7 or more years of HR administration including benefits and compensation programs.
• Progressive leadership in HR positions.
• Experience working in a social justice environment with a diverse staff.
• 3 or more years of experience supervising staff.
• Experience scaling operations and/or establishing an HR department from scratch.
• Experience managing a HR database (Bamboo preferred). Previous experience gathering and analyzing statistical data and generating reports.
• Experience maintaining accurate records.
• Experience handling sensitive and confidential information with appropriate levels of discretion.
• Experience in assisting people with compassion, kindness, and empathy.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills with the ability to effectively communicate using multiple methods to people of diverse work and communication styles.
• Demonstrate proficiency in Google docs, Microsoft Office software (Word, Excel, Power Point), Google Suite, Zoom, and basic social media platforms skills. Slack and Canva proficiency preferred.

Attributes

• Strong organization skills, attention to detail, ability to multitask and prioritize
• Ability to thrive in an evolving, dynamic, fast-paced organization
• Self-motivated, resourceful, adaptive, responsive, and able to make strategic decisions
• Ability to work equally well independently and as part of a collaborative team
• Comfortable asking for support or help when needed
• Ability to focus on overarching goals while staying on point with detail-oriented tasks and initiatives

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organization and are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job. That candidate may come from a background less traditional to our field of work, and that’s just fine. We strongly encourage all interested candidates to apply.

Work Environment

• The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with different abilities to perform the essential functions.
• This role requires frequent sitting. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers and scanners. Employees are regularly required to communicate effectively via computer, via phone, and in person.
• Must be able to participate in online virtual communications including email, video conferencing, and other online tools used to facilitate virtual office culture and work sharing.
• Some work at off-site locations may be required; CAF aims for accessibility in any off-site location that we have control of, but some of them may not be fully accessible.
• Must be able to conduct business in English.
• Evenings and weekend work is very rare.

How to Apply

• Please send a cover letter explaining why you are a good fit for this position. Include your resume and submit to Bamboo https://chicagoabortionfund.bamboohr.com/careers/36
• Position begins as soon as possible.

Commitment to Diversity, Inclusion, and Equality

CAF is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any individual based on any non-merit factor and is committed to an equitable workplace where everyone is treated as a respected and valued member of the team. CAF actively seeks to build and maintain a diverse staff regarding race, culture, ethnicity, class, religion, physical ability, age, gender, and sexual orientation. As an organization working in solidarity with the reproductive justice movement, CAF is committed to fostering the leadership and elevating the voices of women, young people, people of color, Native people, immigrant and refugees, low-income people, LGBQ+, and transgender, gender non-conforming, and non-binary people, people who have had abortions, people with disabilities, young parents, people who were formerly imprisoned, people who have received funding for abortions, and people living in the many intersections of these experiences.