Director, People & Culture at Night Ministry – Chicago, Illinois

Description: The Night Ministry is powered by people who care deeply, about our mission, about our community, and about one another. We serve individuals experiencing homelessness with compassion and consistency, and we know that strong teams are what make that possible.
No matter the department, every role plays an essential part in advancing our mission and strengthening our impact. We value curiosity, accountability, collaboration, and a shared commitment to equity. If you’re someone who thrives in a purpose-driven environment and wants your work to contribute to lasting change, you may find a home here.
Position Summary:The Director of People & Culture is a strategic leader responsible for shaping and executing a comprehensive people strategy that supports The Night Ministry’s mission, values, and long-term growth. Reporting to the Vice President of People, Finance & Operations, this role serves as a trusted advisor to leadership and a key driver of organizational effectiveness, talent development, and employee engagement.
The Director oversees the full employee lifecycle—from talent acquisition and onboarding to performance management, professional development, and retention—while ensuring compliance with all applicable employment laws and regulatory requirements. This role balances strategic leadership with operational oversight, building scalable systems, strengthening culture, and fostering an inclusive, high-performing workplace where employees feel supported and empowered to thrive.
General Purpose:The Director of People & Culture is responsible for leading and continuously strengthening the organization’s People & Culture function by translating organizational strategy into clear people priorities and initiatives that support The Night Ministry’s mission and long-term sustainability. This role builds and refines systems, processes, and infrastructure that enable organizational growth, operational effectiveness, and workforce stability.
The Director develops leaders and employees through strong performance management practices, coaching, and succession planning, while ensuring compliance with all federal, state, and local employment laws and regulatory requirements. In partnership with executive leadership, this position advances an inclusive and equitable workplace culture aligned with The Night Ministry’s values and provides direct leadership and development to People & Culture team members. Through strategic oversight and operational excellence, the Director ensures that People & Culture functions as a proactive, mission-driven partner that supports both employees and organizational impact.
Role Qualifications:

• Demonstrated leadership experience in human resources, organizational development, and culture-building within a mission-driven organization.
• Ability to think strategically while ensuring operational excellence through effective delegation and oversight.
• Strong knowledge of federal, state (Illinois), and local (including Chicago) employment laws and regulatory requirements.
• Proven experience designing and improving people systems, including performance management, succession planning, and workforce development.
• Sound judgment and discretion in navigating complex employee relations and confidential matters.
• Ability to lead change initiatives and guide teams through organizational growth and evolution.
• Strong partnership orientation with the ability to collaborate effectively with executive leadership and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Commitment to advancing inclusion, equity, and culturally responsive workplace practices.

Position Responsibilities:Strategic Leadership & Organizational Development

• Partner with executive leadership to translate organizational strategy into People & Culture priorities and initiatives.
• Lead the development and continuous improvement of talent management systems, including performance management, leadership development, and succession planning.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen organizational effectiveness, employee engagement, and retention.
• Guide change management efforts to support agency growth and operational evolution.

Talent Acquisition & Onboarding

• Oversee recruitment strategies to attract and retain diverse, high-quality candidates.
• Ensure equitable, compliant, and efficient hiring processes.
• Provide oversight of onboarding systems to ensure new employees are effectively integrated and positioned for success.

Employee Relations & Leadership Support

• Serve as a strategic advisor to managers and supervisors on employee relations, performance management, and conflict resolution.
• Lead complex employee relations matters, investigations, and disciplinary processes when appropriate.
• Ensure consistent and equitable application of personnel policies and procedures.

Compliance, Risk Management & Benefits Oversight

• Ensure compliance with all applicable employment laws and regulatory standards.
• Oversee payroll and benefits administration systems in collaboration with Finance.
• Monitor and evaluate benefits programs in partnership with brokers to ensure competitiveness and fiscal responsibility.
• Maintain oversight of HRIS systems, data integrity, and reporting capabilities.

Team Leadership & Infrastructure

• Provide direct supervision, coaching, and development to HR Generalist(s) and People & Culture staff.
• Establish clear processes, accountability structures, and performance expectations within the department.
• Develop and manage the annual People & Culture budget, monitoring expenses and approving expenditure as appropriate.

This job description is intended to provide a general overview of the responsibilities and qualifications required for this position. It is not an exhaustive list, and duties may change as business needs evolve.
Essential Skills and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field required; advanced degree (MBA) or HR certification desirable.
• 5-7 years of progressive human resources experience, including oversight of HR operations.
• 3-5 years of supervisory or team leadership experience.
• Demonstrated experience leading performance management systems and organizational development initiatives.
• Experience overseeing payroll and benefits administration in collaboration with finance functions.
• Proficiency in HRIS systems and reporting tools.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret data and make data-informed decisions.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
• High level of discretion, professionalism, and sound judgment.
• Strong project management skills and ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment.
• Experience in nonprofit or human services settings strongly preferred.

Reporting to this position:HR Generalist(s)
Physical Demands, Work Environment, & Reasonable Accommodation: The physical demands and work environment characteristics described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. The Night Ministry is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you require accommodation to perform the essential functions of the job or to participate in the application or hiring process, please contact the People & Culture team.
Physical Demands: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools or controls; climb stairs; crouch, or crawl; talk or hear; taste or smell. The employee must occasionally drive an automobile; and lift and/or move 20 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
Work environment: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is exposed to weather conditions prevalent at the time. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate but may vary at the different locations required in this job. This role may require additional hours, sometimes weekends, during certain busy seasons.
Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) StatementThe Night Ministry is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or any other protected status under applicable laws. We encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply.
At-Will Employment DisclaimerThis job description is not intended to be an employment contract. Employment with The Night Ministry is at will and may be terminated by the employee or the organization at any time, with or without cause or notice. Requirements: