Director of Human Resources

April 02, 2026

Lake Forest College, one of the top liberal arts schools in the Midwest, invites applications for the full-time, exempt position of Director of Human Resources. This position reports directly to the Vice President of Finance / Chief Financial Officer and is in Lake Forest, IL.

The Director of Human Resources has authority over and is responsible for managing all human resources functions for the College: benefits administration, budget and planning, labor and employee relations, compensation, talent management, HRIS, and all human resources related compliance mandates for Lake Forest College. Additionally, the Director will partner with the VP of Finance / CFO and other members of leadership to develop and implement an overall personnel strategy that is aligned with LFC’s mission, vision, values, and strategic goals.

Responsibilities/Duties:

• Human Resources Management:
  • Builds a culture of trust, collegiality, employee engagement, and compliance
  • Effectively manages HR personnel, operations, and budget
  • Continually monitors HR operations and determines appropriate technology systems and support
  • Ensures compliance with all applicable laws and regulations
• Employee Recruitment and Selection:
  • Partners with senior college leaders to recruit and retain a qualified workforce to advance the college mission
  • Tracks and assesses LFC’s effectiveness in recruiting personnel
  • Analyzes and coordinates employee retention efforts
• Compensation and Benefits:
  • Determines and approves compensation levels and practices for all positions prior to posting to ensure internal and external equity
  • Primary institutional liaison with external providers for all employee health, welfare, and benefit plans
  • In partnership with executive leadership, reviews and analyzes current benefits
  • Researches, analyzes, and recommends new benefits options by studying employee usage and requests, new trends and developments, programs offered by other organizations, as well as the costs and benefits associated with current and potential benefits
  • Assists college leadership with developing a total compensation philosophy and program geared towards attracting, retaining, and recognizing a high-performance workforce
• Employee Relations:
  • Informs and advises employees of HR-related policies, procedures and practices through the Employee Handbook
  • Collaborates with supervisors in effectively managing employees
  • Proactively offers solutions that align with mission and legal requirements
  • Maintains visibility and availability in order to assist employees
  • Collaborates with HR staff to administer FMLA and ADA requests
• Employee Training and Professional Development:
  • Fosters a culture of professionalism, collegiality, employee engagement, and compliance by implementing effective training and talent management programs and by effectively receiving and responding to employee concerns
  • Identifies employee development and training needs/ opportunities
  • Implements the employee development plan
• Special Projects and other duties as assigned:
  • Serves as a member of the college’s Senior Leadership Team (SLT)
  • Serves as the Administrative Liaison to Staff Governance Committee

Skill Sets:

• Strong business acumen partnered with attention to detail and the human element
• Thorough knowledge of employment law and regulations, as well as human resources best practices
• Ability to handle multiple responsibilities, prioritize, and delegate when appropriate
• Strong administrative skills, including supervisory, leadership, analytical, and problem-solving skills
• Ability to adapt to the needs of the organization and employees
• Technically proficient with computer programs; specifically, Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, ADP Workforce Now (preferred), and Jenzabar (preferred)
• Superior verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills
• Exhibits a service mentality toward all stakeholders
• All communication with stakeholders is effective, professional, accurate, and timely
• Improves work performance and that of others by being receptive to and appropriately sharing information

Minimum Experience Required:

• 7 years of progressively responsible HR experience required
• Experience in higher education preferred

Education Requirements:

• Master’s degree in Human Resources, Business, or related field; OR comparable years of HR experience, education, and certification
• SPHR, SHRM-SCP, or other relevant HR certifications preferred
• Working knowledge of Title IX, HRIS, and wage compensation systems preferred

Compensation and Benefits:

Starting range is dependent upon individual qualifications and experience but expected to be in the range of $125,000 to $155,000.

Benefits information is located at:

Application Information:

Interested applicants should email a resume and cover letter to [email protected].

About Lake Forest College

Lake Forest College is a private, residential, liberal arts institution that enrolls more than 1,700 diverse students from forty-three states and one hundred countries. Located just thirty miles north of Chicago, the college resides in the suburb of Lake Forest, Illinois.

Lake Forest College embraces diversity and encourages applications from women, members of historically underrepresented groups, veterans, and individuals with disabilities.