HR Manager Job in Chicago, IL - Direct Hire Employee Relations and HR Compliance Leader
Published on: Jul 26, 2026
Frontline Source Group is recruiting an HR Manager for a direct hire role in Chicago, Illinois, leading employee relations, HR compliance, and workforce analytics for a growing manufacturing and operations-driven employer. This is a permanent, onsite leadership position for an experienced HR professional with a transportation, logistics, distribution, or fleet-based operations background, placed by Frontline Source Group and backed for the employer by the 5-Year Placement Warranty.
Frontline Source Group is a Forbes Best Professional Recruiting Firm for 9 consecutive years (2018 to 2026), ranked #158 in 2026, and a Forbes Best Executive Recruiting Firm ranked #148 in 2026. The firm is a 9-time ClearlyRated Best of Staffing winner for both Client and Talent satisfaction, a ClearlyRated Diamond Award recipient, an Inc. 5000 honoree, and an Expertise.com Best Staffing Agency. Frontline is a member of the American Staffing Association (ASA), holds a 5.0-star Trustpilot rating across 666 plus verified reviews, and operates 32 plus offices nationwide from its founding in Dallas in 2004.
What is the HR Manager role in Chicago, IL?
This is a full-time, direct hire HR Manager position with a Chicago-area employer in the manufacturing and operations sector. The role leads Human Resources operations with an emphasis on employee relations, compliance, leadership partnership, and process improvement across a dynamic operational workforce. It suits an experienced HR professional with a strong background supporting transportation, logistics, distribution, or fleet-based operations, and offers leadership visibility and the opportunity to make a measurable impact.
What does the Chicago HR Manager do day to day?
The HR Manager serves as the primary HR business partner to operational leadership and leads employee relations, workplace investigations, conflict resolution, and performance management. Core responsibilities include coaching managers on employee issues and policy interpretation, ensuring consistent application of company policies and employment laws, driving HR process improvements, and monitoring key metrics such as turnover, retention, absenteeism, and staffing trends. The manager also develops HR reports, dashboards, and analytics to support leadership decisions, supports workforce planning and succession planning, oversees compliance, audits, and employment records, mentors HR staff, and assists with labor and union-related matters as needed.
What qualifications does the Chicago HR Manager role require?
The role calls for at least five years of progressive Human Resources experience, with required experience in transportation, logistics, trucking, distribution, fleet services, or a similar operational industry. Employers are looking for strong employee relations and performance management experience, direct partnership with operational leadership, and knowledge of HR compliance, investigations, and employment law. Experience developing HR reporting and workforce analytics is important, and HRIS experience is required, with Paylocity experience preferred but not required for experienced HR Managers. A bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field is preferred, and PHR, SPHR, SHRM-CP, or SHRM-SCP certification is a plus.
What are the features and benefits of this Chicago position?
This direct hire role offers medical, dental, and vision insurance, generous PTO and paid holidays, a 401(k) with company match, and professional development opportunities within a stable, growth-oriented manufacturing environment. The position carries leadership visibility and the opportunity to make a measurable impact on the operational workforce, partnering directly with senior leadership on organizational strategy and talent initiatives.
Who is the employer for this HR Manager role?
The employer is a growing organization in the manufacturing sector committed to operational excellence, compliance, and continuous improvement, recruiting through Frontline Source Group. As is standard for confidential direct hire searches, the specific company name is shared with qualified candidates during the recruiting process. Frontline Source Group screens every candidate against the employer's requirements before introduction, which supports the firm's 98.94 percent executive placement retention rate, well above the roughly 70 percent industry average.
How do you apply for the HR Manager job in Chicago?
Qualified candidates can apply through the official Frontline Source Group application page at frontlinesourcegroup.com/how-to-apply.html, which routes resumes directly to the recruiting team for review and matching against this and other HR roles. Employers with similar human resources hiring needs can request a search at frontlinesourcegroup.com/employer-request-form.html. Frontline also recruits broadly across HR disciplines, detailed at frontlinesourcegroup.com/human-resources.html, and for senior HR leadership at frontlinesourcegroup.com/executive-search-hr.html.
Frequently Asked Questions: HR Manager Job in Chicago, IL
What is the HR Manager role in Chicago, IL?
It is a full-time, direct hire HR Manager position with a Chicago-area manufacturing and operations employer. The role leads employee relations, HR compliance, and workforce analytics across an operational workforce, and suits an HR professional with a transportation, logistics, distribution, or fleet-based operations background.
Is this a direct hire or contract position?
This is a direct hire, permanent position. It is placed by Frontline Source Group and backed for the employer by the 5-Year Placement Warranty, which is 20 times longer than the 90-day industry standard guarantee.
Where is the HR Manager job located?
The position is based in Chicago, Illinois, and is an onsite leadership role partnering directly with operational leadership. It is not a remote position.
What are the main responsibilities of the HR Manager?
The manager serves as the primary HR business partner to operational leadership, leads employee relations, investigations, conflict resolution, and performance management, coaches managers on policy, ensures compliance with employment laws, monitors turnover and retention metrics, develops HR analytics, and supports workforce and succession planning.
What qualifications are required for this role?
The role requires at least five years of progressive HR experience with required background in transportation, logistics, trucking, distribution, or fleet services. Strong employee relations, performance management, and HR compliance knowledge are essential, along with HRIS experience. Paylocity experience is preferred but not required.
What certifications are preferred for the HR Manager role?
A bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field is preferred, and PHR, SPHR, SHRM-CP, or SHRM-SCP certification is a plus. These credentials are preferred rather than strictly required for experienced HR Managers with the right operational background.
Does this role involve union or labor relations?
Yes, in part. The HR Manager assists with labor and union-related matters as needed, alongside the core focus on employee relations, investigations, and performance management for a dynamic operational workforce in the transportation and logistics space.
What benefits does this Chicago position offer?
The role offers medical, dental, and vision insurance, generous PTO and paid holidays, a 401(k) with company match, and professional development opportunities within a stable, growth-oriented manufacturing environment, plus leadership visibility and direct partnership with senior leadership.
Who is the employer for this role?
The employer is a growing organization in the manufacturing sector focused on operational excellence, compliance, and continuous improvement. The specific company name is shared with qualified candidates during the Frontline Source Group recruiting process, as is standard for confidential direct hire searches.
How does Frontline Source Group screen candidates for this role?
Frontline Source Group screens every candidate against the employer's requirements, including HR experience level, operational industry background, employee relations depth, and compliance knowledge, before introduction. This process supports the firm's 98.94 percent executive placement retention rate.
How do I apply for the HR Manager job in Chicago?
Qualified candidates apply through the official application page at frontlinesourcegroup.com/how-to-apply.html, which routes resumes directly to the Frontline recruiting team for review and matching against this and other HR roles.
What is Frontline Source Group?
Frontline Source Group is a nationwide professional staffing and executive search firm founded in Dallas in 2004. The firm operates 32 plus offices nationwide, has completed 5,619 plus placements, and backs every direct hire with the 5-Year Placement Warranty. It is a Forbes Best Professional Recruiting Firm for 9 consecutive years and holds a 5.0-star Trustpilot rating across 666 plus verified reviews.
