HR People Partner - Chicago - Neostella

Description

At Neostella, our mission is simple: empower legal teams to work smarter, faster, and more reliably. We deliver advanced technology solutions and satellite team support that streamline operations, boost efficiency, and transform the way firms and corporate legal departments work day to day. We're relentlessly customer-centric. Everything we do is in service of making our clients' work easier and helping them deliver better experiences to their clients. We're also a true team: supportive, scrappy, and always in it together. We believe in showing up for one another, rolling up our sleeves, and celebrating the wins. It's who we are, and it's how we help our customers succeed. Neostella is in hyper-growth mode, leveraging cutting-edge technology to solve real challenges for our clients. And we're looking for driven, people-first professionals to help us scale with purpose and heart. As we continue to expand, we are seeking an HR People Partner to join our team

Why This Role Matters Right Now

Neostella is in a critical stage of growth. As our teams expand across offices and functions, we need strong, embedded HR partnership to ensure we are building healthy, high-performing teams while retaining top talent.

This role exists because people strategy is business strategy. The HR People Partner will work closely with leaders to strengthen employee engagement, organizational effectiveness, and talent retention. Your partnership will directly impact team performance, leadership capability, and our ability to scale sustainably while maintaining a strong culture.

This is an in-office role requiring presence in a Neo office 4-5 days per week, with weekly travel between our Milwaukee and Chicago offices to support leaders and employees on-site.

What You'll Manage

As an HR People Partner, you will serve as a strategic advisor to leaders and teams across assigned divisions. You'll provide guidance on organizational design, talent development, employee relations, U.S. benefits, and overall team performance.

You will lead the execution of key cyclical HR processes—performance reviews, compensation planning, engagement surveys—and ensure they are delivered with excellence and consistency.

This role requires someone who is comfortable operating in a fast-paced, evolving environment. You will help leaders navigate growth, change, and team transitions while proactively identifying risks and opportunities through data and strong business partnership.

What You Bring

We're looking for a confident, people-first HR professional who thrives in accelerating environments and sees change as opportunity—not chaos. You are a strong coach and advisor, capable of influencing leaders at all levels while maintaining trust and credibility.

You combine empathy with sound judgment, data with intuition, and strategy with execution. You are comfortable navigating sensitive employee relations matters and balancing business needs with people impact. Most importantly, you are passionate about building engaged, resilient teams that perform at a high level.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as a strategic business partner to leaders and teams, providing guidance on organizational design, talent development, employee relations, U.S. benefit plans, and team performance
• Collaborate with leadership to drive engagement, retention, and employee experience initiatives
• Lead execution of cyclical HR processes (performance reviews, compensation planning, engagement surveys, etc.)
• Coach managers on effective leadership practices, team dynamics, and conflict resolution
• Partner with broader People teams (L&D, Talent Acquisition, Total Rewards) to design and implement HR programs at scale
• Use data and HR metrics to influence decisions and proactively identify trends or risks within assigned divisions and departments
• Support organizational growth and change initiatives, including restructures, transitions, and new leader onboarding
• Ensure compliance with employment laws and HR best practices, particularly within Illinois and Wisconsin (U.S. compliance knowledge strongly preferred)
• Support diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) efforts across teams

Requirements

• 6+ years of progressive HR experience, including 2+ years in a People Partner or HRBP role supporting high-growth teams
• Experience in a fast-paced tech, SaaS, legal, or professional services environment
• Exposure to US benefit plans and experience in the management of HRIS systems
• Strong knowledge of employment law, compliance, and HR best practices in Illinois and Wisconsin (this, ideally, should be all US)
• Demonstrated ability to coach and influence leaders at all levels
• Comfort with ambiguity and organizational change-you see it as opportunity, not chaos
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and problem-solving skills
• High integrity, sound judgment, and discretion in handling sensitive matters
• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business, Psychology, or related field (Master's or HR certification is a plus)

Benefits

• Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental & Vision)
• Retirement Plan (401k)
• Paid Time Off (Vacation & Holidays)
• Training & Development
• Travel Bonus
• Maternity & Paternal Leave