Specialist, Human Resources
Description & Requirements
WHAT MAKES US A GREAT PLACE TO WORK
We are proud to be consistently recognized as one of the world’s best places to work. We are currently the top ranked consulting firm on Glassdoor’s Best Places to Work list and have earned the #1 overall spot a record seven times. Extraordinary teams are at the heart of our business strategy, but these don’t happen by chance. They require intentional focus on bringing together a broad set of backgrounds, cultures, experiences, perspectives, and skills in a supportive and inclusive work environment. We hire people with exceptional talent and create an environment in which every individual can thrive professionally and personally.
WHO YOU’LL WORK WITH
A talent and human resources job at Bain can prepare you for anything that follows in your career. Here, people are our single greatest asset and the entire company’s success hinges on your capacity to find, develop, and guide those talented people. That means we'll entrust you with the resources you need to craft an inclusive and sustainable team, and to contribute to the culture we know leads to great work.
WHERE YOU’LL FIT WITHIN THE TEAM
As a member of the Chicago Human Resources team, the HR Specialist serves as an HR Business Partner and primary point of contact for assigned employee cohorts. The Specialist owns and delivers key HR programs, tasks, and initiatives, escalating complex or high-priority matters to the HR Director as appropriate. These programs are critical components of Bain’s employee value proposition; therefore, a strong customer-service orientation, high attention to detail, and thoughtful written and verbal communication skills are essential to successful execution.
The HR Specialist collaborates closely with the broader Chicago HR and Program Management teams, office leadership, and regional centers of excellence, including HR Operations, Benefits, Employee Relations, and Immigration & Mobility.
WHAT YOU’LL DO
Responsibilities and Duties
Cohort-Specific Duties:
This role is currently expected to manage the second-year Associate Consultant and Senior Associate Consultant cohorts
- Serve as a primary point of contact for employees, providing guidance on policies, options, timelines, and next steps, and escalating more complex matters as appropriate
- Administer core HR programs across the employee lifecycle for assigned populations, including transfers, externships, leaves of absence, and other people movement activities
- Partner closely with Program Management to support performance management and promotion processes including ratings/calibration discussions, promotion committee coordination, materials generation, and related communications
- Provide guidance and recommendations to Program Management Team on policy and process, ensuring appropriate documentation and stakeholder alignment
- Execute departure and transition processes, including employee consultations, exit interviews, creating and tracking departure documentation, and coordination with internal stakeholders
- Support employee offers to return process (e.g., business school or industry sponsorship) in collaboration with Recruiting team and Program Management
- Support compensation processes for assigned populations, including regular data review/audits, bonus calculations, employee inquiries, and coordination with the regional Compensation team.
- Resolve complex employee matters including medical leaves, accommodations requests, underperformance, and employee relations issue, in collaboration with regional risk teams, HR leadership, and office leadership as appropriate
Office-Wide Duties:
- Support externship program for all Chicago general consulting employees including having a thorough understanding of externship policies and managing communications and agreements with employee, Program Manager, and externship employers
- Own onboarding programs for all Chicago employees (including Pre-Consultant Training and colleague program) for Chicago office with support from the HR Coordinator, office leadership, and regional onboarding and first-year experience teams; responsible for program excellence, process improvement/feedback cycles, and overall execution
Additional Duties:
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams (e.g., Office Services, Recruiting, Benefits, Immigration & Mobility, and HR Operations) to ensure accurate, timely, and consistent execution of HR activities
- Maintain accurate employee data and documentation in Workday and other internal systems and trackers; run reports and analyze data to support discussions and decision-making
- Support team process improvement efforts and special projects; coach or support junior team members as needed
- Support teammates and local teams during periods of peak workload or coverage needs
- Contribute to office connectedness and people-focused initiatives and activities
ABOUT YOU
This role follows a hybrid model, requiring in-office presence at least 3 days per week.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Psychology, or a related field; advanced degree or HR certification (e.g., SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR/SPHR) preferred
- 4-6+ years of progressive HR experience, ideally within a professional services or fast-paced, client-focused environment
- Strong knowledge of HR best practices across the employee life cycle such as onboarding/I-9 management, performance management, employee relations, and benefits and leaves administration
- Working knowledge of local, state, and federal employment laws and regulations
- Strong interpersonal, written and verbal communication, organizational, and project management skills, with high attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and consistently follow through in a fast-paced environment
- Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, demonstrating initiative, accountability, and sound judgment
- Ability to serve as a trusted business partner and thought partner to stakeholders, providing sound advice, practical guidance, and thoughtful HR solutions aligned with business needs
- Proven ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion, professionalism, and integrity
- Continuous improvement mindset and willingness to learn and evolve
- Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook; experience with Workday or similar HRIS platforms is a plus
The above is intended to describe the general content of and requirements for the performance of this job. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of essential functions, responsibilities, or requirements. When appropriate, reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.
In Chicago, the good-faith, reasonable annualized full-time salary range for this role is between $64,250 - $77,000.
- Annual discretionary performance bonus
- This role may also be eligible for other elements of discretionary compensation
- 4.5% 401(k) company contribution, which increases after 3 years of service and is 100% vested upon start date
Bain & Company's comprehensive benefits and wellness program is designed to help employees achieve personal independence, protection and stability in the areas most important to you and your family.
- Bain pays 100% individual employee premiums for medical, dental and vision programs, offering one of the most comprehensive medical plans for employees without impacting your paycheck
- Generous paid time off, including parental leave, sick leave and paid holidays
- Fully vested 401(k) company contribution
- Paid Life and Long-Term Disability insurance
- Annual fitness reimbursements