Human Resources Business Partner – Hospitality & Food and Beverage

Onni Properties (Chicago) Inc is seeking a Human Resources Business Partner to serve as a strategic, hands-on partner for hotel, restaurant, and food & beverage operations in a 24/7 environment. This role supports the full employee lifecycle while also helping leaders navigate labor relations, compliance, and people insights that inform property and regional decision-making.

Role focus

• Build trust with General Managers, Executive Chefs, Food & Beverage Directors, and other operational leaders by delivering HR insight and practical solutions tied to guest experience, service standards, and business objectives.
• Own the employee lifecycle in a high-volume, high-turnover hiring environment, covering sourcing, onboarding, engagement, retention, and offboarding, including seasonal ramp-ups, banquet and event staffing, new outlet openings, and pre-opening hiring.
• Support and sustain a culture of hospitality, accountability, performance, and trust across front-of-house, back-of-house, and support departments.

Employee relations, performance, and conflict resolution

• Act as a primary point of contact for employee concerns, performance issues, and workplace conflicts, including guest-related complaints, guest or coworker harassment, and disputes that arise in shift-based, high-pressure service settings.
• Lead inquiries with objectivity and a people-first approach, ensuring timely and well-documented resolution.

Labor relations, compliance, and documentation

• Partner with operations on labor cost management, including scheduling practices, overtime, meal and rest break compliance, tip pooling and tip credit practices, service charge distribution, and productivity metrics.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local laws and union regulations, including wage and hour, minimum wage and tipped wage requirements, minor labor rules, responsible beverage service certifications, and food handler card requirements.
• Maintain accurate records aligned with legal, compliance, and internal audit expectations, including EEO, FMLA, I-9, E-Verify, workers’ compensation, OSHA logs, and training and certification tracking.
• Assist with contract preparation, audit and documentation for union negotiations, collective bargaining agreement administration, and HR policies, including grievance handling and seniority, bidding, and scheduling provisions.

Safety and HR metrics

• Partner with Safety and Operations to promote workplace safety and injury prevention in kitchens, banquets, housekeeping, and other high-risk areas, including support for return-to-work and accommodation processes.
• Input, monitor, and analyze HR metrics and trends such as turnover by department, time-to-fill, labor cost percentage, absenteeism, and engagement to identify risk and opportunities for proactive intervention.
• Provide HR reporting and insights to guide leadership decision-making at the property and regional level.

Requirements

• Minimum 5 years of experience resolving complex employee and labor relations issues, preferably in hospitality, restaurant, food & beverage, or other shift-based service environments.
• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Labor Relations, Hospitality Management, Business, or a related field.
• At least three years of professional human resource administration required, with experience in labor relations preferred.
• Experience supporting hourly, tipped, and unionized workforces, including multi-outlet or multi-property operations, strongly preferred.
• SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP certification is an asset.
• Current, in-depth knowledge of HR-related legal requirements in hospitality, including wage and hour, tipped employee rules, workers’ compensation, union relations, and federal and state employment laws.
• Working knowledge of food safety, health department, and alcohol service compliance as they relate to employee training and certification.
• Flexibility to work evenings, weekends, holidays, and varying shifts, with the ability to be present on property during peak operating periods.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills, including the ability to engage with associates and leaders at every level.
• Bilingual English/Spanish a plus.

Work location, schedule, and environment

• Location: Chicago, IL (onsite)
• Noise level ranges from moderate in the office to loud in kitchen and event areas.
• Regularly required to talk or hear, with frequent use of hands and fingers for handling or controlling objects.
• Occasionally required to stand, walk, sit, reach with hands and arms, climb or balance, and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
• Must occasionally lift or move up to 25 pounds.
• Requires regular visits to restaurants, kitchens, banquet areas, back-of-house spaces, and guest-facing areas, which may involve extended periods of standing or walking, varying temperatures, and elevated noise levels.

Compensation

• Salary range: USD 80,000 - 100,000 per year

AI use and application

• The role may involve the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support research, analysis, content development, design, reporting, or operational efficiency. AI-generated or AI-assisted outputs must be reviewed for accuracy, quality, and appropriateness before use.
• Employees are expected to disclose when AI tools have been used in the creation of work and must not present AI-generated content as solely their own original work.
• Apply through the link on the job posting and attach your resume and any other required documents. Only applicants under consideration will be contacted.

Note: This job description does not imply duties are limited to those described. Employees may be required to follow other job-related instructions and perform other job-related duties requested by authorized persons. Duties and responsibilities are essential functions and subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. This document does not create an employment contract, other than an at-will relationship.