Location: Chicago, IL (three required in-office days each week)

Salary: $80,000–$110,000, based on experience

Employment Type: Full-time

Reports to: Chief Operating Officer

About Mainland

Mainland is an integrated marketing and communications company serving franchise brands and growth-minded businesses. We are building a high-performance organization centered on accountability, urgency, strong communication and a genuine commitment to doing great work.

We are growing and evolving quickly. That requires more than an HR administrator. We need an experienced people leader who can help managers lead, address difficult situations directly and ensure our expectations are clear, documented and consistently enforced.

The Opportunity

Mainland is hiring an Employee Relations & People Operations Manager to own the day-to-day people function across the company.

This is a hands-on management role for someone who is comfortable stepping into challenging conversations—not someone who only advises from the sidelines.

You will partner with our COO, CEO and department leaders to address performance issues, coach managers, improve accountability, manage recruiting and onboarding, and build people systems that support a high-performing culture.

The right person will combine sound judgment with strong execution. You will know when to listen, when to coach, when to document and when a direct conversation needs to happen immediately.

What You Will OwnEmployee Relations and Performance Management

Lead difficult employee conversations involving performance, conduct, attendance, communication and workplace expectations
Coach managers before, during and after performance conversations
Prepare and deliver written warnings, performance improvement plans and other formal documentation
Manage employee investigations and recommend appropriate next steps
Support and participate in terminations when necessary
Ensure employee concerns are addressed promptly, fairly and consistently
Identify recurring people or leadership issues before they become larger organizational problems

Manager Coaching and Accountability

Help managers become stronger, more confident people leaders
Coach leaders on providing direct feedback, setting expectations and holding employees accountable
Ensure managers consistently follow company policies and people processes
Challenge avoidance, inconsistency and weak documentation
Serve as a trusted but direct partner to leadership
Help translate company expectations into clear behaviors and measurable standards

Recruiting and Onboarding

Own recruiting for open positions from job posting through accepted offer
Improve candidate screening and interview processes
Help leaders evaluate talent beyond resumes and rehearsed answers
Manage offer preparation, reference checks and pre-employment processes
Build an onboarding experience that creates clarity, accountability and connection from day one
Track new-hire performance and identify early concerns

People Operations and Compliance

Manage employee records, policies, documentation and HR systems
Oversee employee onboarding, offboarding, PTO administration and benefits coordination
Maintain accurate information within Gusto and related systems
Support multi-state employment compliance
Review and strengthen company policies and employee communications
Partner with outside employment counsel when appropriate
Maintain confidentiality and sound judgment when handling sensitive matters

Culture and Employee Experience

Help reinforce Mainland’s standards, values and expectations
Support employee engagement and communication initiatives
Identify where leadership behavior or company processes are creating friction
Help build a workplace where strong employees can succeed and poor performance is addressed
Balance employee advocacy with the needs and standards of the business

What We Are Looking For

6–10 years of progressive human resources or people operations experience
At least three years of direct employee-relations experience
Proven experience personally handling difficult conversations, investigations, written warnings and terminations
Experience coaching managers through performance and behavior issues
Strong understanding of employment practices and multi-state compliance
Experience working in a founder-led, entrepreneurial or fast-moving organization
Excellent written documentation and verbal communication skills
Confidence working with senior leaders and challenging them when necessary
Ability to move quickly without sacrificing judgment or consistency
Strong organizational skills and follow-through
Comfort working in an environment with high expectations and direct feedback

Preferred Qualifications

Experience in an agency, professional-services company or organization with approximately 30–150 employees
SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR or SPHR certification
Experience using Gusto or a comparable HRIS
Experience building or improving performance-management systems
Experience recruiting across entry-level, managerial and leadership roles

What Success Looks Like

Within the first six months, the successful candidate will have:

Established a consistent process for addressing and documenting performance issues
Built credibility with employees, managers and senior leadership
Improved the quality and confidence of manager-led conversations
Strengthened recruiting, screening and onboarding
Reduced delays and ambiguity around employee issues
Improved the consistency of policies and people operations
Created clearer visibility into performance, culture and organizational risk

Who Will Thrive Here

You will thrive at Mainland if you are direct, practical and comfortable taking ownership. You do not avoid hard conversations, hide behind policy language or wait for someone else to act.

You care about employees, but you also understand that accountability is part of a healthy culture.

You know that great HR work is not simply keeping records or planning engagement activities. It is helping the right people succeed, helping managers lead effectively and addressing problems before they damage the company.

Mainland is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status or any other legally protected characteristic.

Fresh Jobs. Delivered to Your Inbox.

Mainland jobs

People & Culture Manager