MOLLY HEILER
Chicago,IL
Summary
Strategic HR & People Leader with 15 years of progressive experience advising executive and operational leaders across complex, decentralized, and highly regulated organizations. Expertise in organizational development, talent strategy, employee relations, leadership coaching, and change management. Proven track record translating business priorities into people strategies that strengthen leadership and organizational performance.
Overview
1
1
Certification
16
16
years of professional experience
Work History
HR Business Partner
Shirley Ryan AbilityLab
2025.09 - Current
- Reporting to the Chief People Officer/Senior Vice President, providing strategic and hands-on HR partnership to 3,800+ employees and contractors across flagship and off-site locations.
- Serve as a trusted advisor to executive and operational leaders, translating business priorities and evolving workforce needs into proactive talent, employee relations, and organizational strategies.
- Partner with HR Centers of Excellence, Legal, Compliance, and operational leadership to address complex workforce matters and implement enterprise-wide people initiatives.
- Coach leaders through complex employee relations matters, workplace investigations, performance management, corrective action, and policy interpretation, strengthening manager capability and organizational accountability.
- Advise leaders on organizational effectiveness, workforce practices, and HR policies, identifying opportunities to strengthen consistency, governance, compliance, and employee experience.
- Revised the Attendance Policy to strengthen consistency, accountability, and compliance while providing leaders with clear guidance for managing attendance-related performance.
- Modernized the Employee Handbook to strengthen policy governance, regulatory compliance, and administration.
- Develop and deliver training on employee relations strengthening leadership capability and supporting consistent application of organizational policies.
- Lead sensitive workplace investigations involving harassment, discrimination, grievances, and other employee concerns.
Director, HR & People Operations
The University of Chicago | Division of the Arts & Humanities
2022.09 - 2025.09
- Reporting to the Associate Dean of Administration and Finance, served as the senior HR partner for 200+ staff.
- Advised the Dean, Associate Dean, and academic and administrative leaders on organizational design, talent management, employee relations, compensation, succession planning, and organizational effectiveness.
- Directed HR strategy and operations across talent acquisition, compensation, employee relations, compliance, policy administration, and workforce planning, partnering with University HR Centers of Excellence to deliver integrated solutions.
- Resolved longstanding payroll, hiring, and operational process challenges, implementing sustainable solutions that improved efficiency, accuracy, compliance, and stakeholder confidence.
- Designed and implemented standardized onboarding, orientation, and offboarding programs, strengthening operational consistency and the employee experience.
- Built and developed a high-performing HR team, coaching and mentoring the Assistant Director of HR & People Operations and HR Administrator & Payroll Specialist.
- Guided the division through an executive leadership transition, providing strategic counsel that maintained organizational continuity and supported employee engagement through change.
- Selected for the University of Chicago Advanced Leadership Program and contributed to the University HR Council, supporting university-wide people strategy and HR initiatives.
Senior Associate Director, HR & Administration
Northwestern University | Pritzker School of Law
2016.09 - 2022.02
- Reporting to the Executive Director of Human Resources, served as a strategic HR and administrative leader, advising academic and administrative leaders and supporting faculty, staff, and academic operations.
- Directed HR and administrative operations supporting faculty, staff, and students, aligning workforce practices and operations with institutional priorities.
- Managed a $20M compensation budget and $3M operating budget, leading annual compensation planning, merit reviews, workforce budgeting, and financial planning in partnership with institutional leadership.
- Led multidisciplinary teams supporting the Dean’s Office, faculty administration, and academic events; coached and developed a 15-member team while strengthening operational effectiveness.
- Designed and implemented onboarding, offboarding, exit interview, and new-hire feedback programs, improving consistency, employee experience, and organizational insight.
- Built leadership capability through coaching, mentoring, and talent development, preparing three direct reports for promotion into management roles.
- Strengthened talent acquisition and performance management practices through inclusive recruiting strategies and bias-aware hiring practices that supported a more equitable employee experience.
- Led complex cross-functional initiatives, including Law School Program Review, aligning academic, administrative, and executive stakeholders to achieve institutional objectives.
- Guided the organization through multiple leadership transitions and periods of significant change, maintaining operational continuity and stakeholder confidence.
Associate Director, Law Administration
Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law
2010.09 - 2016.09
- Reporting to the Executive Director of Human Resources, led teams of 15 faculty support and administrative staff, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and professional development, strengthening collaboration, and performance.
- Managed project budgets and resources, ensuring alignment with financial guidelines while maximizing operational effectiveness.
- Partnered with senior leadership on operational priorities, resource allocation, process improvement, and team effectiveness.
- Supported Law School faculty with grant applications and post-award management, coordinating administrative requirements, budgets, and compliance to support successful research initiatives.
Education
Master of Arts - Criminal Justice
Loyola University Chicago
Chicago, ILBachelor of Arts - Psychology
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MISkills
- HR strategic management
- Effective strategy development
- Executive collaboration
- Workforce experience enhancement
- Team dynamics management
- HRIS system administration
Certification
SHRM-CP, AI + HI, Inclusion in HR Management
SHRM-SCP Candidate: Exam Scheduled 12/26
Timeline
HR Business Partner
Shirley Ryan AbilityLab
2025.09 - Current
Director, HR & People Operations
The University of Chicago | Division of the Arts & Humanities
2022.09 - 2025.09
Senior Associate Director, HR & Administration
Northwestern University | Pritzker School of Law
2016.09 - 2022.02
Associate Director, Law Administration
Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law
2010.09 - 2016.09
Master of Arts - Criminal Justice
Loyola University Chicago
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
Michigan State University