Managing Director of People

Managing Director of People

Location: Chicago, Illinois

At Curi Capital, we believe that working together we have better outcomes. Team members are strongly encouraged to work in the office three days a week.

Build and Scale Our People Function

We’re seeking a strategic, hands-on Managing Director of People to lead and elevate our people function at a pivotal stage of growth. Reporting to the Chief Strategy Officer, this role serves as a trusted advisor to the Executive Leadership Team, driving enterprise-wide talent and organizational effectiveness strategies that enable business growth, strengthen leadership capability, support succession readiness, and ensure long-term workforce sustainability.

This is a high-impact leadership role that blends strategic vision with operational execution. You’ll lead key People initiatives while also enhancing and scaling core processes, strengthening team capabilities, and delivering practical, business-aligned solutions. Success in this role requires the ability to think broadly, act decisively, and partner closely with leadership to translate strategy into meaningful outcomes for the organization and its people.

What You’ll Do

Strategic People Leadership

• Serve as a trusted advisor to the Executive Leadership Team and department heads on all people-related matters
• Design and execute a multi-year People roadmap aligned to the firm’s growth strategy and culture
• Translate business objectives into workforce planning, organizational design, and talent priorities
• Advise on organizational structure as the firm scales headcount, expands locations, and pursues acquisitions

Performance Management & Development

• Build and continuously improve performance management processes, including goal-setting and feedback frameworks
• Partner with managers to develop high-potential employees and address performance challenges effectively
• Design and deliver learning and development programs, including leadership development and manager training
• Create clear career pathing frameworks that enhance retention and motivate advancement

Employee Relations & Culture

• Champion a culture grounded in our core values: Accountability, Curiosity, Teamwork, Inclusion, and Service Commitment
• Lead employee engagement initiatives and translate insights into actionable plans
• Serve as a fair and proactive resource for employee relations, investigations, and conflict resolution

Talent Acquisition & Workforce Planning

• Oversee full-cycle recruitment across all levels, with a focus on advisor and operations talent
• Design and implement succession planning strategies for key roles across the firm

Compensation & Rewards

• Develop and administer competitive compensation structures and annual review processes
• Conduct market benchmarking using industry data (e.g., Schwab, Fidelity, InvestmentNews)
• Ensure pay equity, transparency, and scalability as the organization grows

People Operations, Compliance & Technology

• Ensure compliance with federal and state employment laws (FLSA, FMLA, ADA, ERISA, etc.)
• Oversee People analytics, reporting, policies, and procedures
• Manage People budget and external vendor relationships
• Lead and develop People team members to deliver high-quality, service-oriented support

Strategic Partnership

• Serve as liaison with Curi’s shared services partners for benefits strategy, payroll administration, and HRIS optimization

What You Bring

Required

• 10+ years of progressive People experience, including 3+ years in a senior leadership role
• Experience working as a People Leader at a registered investment advisor (RIA), wealth management firm, broker-dealer, or asset management firm.
• Deep expertise across talent acquisition, compensation, employee relations, learning and development, and compliance
• Proven success building and scaling People programs in a high-growth, mid-size organization
• Demonstrated ability to influence senior leaders and navigate complex organizational dynamics
• Exceptional communication skills with the ability to build trust across all levels
• Strong business acumen and ability to align People strategy with organizational goals
• Excellent project management and problem-solving abilities with the sense of urgency to move swiftly
• High level of professionalism, discretion, and sound judgment

Preferred

• Familiarity with the RIA regulatory environment and related People considerations
• SHRM-SCP, SPHR, or equivalent certification
• Experience supporting organizations with 80–300 employees
• Exposure to M&A integrations, multi-state employment, and office expansion

Why Join Us

• Play a key role in influencing leadership and shaping the People strategy
• Lead and evolve a growing People function with meaningful impact
• Work in a collaborative, values-driven culture
• Help build a scalable foundation for long-term organizational success

Compensation

Competitive base salary range of $180,000 - $220,000 plus annual bonus potential, the opportunity for equity participation, 401(K) with employer match, comprehensive benefits, flexible paid time off and paid holidays.