UW Health Northern Illinois offers an exceptional opportunity for a seasoned human resources executive to help lead a respected $1 billion community-based health system with 4,300 employees at an important moment in its continued evolution. Rooted in more than a century of service in Rockford, the organization combines deep local trust with the scale, resources, and operational strength of UW Health, a $6.3 billion system with 26,500 employees. This creates a leadership platform that is both mission-driven and highly strategic. As a community hospital and regional provider, UW Health needs a steady, credible leader who can quickly build trust with leaders, physicians, and staff while strengthening culture, elevating leadership capability, and advancing workforce strategies that support performance, stability, and growth across the market.
UW Health seeks a Market CHRO who can align human capital strategy with enterprise priorities and translate shared goals into practical, high-impact workforce solutions. This role requires a resilient, disciplined leader with the grit to navigate complexity, respond to evolving workforce realities, and drive meaningful organizational progress. The ideal candidate is a contemporary human resources leader who embraces operational rigor, anticipates future workforce needs, and understands compensation and people practices that support both business performance and an exceptional employee experience. This leader will ensure that talent, engagement, workforce planning, and organizational effectiveness are recognized not simply as support functions, but as critical drivers of long-term success.
For the right executive, this position offers the opportunity to make a visible and lasting impact within a proud community institution backed by the resources and reach of a leading regional health system. UW Health values service, accountability, and continuous improvement, and seeks a leader who brings both strategic perspective and perseverance to advance those priorities. Following a rebrand in 2021 and 2022, the organization was recognized by Forbes as the 10th-best large employer in Illinois in 2024 and rose to number five in 2025. The next Market CHRO will play an important role in helping the organization continue that upward trajectory and strive for the top ranking in the state.
Confidential expressions of interest, nominations, and applications are welcomed and should be directed to Jennifer Sonneland, preferably via email: [email protected] or apply for this position using the buttons below.
The anticipated base salary is expected to be in the high-$200,000 to low-$300,000 range, along with market-competitive incentive compensation and benefits. This compensation level is a good-faith determination of anticipated compensation at the time of this job advertisement and may be modified in the future.