Vice President of Human Resources

Role overview

The organization is hiring a Vice President of Human Resources to lead the full HR function in Milwaukee, WI. This senior leader will act as a player-coach, owning recruiting infrastructure, talent management, culture, payroll, and benefits while serving as the top HR voice in the Milwaukee office and a member of the executive leadership team.

The role is based in Milwaukee's Third Ward and requires being in the office 3 to 4 days each week. The company is around 200 employees strong and operates in a fast-changing, growth-oriented environment where priorities can shift quickly and systems are still being built.

About the company

Expert Institute is a technology platform that connects litigation attorneys with expert witnesses in a large market where it currently holds less than 5% share. Its primary customers are personal injury and medical malpractice law firms. The business is private equity backed, subscription-based, and supported by recurring revenue, strong organic growth, and solid free cash flow.

MRA Recruiting Services is partnering directly with the company's HR leadership team to fill this position. This is a direct hiring channel, not an agency-recruiter arrangement.

Key responsibilities

• Improve and simplify the end-to-end recruiting process, with particular attention to sales and engineering hiring.
• Develop scorecards, structured interview practices, and clear accountability at each hiring stage.
• Apply AI and automation tools to speed up sourcing and screening.
• Own merit review cycles, compensation planning, and promotion standards.
• Design and manage 360-degree feedback and ongoing performance management programs.
• Create manager development and learning programs that can scale with the company's growth.
• Establish the cultural tone for the Milwaukee office as the most senior local leader.
• Oversee HR systems, compliance, and employee feedback mechanisms.
• Lead, coach, and develop the HR team with clear goals and expectations.
• Present HR strategy, metrics, and recommendations to the executive team and board with clarity and confidence.

Candidate profile

The ideal candidate is comfortable leading in a smaller company environment where headcount is under roughly 250 and the pace is fast. This person should be both strategic and hands-on, with the ability to build the plan and execute the work personally.

Strong communication skills are essential, especially when presenting to executives and board members. A solid background in recruiting, particularly for sales and engineering or other technical roles, is important. The company also values leaders who naturally use software, automation, and AI to remove manual work from HR processes.

Experience and qualifications

• At least 8 years of HR experience, including 3 or more years in a senior leadership position.
• Experience working in organizations with fewer than about 250 employees.
• A proven history of recruiting for sales and/or technical roles.
• Strong expertise in performance management and compensation design.
• Hands-on experience using software and/or AI tools to improve HR efficiency, with the ability to explain specific workflows or tools used.
• Comfort presenting HR strategy and business metrics to executives and boards.
• Experience in PE-backed or high-growth environments is preferred.
• SHRM-SCP, SPHR, or an MBA is considered an advantage.

Compensation and benefits

The package includes a competitive base salary, performance bonus, and equity. Full benefits are provided, including medical, dental, vision, and a 401(k) with company match.

Work arrangement

This is a full-time onsite leadership role with a hybrid office expectation: 3 to 4 days per week in the Milwaukee office.

About MRA

Founded in 1901, MRA is a nonprofit employer association that supports more than 4,000 employers and over one million employees. As one of the largest employer associations in the United States, it provides HR services, education, information, and resources that help organizations build strong workplaces and workforces.