Position Summary
The Chief People Officer (CPO) is a strategic and mission-driven executive who serves on the YMCA of Greater Indianapolis Strategic Leadership Team. The CPO leads the development and execution of a people-centered strategy that drives organizational effectiveness, talent development, cultural alignment, and operational excellence across all levels of the YMCA. This leader models the YMCA core values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility while fostering an inclusive, high-performance culture.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership
- Provide visionary leadership for HR and people operations, aligning strategies with the YMCA's mission, business goals, and strategic plan.
- Serve as a strategic advisor to the CEO, senior leadership, and Board of Directors on talent-related matters.
- Lead change management and culture transformation efforts that improve staff engagement, performance, and development.
- Champion equity, diversity, inclusion, and global strategies across all programs and initiatives.
Talent and Organizational Development
- Lead the full employee lifecycle: attraction, recruitment, onboarding, performance management, succession planning, and retention.
- Oversee leadership development, coaching, and learning programs to cultivate a high-potential workforce.
- Evaluate talent readiness and organizational fit of current leaders and staff; make recommendations to strengthen team alignment and structure.
Total Rewards and Compliance
- Oversee total rewards strategy, including compensation, benefits, wellness, and recognition programs.
- Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local labor laws and board-adopted policies.
- Monitor workforce trends and regulatory changes to proactively adjust HR policies and practices.
Operational Oversight
- Develop and manage the HR department's annual budget and conduct periodic cost/productivity analyses.
- Drive process improvement initiatives and optimize HR systems and technologies (HRIS, reporting, analytics).
- Lead and participate in key YMCA committees including HR/Leadership Development, Executive Compensation, Employee Resource Groups, and national YMCA peer groups.
Key Competencies and Attributes
- Strategic thinker and systems-level leader with proven ability to influence and execute change.
- Outstanding interpersonal, coaching, and listening skills; skilled at building trust and navigating complexity.
- Strong communication, facilitation, and presentation skills with stakeholders at all levels.
- Proven track record of aligning HR strategies with organizational objectives.
- Deep expertise across HR domains: talent management, employee engagement, compensation/benefits, compliance, HRIS, learning & development.
Role Dimensions
- Direct supervision of 6 full-time staff, with indirect oversight of 4 additional full-time and 2 part-time employees.
- Responsible for $1.5M departmental budget.
- Stewardship of personnel expenses representing over 60% of Association's total budget: $25M in payroll and $4M in benefits
- Employee base: 285 full-time staff and 2,300 part-time/seasonal employees.
Expected Outcomes
- Lead a transformation of YMCA culture aligned to its mission and strategic goals.
- Position the YMCA of Greater Indianapolis as an "Employer of Choice" through employee engagement, development, and performance strategies.
- Implement talent systems that are measurable, equitable, and scalable.
- Proactively shape and sustain a values-driven, diverse, and thriving organizational culture.
