Chief People Officer

Overview:
Harris County, the third largest county in the United States, employs nearly 20,000 individuals across approximately 90 departments, providing essential services to a diverse and dynamic community. Reporting to the County Administrator, the Chief People Officer (CPO), will lead Human Resources and Talent (HRT), the county’s central HR department and functional teams. The CPO is responsible for leading with a strategic focus on people-centered practices, HR transformation and modernization and a comprehensive talent approach, driving to support this vast employee network. This role requires a visionary leader committed to fostering a culture of collaboration, equity, inclusion, and operational excellence in a decentralized operational environment.

The Chief People Officer plays a pivotal role in driving the alignment of the County's Human Resources strategy and operations with the overarching goals and objectives outlined in Harris County's Strategic Plan. This leadership position ensures that HR initiatives and functions are strategically integrated to support the County's vision, mission, and priorities, fostering an engaged workforce and promoting organizational excellence.

Strategic Plan Link

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Lead the development and execution of HR strategies and initiatives that align with Harris County’s mission and objectives.
• Provide strategic HR counsel to the County Administrator, Commissioner's Court, and senior leadership.
• Guide the integration of strategic HR practices across all County departments, working closely with independently elected and appointed department heads and HR leaders.

• Serve as a liaison between the County’s central HR function and departmental HR units to ensure consistency in HR policies, procedures, and compliance with regulations.
• Foster collaboration and knowledge-sharing across various HR teams, facilitating alignment while allowing for department-specific HR flexibility.
• Establish and maintain communication channels to streamline HR processes and promote cohesive workforce strategies despite the decentralized structure.

• Drive HR transformation initiatives that enhance efficiency, technology integration, and employee engagement across decentralized HR units.
• Lead countywide efforts in compensation, benefits, and pay equity, ensuring alignment of key policies and practices while allowing for department-specific adjustments where appropriate.
• Implement consistent performance management, talent development, and recognition programs across departments, ensuring transparency and fairness throughout the organization.
• Lead initiatives to transform central HRT operations, focusing on improving efficiency, integrating technology, and enhancing user experience across decentralized HR business units.

• Promote a unified organizational culture, emphasizing Harris County’s values of inclusivity, collaboration, ethics, customer service, and high performance across all departments.
• Design and lead initiatives that improve the employee experience, with a focus on engagement, well-being, and cross-department collaboration.
• Develop programs to enhance communication and integration between departments, fostering a sense of unity while respecting the decentralized nature of HR operations.

• Lead workforce development efforts, ensuring that departments can effectively manage talent pipelines, leadership development, and succession planning.
• Collaborate with departmental HR teams to forecast staffing needs, develop training programs, and implement leadership development initiatives.
• Provide guidance and resources to departmental HR leaders on talent strategies including employee retention practices that reflect both countywide and department-specific needs.

• Partner with department heads, external agencies, and Commissioner's Court members to address HR challenges and opportunities from a countywide perspective.
• Collaborate with departmental HR leaders to ensure a cohesive approach to employee relations, and workforce development.
• Represent Harris County in external HR forums, advocating for the County’s strategic HR vision and engaging in discussions about workforce best practices.

• Lead the development of countywide HR metrics and reporting systems that inform decisions and support data-driven initiatives across departments.
• Use data and analytics to track workforce trends, engagement levels, and turnover rates, making recommendations to help Harris County remain competitive in the job market to attract and retain qualified staff and for improvements tailored to both countywide and department-specific needs.
• Ensure that HR policies across all departments are continuously evaluated and updated based on performance metrics and workforce feedback.
• Collaborate with county partners to ensure a common baseline of countywide and departmental policies are maintained and readily available for use.

Harris County is an Equal Opportunity Employer https://hrrm.harriscountytx.gov/Pages/EqualEmploymentOpportunityPlan.aspx If you need special services or accommodations, please call (713) 274-5445 or email ADACoordinator@bmd.hctx.net. 

 This position is subject to a criminal history check. Only relevant convictions will be considered and, even when considered, may not automatically disqualify the candidate.

Personal Attributes:

• A visionary and adaptable leader who thrives in complex, decentralized environments.
• Strong integrity and commitment to ethical leadership.
• Approachable, collaborative, and committed to inclusive and transparent decision-making.
• A forward-thinking innovator who embraces continuous improvement and modernization.

• Master’s degree preferred.
  

• Reports To Position: County Administrator

Employment may be contingent on passing a drug screen and meeting other standards.  

Due to a high volume of applications positions may close prior to the advertised closing date or at the discretion of the Hiring Department.