CHIEF PEOPLE OFFICER
Job Code : Chief People Officer
FLSA Status : Exempt
Job Business Unit : 212000 Human Resources and Talent
Reports To : County Administrator
Functional Title : 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.
https : / / oca.harriscountytx.gov / Portals / oca / Documents / Reports / Strategic Plan.pdf
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership
- 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.
Decentralized HR Management
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.HR Transformation
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.Organizational Culture & Employee Experience
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.Talent Development & Workforce Planning
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.Stakeholder Collaboration
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.Data-Driven Decision-Making
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.Qualifications & Experience
Education :
Required : Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Public Administration, or a related field required. Preferred : Master’s degree preferred.Experience :
10 years of progressive leadership experience in HR, with extensive experience managing HR functions in a decentralized organization, public sector agency, or government setting. Strong record of leading HR transformation and implementing organizational change across multiple, autonomous departments or divisions in organizations of 10,000 employees. Successful track record of leading end to end HR technology implementations and driving digital transformation initiatives. In-depth knowledge of labor laws, compensation systems, benefits administration, and best practices in public sector HR.Skills :
Proven ability to lead and influence in a decentralized HR structure while fostering collaboration and standardization where needed. Strategic thinking and expertise in HR systems, talent management, and organizational culture. Exceptional communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills. Analytical mindset with experience in leveraging HR data to inform strategy and policy.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.Option to email resume : resumes@recruiting-source.com
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