Chief People and Culture Officer

Who We Are: 

Our vision is to grant the wish of every eligible child. Through our mission, we are uniting communities to grant life-changing wishes. As the world’s largest wish-granting organization, we strive to create a sense of community and an environment where we warmly embrace our wish families, volunteers, and colleagues.

Joining Make-A-Wish means becoming part of a mission that believes in the power of a wish.  

Location:

Remote positions are open to applicants based anywhere in the continental U.S. Hybrid positions are open to applicants based in the Phoenix, Arizona area. 

Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the U.S. We do not sponsor employment visas or other immigration processes to attain or maintain employment eligibility.

The Role:

The Chief People and Culture Officer (CPCO) leads the overall direction of people practices, services and processes including talent acquisition; talent development and succession/impact planning; total rewards/benefits and compensation; people strategy design and implementation across Make-A-Wish America. This position will design, guide, and implement people initiatives across the extended network of national Chapters in partnership with chapter leadership and chapter/mission advancement. This position is also responsible for the development of strategies and practices to promote the organization’s culture across the National Office and Chapters to shape the organization culture and advance our mission of granting wishes to critically ill children. This position drives a comprehensive set of strategies to attract, retain and motivate top talent throughout the organization; integrate new technologies that advance the mission; and promote and continue to enhance a strong culture of collaboration, cooperation, belonging and community.  The incumbent will be a National Office staff liaison to the National Board of Directors’ Governance, Compensation and Nominating Committee, providing guidance and support. This leader must demonstrate a passionate commitment to the organization's mission, purpose, and brand, serving as a mentor to management and staff. This includes a hands-on approach to achieving goals and objectives that strengthen the ability to carry out our purpose across the extended enterprise. This position will report to the Chief Operating Officer (COO) and works collaboratively with the broader Executive and Senior Leadership Teams. 

Key areas of responsibility: 

• Collaboratively influence to gain broad stakeholder support when developing, implementing, and promoting strategies, initiatives, projects, and implementation in a shared leadership environment and federated model. 

• Building and maintaining trusted relationships across the National Office and Chapters to strengthen the adoption of key people and culture practices 

• Oversee and align people-related tools, resources, services, and culture to support strategic goals. 

• Facilitating people solutioning across the extended organization – including both the national office and chapters.   

• Overseeing talent resource development, allocation and budgeting of key people, and culture strategies by collaborating to ensure people team assets are used in the most effective ways. 

• Overseeing the development, implementation, operation and enhancement of the organization’s people strategies and solutions, including fiscal controls, workforce planning and interpretation of trends and necessary actions to safeguard the organization’s assets.  

• Serve as a visionary leader to ensure that the workplace culture of Make-A-Wish America reflects the values, mission, and objectives of Make-A-Wish by ensuring and enhancing the organization’s attention to culture including key characteristics that include respect, gratitude, recognition, and kindness; creating an environment where people can contribute their skills and perspective to the workplace in meaningful ways  

• The incumbent will be a National Office staff liaison to the National Board of Directors’ Governance, Compensation and Nominating Committee, providing guidance and support. 

Key functional responsibilities include the following: 

• Provide strategic guidance to the Executive Leadership Team and senior leaders on organizational culture, structure, and talent management as a key member of the Senior Leadership Team. 

• Lead and develop a high-performing team of HR professionals, fostering collaboration, driving strategic initiatives, and ensuring alignment with organizational goals. 

• Direct the development and execution of HR compliance initiatives at the national office, ensuring all practices meet applicable legal, regulatory, and internal standards. 

• Apply risk management strategies and ensure employee relations procedures are implemented fairly and consistently throughout the organization. 

• Collaborating across the Executive and Senior Leadership Teams to effectively gather insights and influence key leadership and people practices.  

• Oversee all People programs, including policy development, workforce planning, compensation (including executive and incentive programs), benefits and retirement planning, talent development, succession and retention strategies—ensuring alignment across the employee experience.  

• Evolve people strategies to support technology and business transformations. 

• Lead organizational change management, culture and leadership training and development, and workforce transformation initiatives. 

• Selecting the right tools and people, guiding leadership and team development, assigning responsibilities, and finding and applying solutions that improve performance and impact. 

• Supporting and strengthening employee wellness across the enterprise. 

• Leading the ongoing development of a workplace culture where every employee knows that they are valued and feel enabled to personally contribute to the advancement of the organization’s mission and strategic plan. 

• Provide strategic leadership in navigating complex employee relations matters, serving as a trusted advisor to managers and staff. Proactively identify and manage key people-related risks and opportunities, ensuring alignment with organizational values and fostering a culture of accountability, trust, and resilience.  

Additional Duties:  

• Establish long range, strategic goals and annual operating plans Report to the COO on the progress made toward goals. 

• Set goals for departments and individuals/leaders to deliver and drive performance/results against targeted success metrics. 

• Attend and participate in Board meetings, including providing expert guidance on people initiatives and best practices. 

• Collaborate with colleagues to develop improvements. 

• Resolve issues and address risks that may arise in a timely manner. 

• Assume responsibility for timely reporting to senior management or regulatory agencies. 

• Work with the COO to build annual operating budget and shepherd approval of the budget through the Board’s Finance Committee.  

Knowledge and Abilities: 

• Extensive experience across key HR verticals to enable holistic, people-centered solutions that support organizational growth and workforce effectiveness Strategic vision that aligns the organization’s objective to drive workforce sustainability 

• Experience managing People and Culture initiatives in a multi-site, federated structure is preferred 

• Demonstrated experience leading People strategies, large-scale culture change, and organizational transformation 

• Able to influence without direct-line authority 

• Outstanding leadership/people management skills with the ability to energize and motivate others 

• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively with people at all levels of the organization and across Chapters and geographies 

• Excellent business acumen and negotiation skills 

• Exceptional written and oral communication and presentation skills for both external and internal presentations 

• Application of technology to business settings 

• Experience in talent acquisition function and evolving strategies 

• Strong knowledge of compensation and benefit programs and compliance issues 

• Proven ability to consistently deliver on high-impact commitments, driving results through strategic execution, accountability, and follow-through.  

• Demonstrated success leading an organization through complex challenges while effectively establishing and executing strategic priorities 

• Proven track record for working with an executive leadership team and at the board level 

• Demonstrated ability to lead and work collaboratively with cross-functional teams 

 Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Management, or related field required.  Master’s degree in HR, Organizational Development or Business Administration preferred.  

• 10+ years of increasing responsibility, serving at the senior leadership level.  

• Success leading progressive and modern HR/people, culture strategies and in a complex organization. 

• PHR/SPHR and/or CCP/CBP Human Resource designation preferred. 

• Strong knowledge of Microsoft Office applications required, as well as Internet and other software applications.   

• Nonprofit organization experience preferred. 

 Working Conditions:

• Remote position. 

• Some domestic travel is required. 

• May require work outside a traditional Monday – Friday work week, and outside normal business hours. 

What We Offer:

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefit package, effective day 1: Medical, Vision*, Dental*, Wellness
• Competitive compensation with annual incentive potential    
• Health Savings Account and Flexible Spending Account Options    
• Health Reimbursement Account fully funded by Make-A-Wish America
• Short Term Disability*, Long Term Disability* and Life Insurance 
• Additional Insurance Plans: Accident, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity, Pet Insurance through Figo 
• 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan with 5% match after one year of service
• Eligibility for student loan forgiveness through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program   
• The organization will send a laptop, 24” monitor, and a docking station/adaptor to new hires 

Time Off

• Up to 15 PTO days 
• 10 Sick Days 
• 11 Paid Holidays 
• 2 Volunteer Days after one year of service 
• 2 Personal Days accrued annually   
• Parental Leave      

Also... 

• Employee Awards and Recognition Programs    
• Individual and Leadership Development     
• Discounts and special offers for theme parks, events, hotels, concerts, and movie tickets   

*Monthly premiums paid for the employee for vision, dental, and short/long term disability.