Job Description

Boston 2, 72-74 East Dedham Street, Boston, MA 02118, USA

When you join The Home for Little Wanderers, you join a team of professionals dedicated to creating better, brighter futures for kids.

For over 200 years, The Home for Little Wanderers has helped build stable lives and hopeful tomorrows for vulnerable children and their families. Our 25+ community-based and residential programs serve thousands of at-risk youths from birth to age 26. Many of these children have experienced abuse, neglect, trauma, or a disrupted family life. As the oldest child welfare agency in America, we provide them with safe surroundings, permanent loving relationships, and a secure path toward a better, brighter future.

To learn more about the incredible impact our employees have on the lives of children and families, click here:

How You Will Be Making a Difference

The Chief People Officer (CPO) serves as The Home for Little Wanderers enterprise leader for people strategy, organizational culture, and the full employee experience. As a strategic advisor to the President & CEO and a core member of the Executive Leadership Team, the CPO ensures the organization has the talent, systems, and culture required to deliver better, brighter futures for kids while supporting a high-performing, values-driven workforce.

The CPO translates organizational priorities into multiyear roadmaps; builds diverse talent pipelines; elevates manager capability; stewards equitable and competitive total rewards; and ensures robust HR operations, HRIS optimization, and multijurisdictional compliance.

In close partnership with department leaders, the CPO aligns HR initiatives with service delivery priorities and organizational growth and serves as staff liaison to relevant Board committees. The CPO also leads the HR budget and resource planning for professional development, recognition, incentives, and programs that strengthen culture, belonging, and staff wellbeing across the organization.

Essential Functions

• Develop and execute a comprehensive people strategy that advances mission impact, organizational health, and employee experience.
• Lead, support and develop a multidisciplined human resources team, including recruitment, compensation and benefits, and employee relations.
• Collaborates with CEO and executive leadership team to align HR initiatives with organizational goals and program outcomes.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to the CEO and other executives on people matters, providing strategic guidance and support.
• Lead annual and multi-year HR roadmaps, translating strategic priorities into actionable objectives.
• Manage the design and implementation of competitive compensation, benefits and total rewards strategies to attract and retain talent and ensure alignment with organizational needs.
• Own the agencys employee engagement strategy including employee experience and employee recognition.
• Oversee a proactive and strategic employeerelations function, ensuring fair, consistent, and legally compliant practices; provide guidance on complex workplace matters; strengthen manager capability in resolving issues; and cultivate a culture of trust, accountability, and open communication.
• Lead the performance evaluation strategy, ensuring the organization utilizes effective platforms, tools, and processes that support meaningful feedback, accountability, and development.
• Develop manager capability frameworks, learning journeys, and leadership pathways across all staff levels.
• Build diverse talent pipelines and recruiting strategies aligned to program needs.
• Own HRIS strategy and optimization, ensuring accurate data and efficient processes.
• Ensure multi-jurisdictional HR compliance and policy alignment.
• Champion an inclusive culture and embed DEI principles in all talent systems.
• Serve as staff liaison to Board committees and partner across departments to align HR initiatives with service delivery and growth plans.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Education and Experience

• Demonstrated experience serving as a Chief People Officer or in an equivalent executive HR leadership role, with a proven track record of leading enterprisewide people strategy and organizational transformation.
• 1015+ years progressive HR leadership required.
• Nonprofit, healthcare, and/or multi-site experience preferred.
• Demonstrated success in employee engagement and manager capability strategies.
• Expertise in total rewards design and market benchmarking.
• Strong command of HR operations, HRIS optimization, and multi-state compliance.
• Skilled communicator and change leader; proven ability to collaborate with executive leadership.
• Advanced degree in HR/Business or related field preferred; SHRM-SCP/CP or equivalent credentials a plus.

What The Home Can Offer You

In addition to the chance to make a lasting impact on the lives of the youth we serve, The Home for Little Wanderers offers competitive salaries and a comprehensive benefits package including:

• Generous time off including up to 15 days per year for new full-time employees, plus 11 holidays, and 5 sick days
• Health, Dental and Vision Insurance available
• Extensive training to new staff
• Tuition reimbursement of up to $2,400 per fiscal year
• 403(b) Retirement Plan with employer match
• Employer paid Long-term and Short-term Disability Insurance, plus Basic Life and AD&D Insurance
• And more!

Compensation

The target salary range for this role is $175,000-$225,000.

The pay range listed represents the companys good faith estimate of the salary or wage range for this position at the time of posting, as required under applicable law. Actual compensation will be based on a variety of factors, including a candidates relevant experience, education, skills, and internal equity relative to other employees in similar roles. Candidates with less directly related experience may be placed toward the lower end of the range, while those with extensive or specialized experience may be placed toward the higher end. Market conditions and budget considerations may also influence final pay decisions.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.

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