Job Title: Chief People Officer (CPO)
Department: People / Human Resources
Location: [City, State] / Hybrid / Remote considered
Reports To: Chief Executive Officer
Employment Type: Full-Time
About [Company Name]
[Company Name] is a [company stage and industry description] with a workforce of [headcount] across [locations]. We believe people are our most important competitive advantage and we are committed to creating an environment where talented individuals can do the best work of their careers. As we scale, we are looking for an exceptional people leader to build and evolve a world-class People function.
About the Role
We are seeking a strategic and empathetic Chief People Officer to serve as the architect of our people strategy and the champion of our culture. You will oversee all aspects of the employee experience from first contact in recruiting through alumni relations, ensure we attract and retain exceptional talent, and advise the CEO and board on organizational health, workforce planning, and people risk. This is a critical executive role for a leader who combines data-driven thinking with genuine care for people.
Key Responsibilities
- Design and own the company's people strategy, encompassing talent acquisition, total rewards, organizational design, learning and development, HR operations, and employee experience
- Partner with the CEO and executive team to align workforce planning with business strategy, anticipating talent needs 12-18 months ahead and building scalable organizational structures
- Build and lead a high-performing People team across recruiting, HR business partners, people operations, and learning and development functions
- Champion a strong, inclusive, and high-performance culture that reflects the company's values and enables every employee to contribute their best work
- Develop and manage competitive, equitable compensation and benefits programs that position the company to attract and retain talent across relevant markets
- Drive talent management processes including performance cycles, promotion calibration, succession planning, and high-potential development programs
- Oversee all recruiting strategy and operations, ensuring strong candidate experience, efficient time-to-fill, and diverse hiring pipelines for all roles
- Implement people analytics capabilities that give leaders real-time visibility into workforce metrics including engagement, attrition, headcount, and compensation equity
- Ensure full compliance with employment law across all jurisdictions where the company operates, partnering with legal counsel on complex matters
- Act as the primary internal advocate for employee experience, surfacing concerns from all levels of the organization and driving systematic improvements
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree required; master's degree in HR, Organizational Psychology, Business Administration, or a related field preferred
- 15+ years of progressive HR leadership experience, including at least 5 years as the senior-most HR executive at a company with 200+ employees
- Demonstrated success building and scaling People functions through periods of rapid growth or organizational transformation
- Deep expertise across multiple HR disciplines including talent acquisition, total rewards, organizational development, and employment law
- Strong analytical skills with experience using people data and HR metrics to inform executive-level decisions
- Track record of building inclusive cultures and advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives with measurable outcomes
- Exceptional communication and executive presence with experience presenting to CEOs, boards, and all-hands audiences
Nice to Have
- SHRM-SCP or SPHR certification
- Experience in a PE-backed, pre-IPO, or public company HR leadership role
- International HR experience across multiple employment law jurisdictions
- Background implementing HRIS transformation projects (Workday, SAP SuccessFactors, or similar)
What We Offer
- Competitive base salary: $140,000 to $350,000 per year, commensurate with experience and company scale
- Equity participation aligned with long-term value creation
- Executive performance bonus tied to company and people function goals
- Comprehensive executive benefits package including premium health coverage and retirement match
- Flexible, hybrid or remote work arrangement
- Direct CEO partnership and board-level visibility on all people matters
2026 Chief People Officer Salary Benchmarks (US)
Entry Level
$140,000
per year
Senior Level
$350,000
per year
Frequently asked questions
What does a Chief People Officer do?
A Chief People Officer leads all people-related functions including talent acquisition, HR operations, compensation and benefits, learning and development, employee experience, and organizational culture. They serve as a strategic advisor to the CEO and board on workforce strategy.
What is the difference between a CPO and a CHRO?
The titles are largely interchangeable in modern organizations. Chief People Officer is increasingly preferred at tech companies and startups because it signals a more employee-centric, culture-forward approach, whereas Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) is the traditional title used at large enterprises and public companies.
What is the average Chief People Officer salary in 2026?
CPO base salaries in the US range from $140,000 at growth-stage companies to $350,000 or more at established enterprises. Total compensation including equity, bonuses, and executive perks can be substantially higher.
What qualifications does a Chief People Officer need?
Most CPOs have 15+ years of progressive HR leadership experience including managing HR at scale. An advanced degree in HR, organizational psychology, or business is common. SHRM-SCP or SPHR certification is an asset, as is direct experience reporting to a CEO and working with a board.
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