Chief Human Resources Officer

ABOUT THE JOB

The ACLU seeks applicants for the full-time position of Chief Human Resources Officer in the HR Department of the ACLU’s National office in New York, NY. This is a hybrid role that has in-office requirements of two (2) days per week or eight (8) days per month. 

People are at the center of the ACLU’s mission and work. The ACLU is dedicated to cultivating the careers and well-being of an employee base of 650+ people (of which 425 sit within two separate unions) who are the heart of the institution. 

The ACLU seeks a strategic, people-centric, collaborative, and visionary Chief Human Resources Officer. The Human Resources team invests in the welfare and development of the ACLU’s employees by creating a place where people love to work, grow their careers, and contribute to the success of the organization. The Human Resources department oversees the entire employee lifecycle and strives to create a best-in-class employee experience through its recruiting and outreach efforts, total rewards, onboarding, learning and development initiatives, and ongoing employee engagement. The Human Resources team is responsible for creating, strengthening, and sustaining the programs, processes, and policies that empower and grow its people, support and advance the institution, and enable the ACLU to deliver on its mission.
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WHAT YOU'LL DO 

Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, the Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) is a critical member of the senior leadership team. The CHRO is the key advisor, expert, and strategic business partner to the Executive Director, and the Senior Leadership team on all Human Resources and People matters. The CHRO develops and leads the people strategy that aligns with the ACLU’s organizational goals and values to operationalize the ACLU’s strategic vision and mission. The CHRO leads the development of policies and the shaping of the culture that impacts the ACLU’s most valuable resource, its staff. Alongside its team of 13 HR professionals, the CHRO helps create an environment that both meets the collective needs of our workforce and cultivates an inclusive, accessible, and high performing organizational culture.

The successful CHRO candidate will be an experienced Human Resources leader with deep generalist expertise in the core HR functions, a strategic and trusted advisor to senior leadership who balances strategic influence with effective employee advocacy, and a dynamic and influential people manager. They will also have experience leading complex, highly unionized organizations with hybrid and remote staff and have a demonstrated passion for the work of the ACLU.

YOUR DAY TO DAY

The CHRO’s essential duties and responsibilities include:

Leadership & Strategy

• Develop and implement a comprehensive vision and strategy for the ACLU’s human resources function that centers staff experience, aligns with organizational goals and values, and ensures compliance with internal policies and relevant government regulations
• Serve on the Senior Leadership Team, providing expert guidance to organizational leadership on matters of workforce planning, employee relations, compensation, benefits, performance management, people management culture, and other HR topics to help shape organizational practices, guide strategic planning and resolve active and anticipated issues
• Partner with the Strategy and Culture Team and organizational leadership to advance the culture of the ACLU, including embedding principles of equity, diversity, inclusion, accessibility, and belonging in all HR work, including organizational practices and policy and program development and application
• Staff the board Retirement Committee, overseeing the preparation of meeting content and providing counsel to management and committee members on matters related to the ACLU’s defined benefit and defined contribution retirement plans. Participate in various board and board committee meetings as necessary
  

HR Operations

• Oversee the day-to-day operations of the Human Resources team, including talent acquisition and development, employee engagement, performance management, employee and labor relations, compensation, benefits, pipeline programs, on- and off-boarding, compliance, HRIS systems, records, and data
• Effectively lead and manage the Human Resources team, driving results using data, direct feedback, and strong accountability in a supportive and learning environment that fosters high staff engagement, high performance and professional growth
• Lead and direct the HR team in designing and