Chief People & Experience Officer | Aspire Chicago

Key Responsibilities Include

• Serve as a trusted advisor to the CEO and executive team on people strategy, organizational effectiveness, leadership development, and the team member experience.
• Develop and execute long-range workforce strategies that ensure organizational resilience, leadership continuity, and sustainable growth.
• Partner with executive and operational leaders to develop and execute enterprise change management strategies that support organizational priorities, team member engagement, and successful adoption of change.
• Utilize technology and AI to improve communication, collaboration, learning, team member engagement, and organizational efficiency.
• Champion the use of data and analytics to inform workforce decisions and measure organizational effectiveness.

Team Member Experience and Engagement

• Partner with the executive team to champion a culture that advances belonging, accountability, continuous learning, and quality across the organization.
• Design and implement initiatives that enhance engagement, retention, well-being, and belonging.
• Promote a workplace culture that embraces accessibility and person-centered values.
• Develop programs that recognize team member contributions and reinforce organizational values.
• Partner with executive leadership to craft internal communications that deliver timely, consistent messaging related to organizational initiatives, change management efforts, team member engagement, and strategic priorities.

Leadership and Organizational Development

• Lead the talent assessment review and succession planning processes.
• Evolve performance management and feedback systems to foster accountability, growth, and mission impact.
• Develop and implement organizational effectiveness initiatives and training experiences for all organizational levels of team members.
• Partner effectively with functional leaders to develop effective people strategies to build high-performing teams and achieve business priorities.

Talent Acquisition and Workforce Development

• Position the organization as an employer of choice by implementing innovative talent strategies that attract, develop, and retain exceptional mission-driven professionals.
• Ensure effective onboarding and orientation programs that prepare team members for success.
• Lead leadership development, career pathway, and professional growth initiatives.
• Partner with operational leaders to identify and address workforce challenges.

Human Resources, Total Rewards, and Compliance

• Provide strategic leadership and governance for all human resources functions, including employee relations, compliance, total rewards, performance management, talent practices, policy administration, and organizational effectiveness.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations.
• Oversee employee relations, workplace investigations, and risk management initiatives, fostering a culture of fairness, accountability, trust, and transparency.
• Lead a comprehensive total rewards strategy, including compensation, benefits, recognition, and well-being programs, that supports workforce engagement, retention, and organizational competitiveness.
• Champion organization-wide recognition initiatives that celebrate team member contributions, reinforce organizational values, strengthen engagement, and cultivate a culture of appreciation and mission impact.
• Utilize market data, workforce analytics, and industry best practices to ensure compensation, benefits, and recognition programs remain equitable, sustainable, and aligned with organizational priorities.

Technology Oversight

• Serve as the executive liaison and primary relationship manager for the organization's outsourced IT provider.
• Ensure technology strategy, infrastructure, and cybersecurity support organizational goals and operational effectiveness.
• Oversee technology-related budgeting, contract management, vendor selection, and service-level agreements.
• Ensure compliance with applicable data privacy, cybersecurity, and regulatory requirements.
• Provide regular updates and recommendations to the CEO and executive leadership team regarding technology performance, investments, and emerging opportunities.

Location, Compensation and Benefits

Aspire has three primary locations with 22 community homes (and growing) serving the Chicagoland area and southern Wisconsin. Their Central Administrative Office is at 1815 South Wolf Road in Hillside, Illinois. This is a hybrid role, in office/at program sites 4 days a week. The salary range for this role is $155,000 – $170,000, commensurate with experience and qualifications. Aspire offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision insurance, life and disability coverage, a retirement plan with employer contributions, paid time off and holidays, and other employee support programs that foster balance and well-being.