Chief People Officer

What You’ll Be Doing

The Chief People Officer (CPO) is a strategic executive responsible for leading the company’s people strategy in alignment with business objectives. As a key member of the executive leadership team, the CPO will drive organizational effectiveness, talent strategy, culture, and compliance. This role requires a leader who can balance high-performance culture building with the rigor, governance, and transparency.

Executive Leadership & Strategy

• Partner with the CEO and Board of Directors (including Compensation Committee) on executive compensation, succession planning, and leadership development
• Develop and execute a comprehensive people strategy aligned with long-term business goals and market expectations
• Serve as a trusted advisor to senior leadership on organizational design, workforce planning, and change management

Public Company Governance & Compliance

• Ensure compliance with all applicable labor laws and regulatory requirements
• Persist with Legal and Finance on proxy disclosures, executive compensation reporting, and SEC-related people disclosures
• Support Board and Compensation Committee materials, including CD&A (Compensation Discussion & Analysis)
• Oversee internal controls related to HR processes in alignment with Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) requirements

Talent & Performance Management

• Build and lead a high-performing HR organization across Talent Acquisition, Total Rewards, HR Business Partners, People Operations, and Learning & Development
• Oversee executive and enterprise-wide succession planning
• Drive performance management frameworks tied to company objectives and shareholder value

Total Rewards & Executive Compensation

• Design and manage competitive compensation and equity programs aligned with public market benchmarks
• Partner with Compensation Committee on executive compensation philosophy, equity plans, and say-on-pay readiness
• Ensure transparency and competitiveness of compensation practices

Culture, Engagement & DEI

• Champion a strong, values-driven culture that supports business performance and employee engagement
• Lead Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) strategy with measurable outcomes
• Oversee employee engagement strategies and action planning

People Analytics & Reporting

• Leverage data and analytics to inform decision-making and provide insights to executive leadership and the Board
• Develop and report on key workforce metrics, including those relevant to ESG disclosures
• Ensure accuracy and integrity of people data and reporting

Change Management & Transformation

• Lead organizational transformations, including M&A integration, restructuring, and scaling initiatives
• Implement change management strategies to support growth and operational excellence

Qualifications

• Deep expertise in executive compensation, governance, and Board engagement
• Strong knowledge of regulatory requirements, including SEC disclosures and SOX compliance
• Demonstrated success in scaling organizations and leading through change
• Exceptional executive presence, communication, and stakeholder management skills

Required Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration or Human Resources or closely related field (or equivalent work experience) required

Preferred Education

Master’s Degree in HR or Business preferred

Required Experience

• 15+ years’ experience in an HR leadership role
• Proven experience in a publicly traded company environment
• Experience in scaling a fast growing organization
• Experience working in large size organization (revenues greater than $800 million)

Preferred Licensure/Certification

SPHR or SHRM-SCP

Benefits

• Comprehensive healthcare coverage – We cover 100% of premiums for medical, dental, and vision plans for employee-only plans.
• Annual bonus
• We match up to 3.5% of your 401k contributions, ensuring your retirement savings grow alongside your career.
• 6 paid sick and mental health days, an Employee Assistance Program, free weekly yoga and meditation classes, and additional mental health benefits, because we take a holistic approach to your well-being.
• Invest in your future with our Employee Stock Ownership Plan, where company contributions fund your retirement plan with company stock. Learn more.
• Reimbursements for a portion of personal cell phone and internet usage for eligible employees.
• Professional development opportunities with mentorship, continuous learning programs, and performance-based pay increases, empowering you to progress and excel in your career.
• Through our charity sponsorships, you can make a positive impact on communities worldwide. We’ve donated over $9 million to date.
• Potential for quarterly KPI bonuses.

Pay

The base salary range is $288,000-$360,000, plus bonus potential.

Contact Information

A Note to Recruiting Agencies: At Golden Pet Brands, we handle all hiring through our internal Talent Acquisition team. Occasionally, we might use staffing or recruiting agencies to support our internal team in finding the right candidates. Agencies are not authorized to contact our hiring teams directly to present candidates. Our internal Talent Acquisition team is responsible for all candidate presentations to our hiring managers. Golden Pet Brands will need written approval and a signed agreement before submitting any candidate info for a specific job opening. Without this, we won’t pay any fees for placements. Thank you for your understanding.

Candidate Safety: The safety of our candidates is our highest priority. When looking for a job, please be aware of cyber criminals, fake domains, and fraudulent job offers. Golden Pet Brands recruiters will only contact applicants from our official company e-mail domain, (NAME@GOLDENPETBRANDS.COM) or through our internal Applicant Tracking System, Greenhouse. In addition, Golden Pet Brands recruiters will never send you checks, or ask you to disclose personal financial details.

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