Chief Human Resources Officer

Kansas City Public Schools Chief Human Resources Officer Job Title Code: 02037 Salary Grade: S72x ($152,000 - budget max) Department: Human Resources Reports To: Superintendent of Schools FLSA Status: Exempt Position Summary: A Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) is a strategic leadership role focused on managing and optimizing human capital to align with overall district goals. The CHRO develops and implements strategies to attract, retain, and develop top talent, fosters a positive and inclusive work culture, and ensures that HR policies and practices support are aligned with the strategic plan. This position serves on the Superintendent Executive Cabinet and is deemed critical to district operations. Responsibilities Employee Experience Strategy & Design: Develop and implement the overall HR strategy, ensuring it aligns with district objectives and supports its growth. Oversee all aspects of talent management, attracting, recruiting, onboarding, and retaining a high-performance workforce. Develop and implement leadership development, continuity, and succession plans and policies to ensure organizational stability and growth. Create and sustain a positive, engaging work environment that promotes employee well‑being, and fosters a culture of collaboration and innovation. Serve as liaison for union-related matters; including grievances, collective bargaining, and personnel investigations, and render formal decision up to and including dismissal. Program Development & Implementation: Oversee the employee performance evaluation process for both Certified and Classified staff, ensuring timely completion, accuracy, and compliance with district requirements. Develop and deploy employee engagement tools to assess workplace culture, identify priorities, and inform HR program development. Manage all HR functions related to compensation, employee relations, HR operations, and the overall employee experience, working collaboratively with other departments to ensure professional development and training are effectively delivered and integrated. Collaboration & Partnership: Partner with all HR functions (e.g., Talent Acquisition, HR Operations, Employee Relations) to ensure seamless, integrated employee experience throughout employee lifecycle. Collaborate with cross‑departmental teams to ensure consistent application of policies, procedures, and best practices. Build strong trust‑based relationships with district leaders, school administrators, and employee groups. Foster open and transparent dialogue to align personnel practices with organizational goals and priorities. Work closely with external partners, community organizations, and professional networks to expand recruitment pipelines and support district initiatives. Data, Analytics & Continuous Improvement: Establish and maintain key metrics and analytical frameworks to evaluate HR program effectiveness and organizational health. Analyze data on employee satisfaction, engagement, retention, and workplace culture to identify trends and root causes. Integrate qualitative and quantitative feedback into HR planning and decision‑making, shaping clear, actionable recommendations for leadership that align with district goals, district policies, and employee needs. Prepare and present regular reports to stakeholders, highlighting progress, challenges, and opportunities for improvement. Lead and coordinate continuous improvement efforts across all aspects of the employee lifecycle, ensuring efforts are data‑driven and aligned with district goals. Qualifications Master’s degree in Human Resources, Business, Education, or a related field. Minimum of three years leading Human Resources department. Demonstrated experience in designing, implementing, and evaluating employee performance, recognition, or well‑being programs. Proven ability to build strong partnerships and collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders, influencing across all levels of an organization. Strong analytical skills with experience applying qualitative and quantitative data to drive HR planning and decision making. Exceptional interpersonal, communication (verbal, written, and presentation), and empathetic listening skills that foster trust and engagement. Skilled in leading cross‑functional teams and managing multiple initiatives simultaneously with strong project management discipline. Preferred Qualifications Professional credentials in Human Resources (PHR or SHRM‑CP). Experience in public sector or K12 leadership, with demonstrated success in labor relations and working collaboratively with unionized workforces. Proven success in designing and executing succession planning and leadership development programs. Physical Demands This job requires that the employee be able to: sit, stand, walk, speak, hear, use hands, fingers, and reach with hands and fingers; bend, stoop, and lift objects of at least ten pounds. Job requires the employee occasionally to stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. Visual ability requires mono and color vision, close vision, distance vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. Terms of Employment Length of work year: 12 months, 7.5 hours per day/ 5 days per week; 260 work days. Benefits Health and Dental Insurance are provided. KCPS Defined Benefit Pension plan – mandatory 9% contribution is required from employees and matched by KCPS; voluntary retirement savings plans are also available. Why Join Kansas City Public Schools? Be a Changemaker. Collaborate with Passionate Colleagues. #LevelUp the Future #J-18808-Ljbffr