Chief People Officer

LifeLine Animal Project is the largest animal welfare organization in Georgia, providing services to 45,000 animals annually with a team of over 300 employees working across five locations, including two county animal shelters, and remotely. The Chief People Officer (CPO) at LifeLine Animal Project is responsible for shaping and executing the people-focused strategies that support LifeLine’s mission of ending the euthanasia of healthy and treatable animals in metro Atlanta shelters. As a key member of the executive leadership team and working with four HR professionals, the CPO will ensure that the organization attracts, retains, and nurtures talent in alignment with LifeLine’s core values: Build Community, Be Compassionate, Be Exceptional Stewards, Take Responsibility, Be Courageous, Respect, Embrace, and Celebrate Diversity, and Save Lives. The CPO will lead initiatives around talent acquisition, employee engagement, leadership development, comprehensive job-specific training, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).

Key Responsibilities:

1. Strategic HR Leadership:
   • Collaborate with executive leadership to align the people strategy with LifeLine’s mission to save lives and support community needs. Recruit, oversee and mentor all HR team members to ensure consistent implementation of all strategic initiatives and policies. Develop and implement HR strategies to support long-term growth and scalability. Build and drive company culture, ensuring that it is aligned with the organization's mission, vision, and values. Ensure HR practices reflect Exceptional Stewardship, optimizing resources while maintaining employee well-being.
2. Staff Training & Leadership Development:
   • Develop, implement, and maintain an ongoing, comprehensive job-specific training curriculum for each staff position across the organization. Develop and oversee continuous learning programs that foster skill development and career progression. Provide mentorship and training to managers, fostering effective people management and leadership.
3. Talent Acquisition & Development:
   • Oversee talent acquisition processes to attract individuals who are passionate about LifeLine’s mission and embody its core values. Develop recruitment strategies that build a diverse workforce, ensuring equity and inclusion in hiring. Ensure the performance management process fosters career growth, accountability, and high performance. Oversee the development of talent pipelines and succession planning to ensure the organization's long-term talent needs are met.
4. Employee Engagement & Culture:
   • Champion Compassion in employee interactions, fostering a work environment of kindness, respect, and mutual understanding. Implement employee engagement programs that strengthen retention and job satisfaction, ensuring alignment with the organization’s mission. Build a culture where employees feel a deep sense of ownership and Responsibility for their roles in the organization’s success. Champion a positive work environment by implementing employee wellness programs, surveys, and feedback mechanisms.
5. Diversity, Equity & Inclusion:
   • Lead initiatives to Respect, Embrace, and Celebrate Diversity, ensuring that all employees feel valued and included. Develop and maintain policies that promote a culture of equity and open dialogue, celebrating diverse experiences and perspectives.
6. Change Management & Organizational Development:
   • Drive change management initiatives to ensure LifeLine’s organizational structure and people practices evolve with its mission. Foster resilience and adaptability in the workforce, encouraging innovative approaches to problem-solving.
7. Compensation, Benefits & HR Operations:
   • Oversee compensation and benefits programs, ensuring competitiveness while balancing financial stewardship. Oversee HR systems, processes, and reporting for scalability and efficiency. Utilize HR metrics and analytics to drive data-informed decisions and measure the effectiveness of HR programs and initiatives. Manage risk and ensure compliance with federal and state employment laws, safeguarding the organization’s reputation and legal standing.
8. Mission Alignment:
   • Align all HR practices with LifeLine’s core mission to Save Lives, ensuring that employees understand the significance of their contributions to the organization’s work in animal welfare. Promote a deep connection between staff roles and the organization’s impact on saving lives and supporting the community.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Human Resources, Organizational Development, Business Administration, or related field. 10+ years of HR experience, with 5+ years in a senior leadership role. Proven track record of developing HR strategies in mission-driven or nonprofit organizations. Strong understanding of talent management, employee relations, diversity and inclusion, and organizational development. Experience aligning HR initiatives with organizational values, particularly around community, stewardship, and responsibility. Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• HR certifications (e.g., SHRM-SCP, SPHR). Experience in the nonprofit or animal welfare sector. Knowledge of employment laws and HR compliance.

LifeLine Core Values:

Build Community. We are part of the community. We partner to find solutions that support diverse needs, save lives and keep people and pets together.

Be Compassionate. We meet every person, animal and situation with kindness and respect. We assume good intent.

Be Exceptional Stewards. We are committed to careful and effective use of the resources entrusted to us to have the greatest positive impact in our community.

Take Responsibility. Our duty to the animals in our care requires personal responsibility. We own outcomes. We commit to doing whatever it takes.

Be Courageous. We don’t give up. We find a way. We are not afraid to challenge ourselves. We are the driving force behind the change needed to save more lives.

Respect, Embrace and Celebrate Diversity. We respect each other and our community and embrace our varying viewpoints, experiences, identities and cultures. We create a safe environment where we can share openly and celebrate together.

Save Lives. Every life has worth, and every animal is an individual. We owe the animals in our care their lives. If they can be saved, they will be saved.