Chief People Officer

About GLAAD

As the world’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) media advocacy organization, GLAAD is a dynamic media force, ensuring fair, accurate, and inclusive representation that rewrites the script for LGBTQ acceptance. For nearly 40 years, GLAAD has been tackling tough issues to shape the narrative and provoke dialogue that leads to cultural change. GLAAD protects all that has been accomplished and envisions a world with 100% LGBTQ acceptance.

GLAAD operates with support from foundations, corporations, and individuals from every corner of the United States. A highly skilled and passionate team of 60+ staff with plans for continued growth work out of its headquarters in New York and bi-coastal across other cities in the US supporting GLAAD’s expanded reach and impact. Over the past several years the organization has achieved rapid and significant growth and currently has an annual operating budget of approximately $30 million.

The Opportunity

GLAAD is at a pivotal point in its almost 40-year history. The drastically changing social and political landscape has once again served as a critical calling for GLAAD’s vital voice and advocacy to ensure fair, accurate and inclusive representation and to protect the human rights of people in the LGBTQ community. As GLAAD embarks on its next chapter of expanding its impact and reach and driving significant growth over the next several years, the hiring of a transformational Chief People Officer will be central to supporting these plans and priorities. In partnership with the senior leadership team, this pivotal leadership role will set the vision for and lead GLAAD’s efforts to develop a people-centric culture, high quality HR/People infrastructure and policies and practices that support the future organizational structure and strategic priorities of GLAAD. The Chief People Officer will be a significant thought partner to the President & CEO, Deputy President & COO and the leadership team and will set a bold vision and blueprint for creating a best-in-class and fully integrated HR/people platform across the areas of talent management, recruitment, total rewards, learning and development, performance, DEIA and employee wellness. The ideal candidate for this role will be a forward thinking, visionary and engaging HR/people leader with a proven track record of successfully leading HR teams, building HR/people practices of excellence and managing change and transformation for a nonprofit or social impact organization.  

Key Responsibilities

People Strategy + Transformative Leadership

• Set the vision for the design and advancement of a contemporary and scalable people, talent and culture strategy and HR operating structure and infrastructure aligned with GLAAD’s core values and strategic priorities.
• Oversee and facilitate the adoption of effective change management practices that rally leadership and staff to embrace transformative people initiatives contributing to organizational effectiveness and positive team and employee performance.
• Function as a key thought partner and strategic advisor to the President & CEO and Deputy President & COO and contribute to the overall organization vision setting and people resource planning that supports GLAAD’s plan for financial growth and program and operational expansion over the next several years.
• Partner with the Senior Director of People & Culture to ensure that the people operations team embraces the highest quality standards and practices for the design and delivery of people-centric practices and initiatives that keep GLAAD ahead of a changing marketplace and positioned as an employer of choice to attract, engage and retain the best talent in the field.
• Serve as an organization-wide resource and collaborator with other internal stakeholders and senior leadership team members to align and integrate business, operational and talent strategies.
• Set a high bar for leading the design and advancement of all HR/People practice areas and operations to support emerging organizational priorities and ensure that the user (employee) experience in all interactions with HR/People initiatives and resources consistently meets a high standard of excellence. 
• Champion and serve as an ambassador of GLAAD’s core principles, beliefs and values.

HR/People Domains

• Serve as trusted counsel and a supportive advisor to leadership and staff at all levels of the organization in interpreting and aligning employee and organization needs with people strategy, programs and systems that are easily translatable, responsive and flexible. Be accessible and viewed as a positive and welcoming voice of reason, fairness and expert knowledge to address complex employment matters ensuring that employees consistently feel heard and respected. 
• Ensure that HR/people policies and practices are informed through the lens of diversity, equity, inclusion and access, and are compliant with applicable federal, state and local laws and regulatory requirements governing the workplace.
• Support the People & Culture team in setting a vision for and designing GLAAD’s total rewards strategy, including compensation and benefit practices and policies. Ensure that these programs position GLAAD to attract, engage and retain talent, are consistent with best practices in the field and are aligned with the organization’s budget and overarching goals.
• Partner with the senior leadership team in planning current and future workforce requirements to support organizational priorities, and provide out-of-the box thinking with the Senior Director and People & Culture Team on how to attract and retain talent in a competitive market. 
• Ensure that GLAAD leverages best-in-class HR technologies and a strong, data-driven, people-operations infrastructure including HR dashboards, KPI benchmarks and surveys to help inform and drive its people initiatives and support critical leadership decision-making.
• Keep abreast of the changing HR landscape to ensure that GLAAD’s people strategy, technology and programs are aligned with emerging trends and innovation in the field.

DEIA | Culture | Employee Experience

• Partner with the President & CEO, Deputy President & COO and senior leadership team to define GLAAD’s goals for building an equitable and inclusive culture and serve as the organization’s champion and key sponsor of people initiatives that proactively help shape this culture and reflect the mission, vision and values of GLAAD.
• Collaborate with the senior leadership team to envision and foster a culture of learning, development and continuous feedback that values and deepens employee and team engagement and drives performance and excellence at all levels throughout the organization.
• Contribute significant strategic thought leadership to the development of people programs and initiatives that embrace employee wellness and foster positive and engaging experiences across all touchpoints of an employee’s lifecycle with GLAAD.
• Advance a culture that embraces change, adaptability and continuous improvement.

May be assigned other duties and responsibilities by the Deputy President & COO and/or President + CEO.

Candidate Profile: Competencies | Personal Qualities | Experience

The ideal candidate should possess the following experience, education, competencies and personal qualities:

Competencies | Personal Qualities

Strategic + Transformational People-Centric Leader

A strategic, compassionate and highly accomplished leader driven by excellence, integrity and building best-in-class HR/people practices, policies and programs that place people first. Confident in leading and managing change in a fast paced, entrepreneurial and prominently visible organization with the ability to create a sense of calm and structure in managing a diverse set of challenging and complex work and organizational matters.  A natural mentor, coach and facilitator with the ability to inspire others and positively influence a diversity of workstyles and personalities. A proven track record of designing and effectively managing large-scale growth, organizational change and restructuring. A critical thinker and skilled collaborator with superior project management skills and the ability to forecast and troubleshoot issues, balance priorities and integrate team member input.

Relationship + Team Builder

An engaging and inspiring leader and facilitator who demonstrates high emotional intelligence and the ability to immediately establish positive and trusted relationships with diverse stakeholders and staff at all levels of the organization. A strong commitment to building a collaborative and positive work environment where contributions, accomplishments and successes are celebrated, and staff are positively engaged to support the goals of the organization.

Judgement | Decision Making | Communication

The ability to exercise impeccable judgment and discretion as well as integrate input and information shared by multiple stakeholders to inform and make sound and impactful decisions. Superior communicator and listener with the ability to rally and influence diverse groups of staff and stakeholders around common purpose as well as translate complex issues so that solutions and courses of action are easily understood and embraced by others.  

HR/People Operations Expertise

Possess a significant depth of subject matter expertise across all HR/people management domains including organizational design and structuring, talent management, total rewards, workplace culture development, employee engagement, HR technology, and the management of relevant employment law, regulatory and best practice standards governing a diverse workplace.

Alignment With Organization Values, Mission + Culture

A passion for and understanding of issues relevant to GLAAD and LGBTQ acceptance and a commitment to embracing the organization’s core values.

Experience | Education

• 15+ years of progressively responsible HR leadership experience with a significant track record of vision setting and leading HR/People operations and teams through periods of transformation in a growing nonprofit, social impact enterprise or related media organization. At least seven (7) years should be at the senior executive level, preferably as a Chief People Officer or Chief Human Resource Officer.
• Bachelor’s degree required. Master’s in Human Resources, an MBA or other advanced degree in addition to PHR, SPHR and/or SHRM-CP certification is a plus.
• Experience in a growing, scaling and fast-paced environment.

Working Conditions

GLAAD currently provides a remote work arrangement for employees and working conditions are typical of a home office. Candidates from across the US will be considered for this opportunity but must be in reasonable commuting distance to GLAAD’s headquarters in New York and available during GLAAD’s Eastern Time Zone working hours. The Chief People Officer will periodically participate in on-site meetings and travel to other areas across the country where GLAAD staff is engaged to provide services. Additionally, there may be occasional work in the evenings and/or weekends including participation at organization events.

Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion + Access

GLAAD was established with the premise that expanding diversity within the organization enhances the work experience and furthers the understanding of the entire mission that GLAAD is based upon. An atmosphere of civility and mutual respect towards difference is indispensable to the work process and enables the free interchange of ideas that is the basis of a successful organization. These differences may be cultural, ethnic, religious, intellectual, ideological, or political. Each of these qualities is integral to the identity we form as individuals, and all are essential to creating a vibrant workforce at GLAAD comprised of individuals with unique perspectives and backgrounds. GLAAD has committed itself to a workforce of inclusion, respect for difference, and fairness, and guarantees the same rights to all its employees to ensure the fullest degree of success within the organization.

GLAAD is an Equal Opportunity Employer

GLAAD is committed to providing equal opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to their race, color, religious creed, sex, gender identity, gender expression, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy, marital or veteran status, sexual orientation, height, and weight, or other personal characteristics as may be protected by applicable law.

Total Rewards – Compensation + Benefits

GLAAD strives to offer employees a competitive compensation and benefits package that reflects its core values and commitment to staff. The salary range for this senior leadership role is $200k - $225k commensurate with the candidate’s competencies and experience. GLAAD additionally provides a comprehensive total rewards program including - medical, dental and vision coverage, health reimbursement accounts, 403(b) retirement plan, flexible spending accounts for out-of-pocket health, dependent and commuter expenses, life insurance, long-term disability, employee assistance services and PTO.

To Apply

GLAAD has retained ACEUM Advisors & Search to conduct this senior leadership search. To express your interest in this opportunity, please forward a cover letter and resume to either: Ira Machowsky, Founder & CEO at:  imachowsky@aceum.com or Heather Bivens, Senior Search Consultant at: hbivens@aceum.com. All inquiries will be kept strictly confidential.