Job Description

The mission of the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) is to work in partnership with communities to protect and promote the health and well-being of all Boston residents, especially those impacted by racism and systemic inequities. The BPHC envisions a thriving Boston where all residents live healthy, fulfilling lives free of racism, poverty, violence, and other systems of oppression. The BPHC sets an expectation that all staff and leadership commit, individually and as part of the BPHC team, to hold ourselves accountable to establishing a culture of antiracism and advance racial equity and justice through each of our bureaus, programs, and offices.

The Chief People Officer (CPO) is a senior leadership position at BPHC that serves to maximize the Human Resources Office’s (HR) functional performance and delivery of services, strengthens staff skills and abilities to ensure successful programs, and supports employee well-being. The CPO provides direct oversight of HR staff and operations, monitors and approves changes to HR processes to optimize delivery of HR services, and oversees learning and development opportunities, including those administered by the Consortium for Professional Development (CPD). The CPO is responsible for promoting a people-centered environment and an organizational culture that thrives on innovation, diversity, equity, inclusivity, racial and social justice. The CPO reports directly to the Executive Director and works in close collaboration with BPHC’s Labor and Employment Office and the General Counsel’s Office to ensure rollout, training and implementation of BPHC policies and procedures.

DUTIES

Maximizing HR Performance and Delivery of HR Services

• Ensure HR appropriately and promptly addresses day-to-day operational issues including payroll, employee relations, benefits, recruitment (including employment verifications), and compensation reviews.
• Develop and implement HR policies and systems that enable consistent and equitable application.
• Implement and manage compliance efforts with employment laws and regulations that govern BPHC.
• Collaborate with BPHC General Counsel and Labor & Employment Offices on staff policies, employee relations, labor disputes, compliance efforts, investigations, and more.
• Ensure smooth implementation of a new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, a software platform, in close collaboration with Finance and Information Technology Services (ITS).
• Continuously review and update organizational policies and processes, and create new policies as needed.
• Ensure employees are trained in all required policies a as mandated by law and internal guidance and ensure annual, or as required, compliance of those policies.
• Regularly review and update employee training resources to promote compliance with such policies.
• Lead the organization’s commitment to equal opportunity employment and recruitment, hiring, and retention strategies that foster diversity of staff at all levels.
• Develop processes that support a positive candidate experience in seeking employment at BPHC and that support hiring managers in their efforts to hire the most qualified and suitable candidates.
• Revise compensation plan for positions not covered by collective bargaining agreements, and policies and procedures related to compensation.

Strengthening Employee Learning and Development

• Develop and implement a workforce development plan that ensures staff development is addressed, coordinated, and appropriate for the city’s public health needs.
• Oversee the Consortium for Professional Development (CPD), supporting them in providing training and staff capacity-building activities that support employee wellbeing and growth.
• Support training and communications around supervision and management support, conflict resolution and mediation.

Supporting Employee Wellbeing and Appreciation

• Champion a high-performance, values-driven culture across the organization.
• Lead and support initiatives that support individual employee growth and overall organizational strength, including compensation analysis, performance management, and more.
• Play a lead role in developing and implementing employee appreciation events.
• Collaborate with the Wellness at Work team, Center for Behavioral Health and Wellness, Office of Racial Equity and Community Engagement, Executive Office, and HR and the CPD on events and programming that support employee wellbeing and appreciation.
• Help to promote a positive work environment that enhances public health workforce wellbeing and sense of belonging amongst their teams and in the ways that HR and the CPD operate with staff across the Commission.
• Seek creative ways to provide benefits for BPHC employees, including through partnership with City of Boston HR (which covers most other City departments).
• Ensure BPHC’s values are reflected through people-oriented decisions.

Senior Leadership Engagement

• Engage leadership staff in HR initiatives through their development and implementation.
• Communicate proactively with Executive Leadership on key initiatives and organizational risks.
• Report on HR and professional development metrics and activities as required for grants, audits, and public hearings, and as needed.
• Act as a trusted partner in crisis management support and sensitive employee matters.
• On occasion, speak on behalf of BPHC at City Council hearings and other large events.

Help BPHC become an antiracist organization by meeting or exceeding the standards set by the BPHC Anti-Racism Policy.

Qualifications

• At least 10 - 15 years of experience in human resources and comprehensive knowledge of all areas of Human Resources: employee benefits, payroll, talent acquisition and management, employee relations, employee performance management, compensation structure, learning & development, and organizational development.
• At least 8-10 years of management and supervisory experience of mid to large sized teams.
• Experience in government/public sector strongly preferred.
• BA/BS required; Master's Degree in Human Resources Management or a Master’s in Business Administration preferred.
• Demonstrated experience in promoting diversity, equity and inclusion within a workplace environment.
• Leadership experience advancing organizational policies, values, and mission.
• History of conceptualizing and implementing best practices and systems.
• Proven success in growing talent and building a high-functioning HR team.
• Demonstrated knowledge of, or strong commitment to learning about, public health practice and its critical role in addressing racism, social determinants of health, and inequities in health outcomes.