Chief Human Resources Officer

McDonogh School seeks a dynamic, strategic, and people-centered Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) to serve as the School’s senior human capital leader. Reporting directly to the Head of School and serving as a key member of the Senior Administration Team, the CHRO will shape the workforce strategy, culture, and talent systems that enable McDonogh to attract, develop, and retain exceptional educators and staff.

This is a high-impact leadership role for an HR professional who thinks beyond compliance and administration, someone who sees people strategy as a driver of institutional excellence. The CHRO will be a trusted advisor, a creative problem-solver, and a visible champion for McDonogh’s commitment to a diverse, equitable, and thriving workplace.

STRATEGIC PRIORITIES

Workforce Strategy & Organizational Effectiveness

• Partner with the Head of School, Division Heads, and Senior Administration to execute and improve the human resources function, ensuring it is aligned with the School’s strategic plan.
• Serve as a strategic thought partner on organizational design, staffing models, workforce planning, and change management initiatives.
• Use data and benchmarking to inform decisions on staffing levels, compensation equity, turnover trends, and workforce demographics.
• Lead the development of succession planning frameworks and talent pipeline strategies for critical roles across the School.

Talent Acquisition & Employer Brand

• Develop recruitment strategies that position the School as a sought after employer for top educators and administrators.
• Lead all recruitment efforts from job design through offer, partnering with Division Heads and department leaders to identify talent needs and build diverse candidate pools.
• Maintain and improve hiring practices, including structured interview training, implicit bias mitigation, and consistent candidate evaluation frameworks.
• Leverage data to continuously refine sourcing, selection, and offer processes for effectiveness and speed.

Culture, Engagement & Belonging

• Cultivate a workplace culture that reflects McDonogh’s values: integrity, respect, community, and a commitment to excellence.
• Design and lead employee engagement initiatives, including listening strategies (surveys, focus groups, stay interviews) that promote a sense of belonging and improves retention
• Serve as a visible advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion, working with leadership to embed belonging into all HR systems and practices.
• Lead the Employee Wellness Committee and develop holistic wellness programs

Leadership Development & Learning

• Develop and deliver manager effectiveness programming, including coaching on employee relations, performance conversations, and inclusive leadership.
• Partner with Director of LifeReady on faculty orientation and onboarding, and develop similar strategies for staff and administrative roles to ensure a welcoming, well-structured introduction to the McDonogh community.
• Assign, track, and ensure completion of required trainings (mandated reporting, sexual harassment prevention, and others) for all faculty and staff.

Total Rewards & Compensation Strategy

• Partner with the CFO and Associate Head of School to promote a compensation philosophy and structure that is competitive, equitable, and sustainable within the School’s budget parameters and Academic Strategic Plan.
• Lead annual salary benchmarking for all faculty and staff; in partnership with the CFO, prepare the annual compensation recommendation for the Board of Trustees, inclusive of COLA and merit adjustments.
• Oversee benefits administration in partnership with the Payroll & Benefits Manager; conduct regular due diligence on benefits offerings to ensure market competitiveness and employee value.
• Serve as liaison to the School’s retirement plan, respond to requests for information related to testing, audit processes, and maintain ERISA compliance
• Distribute annual compensation letters and manage all compensation communications via Paycom.

Employee Relations & HR Operations

• Serve as a trusted advisor and coach to supervisors and Division Heads on employee relations matters, performance management, and disciplinary processes.
• Process FMLA, leave of absence, and accommodations requests; ensure consistent, compliant, and compassionate administration.
• Serve as Workers’ Compensation Plan Administrator: manage claims, liaise with the carrier, follow up with employees, and oversee the annual audit.
• Maintain HR information systems and ensure accurate data entry in INDEX and DASL for benefits, compensation, demographics, attrition, and turnover.
• Update employee related data on the McDonogh School Board of Trustees dashboard annually, report to the Board of Trustees on employee related data as requested

Policy, Compliance & Risk

• Review, revise, and maintain the Personnel Manual in collaboration with legal counsel and School leadership, ensuring alignment with Maryland employment law and independent school best practices.
• Ensure compliance with EEO-1 reporting, OSHA Form 300 DOL reporting, MD HB486 requirements, and all other applicable regulatory obligations.
• Maintain the School’s fingerprinting and background check database; ensure completion for all new hires, volunteers, coaches, and other covered individuals.
• Serve as a member of the Risk, Safety, Security & Calendar (RSSC) Team, contributing an HR perspective to risk analysis, mitigation, and crisis response.

CHIEF HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICER

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree in Human Resources, Organizational Leadership, Business Administration, or a related field strongly preferred.
• SHRM-SCP, SPHR, or equivalent senior HR certification preferred.
• 10-15+ years of progressive HR leadership experience, with demonstrated success in a senior or executive HR role.
• Must have proven experience in budget analysis and adherence to budgeting procedures related to compensation and benefits budgeting 
• Experience in an independent school, higher education, or nonprofit setting a strong plus; deep appreciation for mission-driven organizations essential.

Leadership Competencies

Stategic Thinking

Change Management

Talent Development

Collaborative Leadership

Executive Presence

Data- Informed Decision Making

Cultural Intelligence

Organizational Design

Conflict Resolution

Additional Competencies

• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging as a strategic and operational priority.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills; able to present complex or sensitive topics to diverse audiences with clarity and credibility.
• High emotional intelligence; known for discretion, integrity, and the ability to build trust across all levels of an organization.
• Proficiency with HRIS and payroll platforms (Paycom experience a plus); comfort with data, analytics, and HR metrics.
• Experience with Google Workspace and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Genuine enthusiasm for the culture, rhythms, and mission of an independent school community.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• All McDonogh employees are expected to uphold the School’s mission and philosophy and to model its core character values.
• Must successfully complete a background check, including fingerprints, as required by state regulations.
• Must present with the highest level of professionalism in both conduct and appearance.
• Evening and weekend hours are occasionally required in support of School events and initiatives.