Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO)

Job Summary

The Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) leads Corporate HR and the enterprise people agenda to enable business performance across the portfolio. As a diversified corporation, EBSCO’s corporate service center operating model leans strongly toward decentralizing most activities to the business units (BU). As part of that model, Corporate HR must balance enterprise governance with business unit flexibility, moving cautiously to add services and quickly to eliminate non-value-added activities. Corporate HR’s primary role is to advance enterprise strategy, capture scale efficiencies, ensure compliance, and optimize executive talent. Reporting to the CEO, the CHRO partners with senior corporate and business unit leaders to strengthen organizational effectiveness, govern key enterprise people processes, and ensure sound, compliant people practices while respecting business unit accountability for local culture and operational execution.

Job Responsibilities

• Lead the Corporate HR team and partner with EBSCO Board, XLT, Business Unit (BU) Presidents and BU HR leaders to establish effective enterprise systems, tools, and practices to support key business activities, including:
  • Executive succession, recruiting, and development for the EBSCO CEO and his corporate and BU direct reports
  • Executive compensation, including short-term and long-term incentive plan governance
  • Enterprise policies, codes of conduct, training requirements, and compliance standards
  • U.S.-based benefits administration, including plan design, vendor oversight, cost management, and compliance
  • Enterprise workforce analytics metrics to support oversight, accountability, and strategic decision-making
  • Enterprise HR technology, data standards, and reporting platforms
  • People-related planning and execution support for M&A and divestitures
• Serve as a trusted advisor to the Executive Leadership Team (XLT) on talent, organizational performance, culture, and crisis management.
• Define clear roles, decision rights, and service boundaries between Corporate HR and business unit HR teams to support effective decentralized execution.
• Oversee internal communications and ensure employees receive clear, timely, and accessible information on company-wide matters.
• Maintain accurate, up-to-date resources for external stakeholders, including corporate websites and social media channels.

Job Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required; an advanced degree in HR, organizational psychology, or a related field is preferred. Professional HR certification is a plus.
• 10+ years of progressive HR leadership experience, including 5+ years in a senior or executive HR role.
• Demonstrated success in:

• Leading and developing HR leaders and subject matter experts
• Leading enterprise change management; HRIS implementation experience is a plus
• Communicating difficult messages with clarity, respect, and credibility
• Making and implementing difficult decisions in support of business needs
• Operating effectively in a regulated and compliance-driven environment

Competencies

• Leads through influence
• Humility and emotional intelligence
• Excellent judgment
• Comfort with complexity and ambiguity
• Creative problem-solving
• Strong executive communication skills
• Negotiation and influence
• Results orientation and collaboration

Essential Job Function

Ability to sit for extended periods at a desk while working on a computer, reviewing documents, and analyzing data using software applications and spreadsheets.

Capable of viewing and interpreting information on computer screens for prolonged periods, including detailed financial reports, spreadsheets, and data visualizations.

Ability to communicate effectively in person during meetings, presentations, and collaborations with team members and stakeholders throughout the office environment.