Chief Human Resources Officer

Job Summary/Objective 

The Chief Human Resources Officer serves as a key advisor to the Superintendent and Senior Leadership Team on matters related to organizational strategy, leadership capacity, and workforce alignment. This role is responsible for advancing the district’s human capital goals by focusing on leadership development, succession planning, and strategic HR alignment—delegating HR operations to other HR staff as appropriate. The ideal candidate brings a systems-thinking mindset and a commitment to fostering an equitable, high-performance culture across the district.  

Essential Functions/Duties

The essential functions include, but are not limited to the following: 

• Act as a strategic advisor to the Superintendent and senior leadership team on HR strategy, organizational design, and leadership development. 
• Lead succession planning efforts for district and school-based leadership roles. 
• Guide district-wide initiatives in organizational effectiveness, including workforce planning, change management, and employee engagement. 
• Identify systemic HR challenges and advise on sustainable, policy-aligned solutions.
• Contribute to executive hiring processes, including talent strategy for key instructional and operational roles. 
• Oversee labor relations and contract negotiations and administration for all unionized employee groups. 
• Cultivate transparent, collaborative relationships with union leadership to address issues proactively and equitably. 
• Ensure compliance with collective bargaining agreements while balancing district goals and operational needs. 
• Champion inclusion and belonging as a leadership imperative within all HR and organizational practices. 
• Support communication and feedback strategies between leadership and staff to maintain an open, trusting culture. 
• Monitor and assess district culture and climate through surveys, focus groups, and other listening mechanisms. 
• Serve as the Title IX Coordinator for staff-related reports. 
• Provide high-level oversight and guidance to HR operations teams (e.g., employee relations, benefits, compliance) as needed. 
• Stay abreast of state and federal HR laws and their strategic implications for district leadership. 
• Represent HR in board meetings, strategic planning sessions, and community engagement initiatives as needed.

*Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

1. Builds a Team Culture
2. Values Differences
3. Customer-Focused
4. Ensures Accountability
5. Cultivates Innovation
6. Communicating Effectively
7. Decisive Judgement
8. Strategic Planning and Prioritization
9. Leading Change
10. Critical Thinking

This position oversees multiple positions, participates in hiring (recruiting, screening, interviewing), makes termination decisions, makes promotion decisions conducts training of others, conducts performance appraisals, monitors work performance, coaches/mentors others, administers disciplinary actions, schedules others for work, directs others/assigns tasks and responsibilities, and develops budgets.

Minimal day travel is expected for this position. No overnight travel is expected for this position.

Work Environment & Demands

Physical, sensory, temperament, mental, and environmental demands for this position are indicated below: 

Physical Demands: 

• Occasional bending, crouching, stooping, twisting, reaching and grasping

• Manual dexterity and repetitive movement of fingers and hands for keyboarding 

• Some lifting, up to 25 pounds 

Sensory Abilities: 

• Normal/corrected vision 

• Ability to speak clearly and distinctly

• Normal/corrected hearing

Temperament: 

• Ability to work cooperatively as part of a team 

• Must have a positive attitude, cooperative spirit, and sensitivity in relating to student, staff, parents and community

• Ability to work with limited supervision 

Mental Demands: 

• Ability to interpret detailed written and verbal communications 

• Ability to perform basic math skills

• Ability to use word processing software  

Environment: 

• School settings, including offices, classrooms, hallways, cafeteria and school grounds, as well as neighborhood/community 

• Ability to travel to other locations for training and meetings

• Ability to attend weekend and evening meetings, as scheduled.  

The School District of Lancaster provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex/gender, national origin, disability, genetic information, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, and compensation. The data you provide on this form will be kept confidential and used solely for analytical and reporting requirement purposes.