Chief People Officer (CPO)

Company: YMCA
Location: Cordova
Posted on: January 13, 2026

Job Description:

The Chief People Officer (CPO) is a key member of the Executive Leadership Team (C-Suite), reporting directly to the President & CEO. Job Description The Chief People Officer (CPO) is a key member of the Executive Leadership Team (C-Suite), reporting directly to the President & CEO. The CPO provides strategic leadership and organizational vision for all aspects of people strategy, talent development, workforce systems, culture, and employee experience across the YMCA of Memphis & the Mid-South. This position is responsible for creating and sustaining an exceptional employee experience that supports recruitment, retention, development, payroll, benefits, compliance, and employee relations. The CPO ensures that people strategy is fully aligned with the operational and business goals of every YMCA unit—including membership centers, centralized program areas, and community-based initiatives. The CPO champions a culture of collaboration, innovation, accountability, and respect, ensuring the YMCA of Memphis & the Mid-South remains an employer of choice across West Tennessee, North Mississippi, Eastern Arkansas, and expanding markets. Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Organizational Development, Business Administration, or related. Minimum 5-10 years of progressive leadership experience in HR, people strategy, or organizational development, including 3 years at the executive level. Proven track record shaping culture, employee experience, relations, payroll, and engagement in complex organizations. Expertise in talent acquisition, retention, workforce planning, and leadership development. Strong knowledge of HR operations, compliance, and technology systems. Exceptional relationship-building, leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills. Proven ability to lead large teams, drive organizational change, and deliver measurable results. Strong alignment with the mission and values of the YMCA. Essential Functions Strategic Leadership ? Partner with the CEO and C-Suite to shape and execute a comprehensive People & Culture Strategy aligned with the YMCA’s organizational strategic plan. ? Collaborate with executive and business unit leaders to ensure people priorities support operational success, revenue growth, and mission advancement. ? Serve as a senior advisor on organizational design, workforce planning, succession planning, leadership structure, and change management. ? Lead long-range workforce strategies that support the YMCA’s continued growth across multiple states and service areas. ? Integrate people strategy with organizational KPIs to strengthen performance and accountability. Employee Experience, Culture & Employee Relations ? Champion an exceptional, mission-driven employee experience across the YMCA. ? Lead all employee relations functions, ensuring fair, consistent, transparent, and effective policies and practices. ? Build systems and processes for proactive conflict resolution, investigations, employee support, and culture reinforcement. ? Oversee initiatives that improve employee engagement, connection, retention, and organizational health. ? Promote a culture of collaboration, accountability, continuous improvement, and respect. ? Drive programs that enhance staff well-being, recognition, and organizational pride. Talent Management, Recruitment & Workforce Development ? Oversee talent acquisition and workforce development, ensuring the YMCA recruits and retains a skilled, diverse, mission-aligned workforce. ? Develop innovative recruitment strategies responsive to competitive labor markets. ? Ensure comprehensive onboarding, training, and orientation processes that prepare staff for long-term success. ? Lead the creation of leadership pathways, succession plans, and coaching programs to strengthen organizational capacity. ? Partner with business units to anticipate workforce needs and build proactive recruitment strategies. Retention, Growth & Performance ? Lead strategies that support retention of top talent through advancement pathways,mentorship, and development opportunities. ? Oversee the YMCA’s performance management systems to ensure alignment between employee goals and organizational strategy. ? Create a high-performance environment grounded in teamwork, innovation, and accountability. ? Build leadership capacity at all levels through structured development programs and succession planning. ? Leads, implements, and manages the overall training and development for all employees and business units. People Operations, Payroll, Compensation & Compliance ? Build and implement systems for policies across all YMCA operations. ? Oversee payroll operations, ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant processing for all employees. ? Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws and YMCA policies. ? Oversee compensation, benefits, workforce analytics, and HRIS systems to ensure competitiveness, efficiency, and fiscal responsibility. ? Manages operational parts of technology platforms and reporting systems to measure the success of people and culture initiatives. Risk Management, Safety & Workforce Readiness ? Partner with the General Counsel and Director of Risk & Compliance to ensure a safe and compliant workplace across all departments. ? Ensure staff meet mandatory training requirements across the association. ? Support investigations, corrective actions, and risk communication systems. ? Promote a culture of safety, preparedness, and comprehensive organizational responsibility. Innovation & Organizational Growth ? Lead innovation in HR systems, technologies, and practices to enhance workforce experience. ? Introduce tools, systems, and best practices that elevate service delivery and improve operational efficiency. ? Support strategic expansion by ensuring workforce structures align with current and future organizational needs. ? Use HR data and analytics to drive decision-making and continuous improvement. Other Responsibilities ? Build collaborative relationships with leaders across all departments. ? Represent the YMCA in community partnerships, workforce initiatives, and professional associations. ? Drive a people-centered culture that supports mission impact and organizational excellence. ? Perform all other duties as assigned by the President & CEO. Cause-Driven Leadership Competencies Mission Advancement: Reinforces the Y’s values within the organization and the community. Effectively communicates the benefits and impact of the Y’s efforts for all stakeholders. Collaboration: Builds and nurtures strategic relationships to enhance support for the Y. Serves as a community leader building collaboration based on trust and credibility to advance the Y’s mission and goals. Communicates for influence to attain buy-in and support of goals. Provides tools and resources for the development of others. Operational Effectiveness: Integrates multiple thinking processes to make decisions. Involves staff at all levels in the development of programs and activities. Ensures execution of plans. Institutes sound accounting procedures and financial controls. Assigns clear accountability and ensures continuous improvement. Personal Growth: Fosters a learning environment embracing diverse abilities and approaches. Creates a sense of urgency and positive tension to support change. Has the functional and technical knowledge and skills required to perform well; uses best practices and demonstrates up-to-date knowledge and skills in technology. Behavioral Characteristics: Welcoming, Nurturing, Determined, Hopeful, and Genuine.

Keywords: YMCA, Memphis , Chief People Officer (CPO), Human Resources , Cordova, Tennessee