Chief People & Experience Officer in Hillside, Illinois at Aspire Chicago

Shape the Future of People, Culture, and Organizational Excellence

To apply for this position, please click here.

At Aspire, we believe that exceptional experiences begin with exceptional people.

We are seeking an innovative, strategic, and people-centered Chief People & Experience Officer (CPXO) to join our executive leadership team. This is an extraordinary opportunity for a transformational executive who is passionate about building high-performing cultures, developing inspiring leaders, and creating an exceptional team member experience that advances our mission of empowering people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to live their fullest lives.

As our Chief People & Experience Officer, you will lead enterprise-wide strategy for human resources, organizational development, workforce planning, leadership development, team member engagement, organizational effectiveness, and change management. You will also provide executive oversight of Aspire's outsourced technology partnership, ensuring technology investments, cybersecurity, and information systems support operational excellence, accessibility, and long-term sustainability.

If you believe people are an organization's greatest competitive advantage—and you thrive on helping organizations grow through culture, leadership, innovation, and purpose—we would love to meet you.

As a trusted advisor to the CEO and Executive Leadership Team, you will:

• Develop and execute long-range people and workforce strategies that support organizational growth and resilience.
• Guide enterprise-wide organizational development and leadership succession planning.
• Lead transformational change initiatives that strengthen engagement, performance, and mission impact.
• Champion innovative uses of technology and AI to improve communication, learning, collaboration, and operational efficiency.
• Leverage workforce analytics and organizational data to drive strategic decision-making.
• Build organizational capability to successfully navigate growth and change.

You will create an environment where people feel valued, connected, and inspired to do their best work by:

• Advancing a culture of belonging, accountability, learning, and continuous improvement.
• Designing innovative engagement, recognition, well-being, and retention strategies.
• Leading organization-wide listening initiatives, including engagement surveys, focus groups, and feedback systems.
• Strengthening internal communications that foster transparency and alignment.
• Championing accessibility, inclusion, and person-centered values across the organization.

You'll shape Aspire's future leadership by:

• Leading succession planning and talent assessment strategies.
• Modernizing performance management and feedback systems.
• Developing leadership development programs and career pathways.
• Coaching leaders to build engaged, high-performing teams.
• Partnering across the organization to align people strategies with business priorities.

You'll position Aspire as an employer of choice by:

• Leading innovative talent acquisition and workforce planning strategies.
• Enhancing onboarding and orientation experiences.
• Building programs that support professional development and career growth.
• Partnering with operational leaders to address workforce challenges and future talent needs.

You'll provide executive leadership for all aspects of Human Resources, including:

• Employee relations
• Talent management
• Organizational effectiveness
• Performance management
• Total rewards and compensation
• Benefits strategy
• Compliance and risk management
• HR policies and governance

In partnership with Aspire's outsourced IT provider, you will:

• Provide executive oversight of technology strategy and investments.
• Ensure cybersecurity, infrastructure, and information systems support organizational success.
• Lead vendor relationships, budgeting, contracts, and service-level performance.
• Monitor business continuity, disaster recovery, and cybersecurity initiatives.
• Advise executive leadership on emerging technology opportunities and organizational technology strategy.

You'll ensure our people practices reflect our mission, support operational excellence, and create an outstanding employee experience while maintaining compliance with all employment laws and regulations.

What You Bring

We're seeking a collaborative executive leader who combines strategic vision with operational excellence and a passion for developing people.

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Organizational Development, Business Administration, Psychology, or a related field.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive leadership experience in Human Resources, People Operations, or Organizational Development.
• At least five years of executive or senior leadership experience.
• Demonstrated success creating systems, programs, and team member experiences that build high-performing, values-driven cultures.
• Experience developing leadership development programs and organizational learning initiatives.
• Experience partnering with executive and operational leaders as a strategic business partner.
• Experience leading RFP processes for HRIS, payroll systems, and employee benefits.
• Strong knowledge of employment law, compensation strategy, organizational development, and HR best practices.
• Valid driver's license with a satisfactory driving record.

• Master's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field.
• SHRM-SCP, SPHR, or comparable certification.
• Experience in nonprofit, healthcare, human services, disability services, or other mission-driven organizations.
• Knowledge of person-centered practices and disability rights.
• Experience overseeing managed technology services or outsourced IT partnerships.
• Experience with mergers and acquisitions.
• Expertise in workforce analytics, dashboards, and people metrics.

The ideal candidate is a visionary executive who inspires confidence, develops leaders, and creates cultures where people and organizations thrive.

You are someone who:

• Builds strong, collaborative relationships across all levels of an organization.
• Leads with authenticity, integrity, and emotional intelligence.
• Makes thoughtful, data-informed decisions.
• Navigates complexity with confidence and optimism.
• Tackles difficult conversations with courage and compassion.
• Cultivates innovation while maintaining operational excellence.
• Develops leaders who inspire high-performing teams.
• Believes exceptional employee experiences drive exceptional outcomes for the people we serve.

At Aspire, your work changes lives.

You'll join a mission-driven organization dedicated to empowering individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities through person-centered supports that promote independence, belonging, and meaningful lives.

As a member of our executive leadership team, you'll help shape the future of our organization by creating an exceptional workplace where talented people can grow, lead, and make a lasting difference every day.

If you're ready to lead transformational people strategies, strengthen organizational culture, and help build the future of Aspire, we encourage you to apply.

To apply for this position, please click here.

Lead with purpose. Build exceptional teams. Transform lives.