How to hire a CHRO
What the role does, the job description, the interview questions, and the 40-minute screening pack that tells you who can do the job before you book a single interview.
The role
What a CHRO does
A CHRO (Chief Human Resources Officer) is the top people executive who owns the human capital strategy and ensures the organization has the talent, culture, and leadership to achieve its goals.
- Set the enterprise human capital strategy
- Advise the CEO and board on people and culture
- Build leadership, culture, and organizational capability
Screen before you interview
The CHRO screening pack
Strategy, performance systems, change leadership and legal footing define the CHRO seat. Every applicant gets one link. You get one ranked report.
- 1
How do you build a people strategy that the business actually uses?
- 2
Describe a restructuring you led. What would you do differently?
- 3
How do you measure whether your HR function is working?
- 4
Tell us about a time you disagreed with the CEO on a people decision.
- 5
How do you keep culture intact while doubling headcount?
Job description
CHRO job description
We are searching for a CHRO to lead our people agenda at the highest level and act as a true partner to the CEO and board. You will set the human capital strategy, shape culture and leadership, and build an HR function that scales with the business. This is a role for a seasoned executive who connects people decisions to business outcomes and can lead through growth and change.
Responsibilities
- Own the human capital strategy and align it with long-term business objectives
- Serve as a strategic advisor to the CEO and present people topics to the board
- Lead the entire HR function, including talent, rewards, operations, and business partnering
- Shape company culture, values, and employee experience at scale
- Drive executive and leadership development and succession planning
- Oversee organizational design and workforce planning through growth and change
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in human resources, business, or a related field; a master's or MBA is strongly preferred
- 15 or more years in HR with significant time in senior executive leadership
- Proven experience owning HR strategy for a whole organization and reporting to a board
- Deep expertise across talent, culture, organizational design, and total rewards
- Track record of leading people strategy through growth, change, or transformation
Interview questions
CHRO interview questions
For the candidates who pass the pack. Each comes with a sample answer on the full page.
- 01
What is your philosophy on the role of the CHRO in a company?
- 02
Tell me about the scale and complexity of the organizations you have led people functions for.
- 03
How do you partner with a CEO and the board?
- 04
Why this organization and this moment for you?
- 05
How do you build and execute an enterprise people strategy?
- 06
How do you approach executive succession planning?
- 07
How do you shape and shift organizational culture at scale?
- 08
How do you lead the people side of M and A or major restructuring?
Frequently asked questions
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