Chief Human Resources Officer

The Capital Area Food Bank (CAFB) has made significant investments in building a people-centered culture and modernizing HR systems to support innovation in hunger relief and community resilience in the Washington, D.C. region. We are seeking a Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) to accelerate this progress and lead talent and culture development for our blended workforce of approximately 200 staff (70% hourly, 30% salaried) across a wide range of roles and career levels. Reporting to and working closely with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), you will develop, refine, and lead a best-in-class human resources function, drive CAFB’s people strategy, and support employees at all levels to build a cohesive culture that fosters connection, engagement, and pride in what we can accomplish together.

As a key advisor to and member of the Executive Leadership Team, you will leverage our state-of-the-art systems to develop and lead a data-driven HR strategy that supports and sustains growth. This includes staffing plans and talent strategy, recruiting and hiring processes, internal communication, performance management, succession planning, and the creation of a targeted professional learning and career development program. As CAFB evolves, you will regularly evaluate compensation and benefits to ensure they remain cutting-edge and aligned with employee needs. And you will lead efforts to position CAFB as a top place to work, with a reputation for attracting, developing, and retaining a workforce that embraces innovation, learning, and collaboration. In addition to shaping strategy, you will lead an HR team of four and oversee all aspects of HR operations, including onboarding and offboarding, employee relations, HR systems, policies, and compliance.

The ideal candidate is a skilled coach and problem solver, a diplomatic change agent, and an empathetic leader with a deep understanding of organizational dynamics. We are looking for an individual who leads by example and builds relationships at all levels through respect, understanding, and a can-do, service-oriented attitude. This is an opportunity to create lasting structures that foster enthusiasm among staff, address the challenges of a varied workforce, and support CAFB’s continued impact.

CAFB is proud to deliver the equivalent of 60 million meals through direct distribution and food assistance partners to people in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia every year, but that’s only the beginning. We are investing in long-term solutions that address the interrelated issues of food security, poverty, and equity through partnerships that integrate food with education, health care, job training, and more.

Work Environment, Salary, and Benefits

• You’ll enjoy a hybrid work environment, collaborating with the Executive Leadership Team and staff 3-4 days weekly in our Northeast Washington, D.C. office (with travel as needed to our Lorton, VA warehouse).
• The budgeted salary is $220K – $240K. We offer an outstanding benefits package including generous PTO; comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans; a 3% retirement match; up to 4% profit sharing; free onsite parking; complimentary shuttle to metro; and professional development, growth, and volunteer opportunities.

Responsibilities

Organizational Strategy & Leadership

• Serve as a true partner on the core leadership team to help solve organizational challenges that create impact; provide strategic counsel to drive culture, align cross-functional priorities, and support growth.
• Link human capital to the needs of the strategic plan, organizational goals, and mission. Translate that vision into actionable, quantitative plans and set compelling goals and aggressive schedules for human resources improvement.
• Align strategy with programmatic and operational objectives; embrace cultural and individual differences and work with the nuances of specific roles within the CAFB to make informed, impactful decisions.

Talent Acquisition & Talent Development

• Work in close coordination with senior leadership to identify and support the talent needs linked to our strategic plan and provide key staff support and direction.
• Create and implement strategies to meet current staffing needs and a pipeline for future roles.
• Oversee the execution of talent strategy, including budgets, programming, and processes.
• Oversee the development of strategies and processes to identify capability, knowledge, skill set, and headcount gaps, as well as develop specific initiatives to monitor and fill any gaps.
• Collaborate with the management team across CAFB to develop talent in progressive ways that benefit and impact all employees equally.
• Execute talent management processes, including performance management, talent assessments, surveys, promotions, and compensation reviews across the full team, and provide metrics to allow for better team management.

Culture, Organizational Development & HR Management

• Lead the development and execution of human resources strategic and annual plans; support the planning efforts of other departments.
• Create, nurture, and prioritize culture and ensure it is woven throughout CAFB’s culture across locations, career levels, and functional areas.
• Create an environment where each individual feels valued, opportunity is equally accessible, and wellness is prioritized.
• Ensure robust, meaningful onboarding practices are implemented across CAFB to quickly integrate new employees into their teams and overall culture.
• Cultivate organizational communications strategies from the HR department that engage all employees, give clarity to procedures, and foster trust and understanding.
• Oversee excellent service to CAFB employees in all standard business functions of the HR department, including payroll and benefits administration, recruitment and hiring, and employee relations.
• Enact and direct policies and practices that protect CAFB in all areas, including employment, employee relations, benefits, compensation, equal employment opportunity, diversity, and protection from harassment and discriminatory practices.

Qualifications

• At least 15 years of progressive experience in human resources, including 7+ years in senior leadership and 10+ years managing professional teams.
• A bachelor’s degree in human resources, business, or a related field is required; a master’s degree is preferred.
• Strong experience advising senior leaders on people strategy, workforce planning, organizational challenges, and cultural initiatives.
• Ability to translate organizational vision and mission into actionable, measurable HR plans with defined goals and timelines.
• Demonstrated success working with finance leadership (e.g., CFO) on benefits design, vendor selection, and compensation strategy.
• Superior people management skills, including demonstrated ability to assess talent, clearly define roles, build teams, lead people, and coach and develop staff.
• Experience working in a complex, mission-driven organization with a diverse workforce is strongly preferred.

About CAFB

It is an exciting time at the Capital Area Food Bank (CAFB) as we continue to undertake our mission. We know that creating long-term solutions to food security requires more than meals. It requires education, training, and collaboration. We are seeking people with strong ideas and a passion to come together to address the complex, interrelated issues of food security, poverty, and equity. We are expanding in multiple ways: providing food for today and addressing the root causes of hunger by partnering with organizations that provide critical services like job training programs, health care, and education. Food has the power to transform lives and move everyone forward.

Staffing Advisors is committed to reducing bias in every aspect of the hiring process. We have long recommended a competency-driven approach to hiring. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status, or any other basis protected by law. We encourage you to apply even if your experience is not a 100% match with the position description; we will consider people from a variety of backgrounds and career experiences.