Consulting Chief People Officer

PBO Advisory Group•San Diego, CA

3d•$110 - $200

About The Position

The Consulting Chief People Officer role leads with business impact and outcomes with a specialization in people strategy. This role blends advanced strategy expertise in human resources, talent capability, and organizational development with strong client engagement and business growth capabilities. The Consulting CPO acts as a trusted advisor to client executives and Boards, delivering strategic guidance on business outcomes through people operations, culture transformation, workforce planning, and mergers/acquisitions, and successful HR technology integrations. This position is ideal for a senior HR leader who thrives in small-mid-sized markets with varied sectors, adapts to different organizational cultures, and excels at delivering client value while driving the firm’s growth.

Requirements

Exceptional leadership and team development capabilities, with proven ability to coach and mentor HR professionals at all levels.
Outstanding analytical, problem-solving, and strategic planning skills within the field of people operations.
Strong executive presence and superior communication and presentation skills.
Ability to manage multiple client engagements and thrive in fast-paced, evolving organizational environments.
Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Organizational Development, Business, Psychology, or related field; advanced credentials such as MBA, SHRM-SCP, SPHR, or similar preferred.
15+ years of progressive HR leadership experience with prior Chief People Officer or senior HR executive roles.
Previous experience in a consulting firm, professional services firm, or client-facing advisory HR capacity is required.
Proven experience leading HR technology implementations, software integrations, and people systems upgrades.
Demonstrated success in both client service delivery and business development in the HR domain.

Nice To Haves

advanced credentials such as MBA, SHRM-SCP, SPHR, or similar preferred.

Responsibilities

Serve as advisor or fractional CPO for multiple clients across diverse sectors.
Lead the development and execution of people and talent strategies aligned with client business objectives.
Oversee and enhance HR operations, including talent acquisition, performance management, compensation, and workforce planning.
Provide strategic guidance on organizational structure, cultural transformation, change management, and risk mitigation in people practices.
Develop and use predictive workforce analytics and data-driven insights to inform organizational development and talent management decisions.
Lead and oversee HR technology and software integrations, ensuring seamless implementation and optimization of people systems.
Advise and work directly with client Boards on people strategy, governance, and organizational performance.
Act as engagement manager—owning project delivery, profitability, and team leadership within client engagements.
Train and mentor client HR teams to strengthen people operations and talent management capabilities.
Continually advise on and implement HR best practices for client organizations.
Identify and implement process improvements in HR and people operations to boost organizational effectiveness.
Advise clients through merger/acquisition strategy through due diligence and post-integration stages.
Uphold the highest standards of professionalism, courtesy, and ethics in all client and internal interactions.
Collaborate with partners to identify and pursue new client opportunities in people operations and HR advisory.
Participate in proposal development, client pitches, and presentations focused on HR and organizational development solutions.
Leverage professional network to generate leads and referrals within the HR and talent management space.
Act as a thought leader through content creation, speaking engagements, and industry events to enhance brand visibility in HR and people operations.