HR Executive Counselor

McLean & Company•,

7d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Executive Counselor (EC) serves as a dedicated senior strategic partner to CHROs and senior HR leaders, combining first-hand CHRO experience with McLean & Company’s proprietary research, diagnostics, and benchmarking data to help HR deliver measurable organizational outcomes. The EC helps clients de-risk critical people decisions, strengthen HR’s strategic position at the executive table, and ensures McLean membership is fully realized against their most pressing enterprise challenges. Through ongoing 1:1 advisory partnership, strategic facilitation, and evidence-informed judgment, the EC helps clients navigate complex organizational challenges to ensure HR operates as a decisive driver of organizational performance.

Requirements

Prior experience as a CHRO or equivalent top HR executive, with direct exposure to board dynamics and CEO relationships (required; this is the foundation of the Counselor Seat value proposition)
20+ years of progressive HR experience, with exposure to multiple HR functions
Demonstrated experience advising or influencing senior leaders and executive teams
Broad and deep expertise across multiple HR disciplines
Strong business acumen and understanding of organizational dynamics
Demonstrated experience in working directly with members of the C-Suite and Boards of Directors.
Ability to build credibility and trust with senior leaders and sustain long-term partnerships
Ability to synthesize complex information and translate it into clear, practical direction
Skilled at leading executive discussions and guiding groups to actionable outcomes
Exceptional ability to communicate ideas with clarity, impact, and relevance to senior audiences
Ability to identify growth opportunities and contribute to account expansion and retention
Strong intellectual curiosity and commitment to staying current on HR and business trends
Manage a portfolio of executive-level client relationships
Deliver advisory services primarily through virtual engagement, with some onsite facilitation
Must be eligible to work in the country hired in
Must be eligible to obtain a TN Visa for travel to onsite engagements

Responsibilities

Build and maintain trusted relationships with a portfolio of senior HR leaders across diverse industries, serving as a thought partner to guide executive-level decision-making and strategic direction.
Provide ongoing strategic advisory support through regularly scheduled and ad hoc engagements (typically via videoconference), ensuring full McLean membership value is realized; with every tool, diagnostic, and framework applied to the client’s most critical enterprise challenges.
Evaluate client needs and develop priority resource plans to help clients establish / evolve their HR strategy, achieve their objectives, and deliver on key initiatives.
Guide clients through enterprise-level decisions and high-stakes moments, including organizational restructuring, leadership succession, and large-scale transformation, with evidence-backed judgment and confidence.
Design and deliver high-impact strategy sessions (virtual and onsite) on critical HR and organizational topics, as identified by the client (e.g., HR strategy, organizational design, team effectiveness).
Contribute across the full client lifecycle, including onboarding, delivery, engagement, renewal and growth.
Ensure clients fully realize the value of their membership through proactive engagement and alignment to priorities.
Identify opportunities to deepen partnerships and expand impact within accounts.
Provide input into research and content development based on client needs and emerging trends.
Host and/or facilitate business development efforts including proof of concept calls, webinars, roundtables, CHRO dinner events and presentations at annual forums and conferences.
Partner with sales and other internal teams in proactive account management, identifying growth opportunities and ensuring account health.
Share insights and best practices to strengthen team capability and service delivery.