Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO)

Dewberry is seeking a Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) in our Fairfax, VA headquarters office who will develop and execute our human resource strategy in support of the overall strategic plan and direction of the company.  Specifically, the CHRO will lead HR support in all aspects of the employee life cycle and specifically responsible for those aspects normally associated with a robust HR program, e.g. front-line recruitment, onboarding program development and maintenance, appropriate employee relations and retention activities, compensation analytics and recommendations, benefits program development and management. 

Dewberry is a leading, market-facing professional services firm with more than 50 locations and 2,000 professionals nationwide. What sets us apart from our competitors is our people. At Dewberry, we seek out exceptional talent and strive to deliver the highest quality of services to our clients. Whether you’re an experienced professional or a new graduate, you’ll have the chance to collaborate with the best and brightest and work on innovative and complex projects at the forefront of the industry. Our commitment to excellence stems from our personal integrity and from other defining attributes, which we call “Dewberry at Work,” that have inspired our employees to be successful for more than a half-century.

• Serves as a strategic partner to the Owners, CEO, Executive Leadership, and HR leadership to sustain a comprehensive Human Resources strategy aligned with organizational culture
• Responsible for supervising the HR team that manages training and development, employee relations, compensation, benefits, and recruiting  
• Ensures HR processes and services are adaptable and scalable to changes in company and industry
• Provides leadership for HR processes, company policies and corporate culture across the company
• Facilitates Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA) strategies that support the company’s business objectives
• Navigates difficult employee and organizational issues and coaches for successful resolution of employee issues
• Assists in the development of management by providing appropriate tools, insight and feedback, working closely with the training and development team in identifying appropriate resources
• Protects the interests of the company and its employee by ensuring compliance with all applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations
• Develops and manages the HR budget and other financial measures of the HR organization
• Develops and implements human resource plans and policies that align with the company’s values and strategy that will help build a high-performing culture of success, accountability, transparency, and collaboration
• Provides oversight of selection, implementation, and change management for a new HRIS platform
• Travels for operational meetings and to company office visits as needed

Education and Experience:

• BS/BA degree from an accredited college/university; MBA or MA/MS in human resources or related field preferred
• Minimum of 20 years of HR experience, with at least five years of executive HR experience
• Preferred to have HR leadership experience within the Architecture/Engineering industry
• Demonstrated experience in all HR functions, including employee relations, compensation, benefits, training and recruiting
• Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) or SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) certification or equivalent preferred
• Must hold or be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret (TS) security clearance

Required Skills/Abilities:

• Ability to effectively interpret, present and communicate information and policies to all levels of the organization
• Strong understanding of HR practices and procedures in addition to federal, state and local laws that govern personnel activities
• Ability to display sensitivity, tact and responsiveness in various situations and maintain a high level of confidentiality
• Ability to analyze situations and assist in bringing issues to successful resolution using sound HR problem solving skills
• Strong ethical acumen and leadership skills
• Ability to organize and analyze statistical data and prepare comprehensive reports to leadership
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
• Knowledge of and experience with potential HRIS platforms
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite or related software
• Position requires individual to live in the Fairfax, Va area and normal schedule includes presence in the Fairfax Office Monday through Friday

Don’t meet every single requirement? At Dewberry we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace for our employees. So if you’re excited about this role, but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the position description, we encourage you to apply anyways. You may just be the right candidate for this or other opportunities.

*At this time, Dewberry will not sponsor a new applicant for work authorization.

*Dewberry is an Equal Opportunity/ Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, gender identity or sexual orientation.

*Only recipients of an offer of employment from Dewberry, will be required to submit to a background screening which may include, but is not limited to, employment verification, educational and other credential verification, driving record check, criminal background check, and an investigative consumer report. These screenings will be conducted by Dewberry’s background vendor of choice and will be conducted in compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local law.

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Notice to Third Party Recruiters:  Dewberry only compensates job placement recruiters that have a valid Dewberry-approved written agreement in place for recruiting services. Dewberry does not compensate third party recruiters for unsolicited job placement candidate information.