Chief People Officer

YMCA of Southern Interior BC; Kelowna; On-site; CAD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

A community-focused organization in Kelowna seeks a Chief People Officer to drive its people-first strategy. This role involves shaping HR initiatives, fostering an inclusive culture, and leading talent management efforts. With a minimum 10 years in HR leadership, ideal candidates will have strong strategic vision and proven capabilities in organizational development. The position offers competitive salary and benefits in a supportive environment.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Flexible work arrangements

Supportive culture

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years in a leadership role, including at least 5 years in HR.
• Proven track record in Organizational development.
• Experience in industry-related environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and execution of HR strategies.
• Ensure HR operations and compliance.
• Drive employee engagement initiatives.

Skills

Talent management

Change management

Strategic leadership

Relationship building

Education

Undergraduate Degree or Master's Degree in HR or related field

CPHR / CHRE Designation

Job description

Overview

As the YMCA of Southern Interior's (YMCA SIBC) Chief People Officer (CPO), you'll be the YMCA's architect of our people-first strategy that will align with our new Strategic Plan 'Igniting Potential'. You will drive transformation, build exceptional teams, and create a workplace where everyone can grow, belong, and succeed. The YMCA of SIBC has a budget of $28M and over 750 staff and volunteers and operating in over 20 facilities in the Southern Interior. YMCA SIBC has three distinct business models, Health, Fitness Aquatics, Childcare and Community programs.

YMCA SIBC is the largest charity within the Southern Interior BC as well as one of the largest Employers of young people. Operating three membership branches, YMCA SIBC manages Kelowna Family Y serving 7500 members, Downtown Y serving 1400 members and H2O Adventure and Fitness Centre with 7600 members. As well, the YMCA SIBC served over 950 families at 14 child care locations and many responsive community programs and supports to help individuals tap into their full potential.

The CPO will serve as a key member of the executive leadership team, responsible for shaping and executing a people strategy that reflects our values, supports our mission, and fosters a thriving, inclusive workplace. This role will oversee all aspects of human resources, talent development, employee engagement, and organizational culture.

The ideal candidate will

• Lead with Vision : Build and inspire a talented People & Culture team that partners across the organization to drive strategic growth and innovation.
• Shape the Future : Design and execute a long-term HR roadmap that aligns with our bold goals and enhances every stage of the employee journey.
• Elevate Talent : Champion best-in-class talent management, leadership development, and succession planning to unlock potential at every level.
• Drive Operational Excellence : Ensure seamless HR operations, compliance, and risk management while continuously improving systems and processes.
• Ignite Engagement : Use data-driven insights to monitor engagement, respond to trends, and foster a culture of connection and purpose.
• Be a Change Catalyst : Challenge the status quo, spark new thinking, and embed a mindset of agility, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Partner for Impact : Collaborate with the Leadership Team to align strategy, advocate for local needs, and deliver measurable results. Skilled in working with boards, volunteers, donors, and community partners.
• Industry Insight : Experience in insurance, financial services, or similarly regulated environments is an asset. Monitor trends that support workforce planning, growth and alignment of the organization.

Requirements of role

• A minimum of 10 years in a leadership role, including at least 5 years of strategic leadership of a human resources portfolio in a complex, diverse organization.
• Proven track record in Strategic Human Resource leadership and organizational development.
• Undergraduate Degree or Master's Degree in human resources, organizational development, or a related field.
• CPHR / CHRE Designation required.
• Applied knowledge of organizational change, talent development, and workforce planning.
• Demonstrated leadership in advancing Truth and Reconciliation as well as equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging.
• Experience leading and collaborating with labour relations partners, with strong interpersonal skills in negotiation, conflict resolution, and consensus building.
• Oversight of total rewards including compensation, pension, and benefits.
• Proven ability to lead digital transformation of human resources functions, including strategic use of technology, analytics, and enterprise systems.
• A collaborative, respectful leadership style with the ability to mentor strong teams and foster continuous learning, growth and improvement.
• Excellent communicator and relationship-builder with the ability to engage at all levels and lead with empathy, integrity, and alignment with YMCA values and employee value proposition.
• A people-person, you are known as a culture-creator and know how crucial living a value-based culture is to attracting, engaging and retaining a great team.
• Methodical and systems-oriented, ready to back up your ideas and initiatives with strong plans tied to business goals, innovating within limited resources.

The Competencies you Demonstrate

• Commitment to Mission, Vision and Values : Sustaining a values-based, mission-aligned workplace culture.
• Relationship Building : The ability to effectively establish and maintain positive and ethical relationships or networks in an organization.
• Self Awareness : The ability to be aware of, control, and express one's emotions appropriately and to handle interpersonal relationships in healthy ways, especially under pressure.
• Adaptability : The willingness to embrace change, learn new skills, and innovate in response to evolving community needs, technology and organizational priorities.
• Strategic Leadership : Proven ability to develop and execute people strategies that align with strategic goals and drive measurable impact.
• Organizational Development : Drive change and build capabilities that foster collaboration, ethics, integrity, and continuous improvement.
• Talent & Succession Management : Strong track record in designing and implementing talent development, succession planning, and leadership programs.
• Operational Excellence : Deep knowledge of HR operations, compliance, and risk management, with a focus on process efficiency and scalability.
• Employee Engagement : Skilled in using data and insights to monitor engagement, identify trends, and implement targeted solutions.
• Inclusive Leadership : Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, with the ability to embed inclusive practices across the employee lifecycle.
• Stakeholder Influence : Exceptional communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to influence at all levels and across functions.
• Business Acumen : Strong understanding of financial drivers, organizational dynamics, and how HR contributes to organizational performance.

Why Join Us?

• Be part of a passionate team making a real difference.
• Lead meaningful change in a values-driven organization.
• Competitive salary and benefits package.
• Flexible work arrangements and a supportive culture.

The YMCA's Commitment to Trust, Safety, and Equality

As part of a trusted charitable organization, you can expect to receive excellent services and safety training throughout your YMCA career. As the first step in your journey, you will be required to :

• Provide 3 references of a professional nature (Ex. employer, supervisor, colleague, teacher, coach, etc.)
• Provide a satisfactory Criminal Record Check / Vulnerable Sector Search issued no later than six (6) months preceding your start date. The YMCA will provide applicable instructions and paperwork.

The YMCA of Southern Interior BC is an equity employer and encourages applications from all individuals who may contribute to the diversity of our workplace. This includes persons with diverse abilities, persons of colour and ethnicity, Indigenous persons (First Nations, Metis, and Inuit), and people of all sexual orientations and genders.

Application Process

This is an exciting time for the YMCA. Join us and be part of a passionate, dedicated and impactful team!

Candidates are invited to send cover letters and resumes by September 30, 2025 directed to :

Allyson Graf - President and CEO