Chief People Officer

AmeriCU Credit Union; City of Rome (NY); On-site; USD 185,000 - 246,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental

Vision

HSA contribution

401(k) matching

Paid time off

Life insurance

Short-term disability

Tuition reimbursement

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

AmeriCU Credit Union in Rome, New York, seeks a Chief People Officer to partner with the President and CEO and the Board, architecting a program-based people strategy from the ground up and building a leadership pipeline to sustain growth.

The role leads learning, succession planning, organization design, total rewards, and HR operations, using data, governance, and selective AI tools to enhance the employee experience while ensuring financial discipline.

Qualifications

• Proven record as strategic advisor to a CEO and senior leadership.
• Experience presenting to a Board of Directors.
• Success building structured people programs from the ground up, including leadership pipelines.
• Strong business and financial judgment, including comfort reading a P&L.
• 10+ years of progressive HR leadership experience at executive level.
• Background in financial services; credit union experience helpful but not required.
• Bachelor’s degree in HR, Business or related field; Master’s and/or SPHR/SHRM-SCP a plus.

Responsibilities

• Design and lead a people strategy tied to the business plan and growth.
• Advise the President/CEO and brief the Board on succession and workforce risks.
• Develop and lead learning and training strategy with role-based plans and standards.
• Build core talent infrastructure, including competency models and career paths.
• Own succession planning and development programs across the organization.
• Lead compensation, benefits, and total rewards with fairness and performance.
• Use engagement data and retention insights to improve employee experience.
• Oversee HR operations, compliance, and HR technology/AI tool use.

Skills

Strategic advisor

Board presentation

Leadership development

HR leadership

Financial acumen

Executive communication

P&L literacy

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR, Business, or related field

Master’s degree and/or SPHR or SHRM-SCP certification a plus

Job description

Compensation: $184,815.61 to $246,420.81, with starting salary based on experience

The Opportunity

AmeriCU Credit Union is at an exciting inflection point. With more than $3 billion in assets, over 200,000 members, and a 75-year legacy of service across Central and Northern New York, we are growing — and we are building the organizational foundation to sustain that growth for decades to come.

To do that, we need an exceptional people leader.

We are searching for a Chief People Officer who will serve as a true strategic partner to our President and CEO, Chief Leadership Team, and Board of Directors - someone who doesn't just support the business but helps shape it. This is an opportunity to architect a program-based people strategy from the ground up, build the leadership pipeline that will carry AmeriCU into its next chapter, and leave a lasting mark on an organization that genuinely puts people first.

What You'll Do

• Design and lead a people strategy tied directly to AmeriCU's business plan - one that changes as the organization grows.
• Advise the President and CEO and regularly brief the Board on succession, workforce risks, and the people side of major decisions.
• Develop and lead the organization’s learning and training strategy by establishing role-based training plans and standards that build workforce capability, strengthen leadership readiness, and foster a culture of continuous learning and development across the organization.
• Build core talent infrastructure, including competency models, position design, and clearer paths for internal growth.
• Own succession planning across the organization and put development programs in place that build real bench strength.
• Lead compensation, benefits, and total rewards strategy with an eye on fairness, competitiveness, and performance.
• Use engagement data, manager capability, and retention insights to improve employee experience and results.
• Oversee HR operations, compliance, and thoughtful use of HR technology and AI tools that make the function stronger and more useful.

Who You Are

You are a strategic advisor who earns a seat at the table by asking the right questions, pushing back when it counts, and bringing a point of view grounded in both business reality and people expertise.

You are intellectually curious - you dig into the business, understand how it works, and connect people strategy to outcomes that drive real results. You challenge assumptions respectfully but directly. You listen deeply before you act and you understand that strong people strategy only works when it reflects how the business actually operates.

You bring:

• A proven record as a strategic advisor to a CEO and senior leadership team.
• Experience presenting to and advising a Board of Directors.
• Success building structured people programs from the ground up, including leadership pipelines and role architecture.
• Strong business and financial judgment, including comfort reading and interpreting a P&L.
• 10+ years of progressive HR leadership experience, including senior or executive-level responsibility.
• Background in financial services such as banking, insurance, fintech, or wealth management; credit union experience is helpful but not required.
• A bachelor's degree in HR, Business, or a related field; master’s degree and/or SPHR or SHRM-SCP certification a plus.

What We Offer

Compensation: $184,815.61 to $246,420.81, with starting salary based on experience, plus a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, HSA contribution, 401(k) matching, paid time off, life insurance, short-term disability, tuition reimbursement, and an Employee Assistance Program.

About AmeriCU CREDIT UNION

AmeriCU is a not-for-profit credit union headquartered in Rome, New York. The organization serves more than 200,000 members across Central and Northern New York, manages over $3 billion in assets, and has spent 75 years building a strong record of community service. AmeriCU has also been recognized as one of the Best Companies to Work for in New York State and one of the Best Credit Unions to Work for in the United States.

AmeriCU is an equal opportunity employer, dedicated to building an inclusive and diverse workforce.