VP, Human Resources

Schechter Reed; Herndon (VA); Hybrid; USD 200,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

Schechter Reed is partnering with a government services contractor to recruit a senior HR leader who can scale a security-cleared workforce and build a modern, data-driven Human Capital function across HR operations, total rewards, talent acquisition, and organizational development.

Hybrid position in Herndon, VA, with about 650 employees and growth through acquisitions. Requires 15+ years HR experience, 5+ in senior leadership, government contracting exposure, and multi-state compliance.

Qualifications

• 15+ years HR, with 5+ years in senior HR leadership.
• Experience in government contracting or regulated industries.
• Experience supporting a security-cleared workforce; must be clearable.
• Proven track record building/scaling HR functions.
• Broad HR leadership across HR operations, total rewards, talent acquisition, talent management, and organizational development.
• Workforce planning, HR metrics, and budget management.
• Strong employment law knowledge; multi-state experience.
• Ability to lead HR and Recruiting; build the recruiting team.
• Acquisitions/M&A exposure preferred.
• Maintain focus on well-treating cleared workforce.

Responsibilities

• Lead HR and Recruiting teams and align with growth.
• Modernize HR systems, processes through tech and data.
• Oversee organizational design and workforce planning.
• Support growth through acquisitions; M&A exposure.
• Partner with leadership to shift HR to a strategic business partner.
• Ensure compliance across multi-state operations.
• Develop an integrated, scalable Human Capital function.

Skills

HR leadership

Govt contracting

Security clearance

Workforce planning

HR operations

Total rewards

Talent acquisition

Talent management

Organizational development

Budget management

Employment law

M&A experience

Change management

Recruiting leadership

Education

Master’s degree

SPHR/SHRM-SCP

Job description

Schechter Reed is recruiting for this role on behalf of our client, an established government services contractor that holds a Top Secret facility clearance and supports U.S. national security and intelligence customers. The company provides security and mission support services, including access control and force protection, security program management, protective security, intelligence analysis, risk management, and training. Founded by veterans of the military and intelligence communities, it has grown steadily over more than 15 years and has built a strong pipeline of work. In recent years it has also expanded into critical infrastructure, supporting facilities such as data centers where customers require cleared personnel. From the start, leadership has held that a well-supported cleared workforce delivers the best results for customers, and that people-first approach remains central to the company’s culture today.

Must-haves

• 15+ years of progressive HR experience, including 5+ years in senior HR leadership managing and developing HR teams
• Experience in government contracting, defense, security services, or another regulated, contract-driven industry
• Experience supporting a security-cleared workforce; must be clearable
• Track record building, transforming, or significantly scaling an HR function, including its structure, processes, systems, and capabilities
• Broad HR leadership across employee relations, HR operations, total rewards, talent acquisition, talent management, and organizational development
• Experience with workforce planning, HR metrics, and budget management
• Strong employment law and compliance knowledge, including multi-state or operationally complex environments
• Ability to lead both HR and Recruiting, build the recruiting team, and balance strategic leadership with hands-on execution
• Build an integrated, scalable Human Capital function for a growing government services contractor
• Shift HR from a primarily operational function toward strategic business partnership
• Modernize HR systems and processes through technology, automation, and data
• Lead organizational design, change, and workforce planning
• Support growth through acquisitions; M&A experience is a stated ideal profile
• Maintain the company’s emphasis on treating its cleared workforce well
• Build out and lead the Recruiting team; reduce reliance on external recruiters

Nice-to-haves and target profile

• Master’s degree in HR, Business Administration, Organizational Development, or a related field
• SPHR or SHRM-SCP certification
• Experience leading HR transformation in a rapidly growing or geographically dispersed organization
• "Number two" HR leader in a larger company, ready to lead the function

Location and context

• Hybrid; based in Herndon, Virginia
• The office may include employees returning from deployment
• Company has approximately 650 W-2 employees and 200 1099 contractors; growth is expected