The CPO Opportunity

The Chief People Officer (CPO), is a key member of the Leadership Team, working closely with the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Property Officer to deliver a business wide transformation that will return the organisation to sustainable profitability. With over 3,000 colleagues working across retail, funeral, travel and security, this pivotal role will develop and drive the people strategy, reviewing the entire people function, including systems, policies and processes. Most importantly, the role is responsible for delivering a cultural realignment that will enable the business and its colleagues to thrive. 

Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver a people strategy aligned to the Co-op’s overall business strategy that enables its long-term success through people.
• Build and embed a cultural change programme that supports the business transformation and enables the right culture and behaviours for the organisation to thrive. 
• Develop an effective employee engagement strategy that fosters companywide collaboration, accountability and open communication to cultivate a motivated and committed workforce.
• Review the mission, vision and values and ensure they are embedded into performance management. 
• Provide leadership to the people function, reviewing and developing the systems, policies and processes, that support the business activities across retail, funeral, travel and security.
• Build strong relationships and a partnership approach with the leadership team, board, colleagues and external stakeholders.
• Operate as a trusted advisor and driver for business enhancement, with a solution orientated approach. 
• Create a people strategy that develops talent, identifies potential and enables succession planning including Equality, Diversity and Inclusion programmes.
• Support the senior leaders to improve performance management and develop and maintain high-performing teams.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of HR legislation and external factors impacting the organisation.  
• Protect and champion the well-being of our people.

Experience

• The right individual will have a blend of HR leadership and change management experience combined with a dynamic, collaborative and progressive approach. We are seeking: 
• A senior HR leader with experience gained in a senior leadership role within a progressive multi-site organisation.
• Experience of delivering operational and cultural change across a large, customer facing organisation with c1000 employees+.
• Proven change management and business transformation experience across systems, process and people.
• A commercially focussed people leader, with an understanding of how business connects to people.
• A solid and confident understanding of financial concepts, and ability to make sound decisions based on data.
• Experience of developing strategy whilst ensuring the operational aspects are well run and managed.

Key attributes

• Good social skills: empathetic, genuine and approachable and able to build relationships and communicate well at all levels of the organisation.
• A strong delivery focus with the ability to work in a fast-paced environment, remaining calm under pressure, and demonstrating a high level of emotional resilience.
• Solutions orientated, able to deal with ambiguity and identify solutions.
• Sound decision making, with good listening skills.
• High integrity, with a passion for doing things the right way, and an ability to challenge constructively.
• A high level of emotional intelligence and self-awareness, with strong interpersonal skills and the ability to see beyond the obvious. 
• The ability to build rapport and earn the trust of colleagues.
• Able to influence and drive the right culture through the organisation, and to role model the right behaviours.
• A flexible approach with the ability to switch between strategic thinking and getting the job done.
• A good coach with the ability to listen without judgement and provide a sounding board, offering ways to help others find their own solutions.
• Willingness to take a proactive and hands-on approach, where needed.

Package

• Competitive salary
• Pension: 5% employee + matched 
• Healthcare
• Holidays: 30 days + bank holidays 
• Company car or £13,000 allowance