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About the Chief People Officer / SVP, Mandel Leadership Excellence Center position:

The Chief People Officer / Senior Vice President of the Mandel Leadership Excellence Center (CPO) is the Federation’s senior leader responsible for aligning people with purpose. As a core member of the Executive Team, the CPO drives the Federation’s people strategy—developing strong teams, empowering inclusive leadership, and ensuring that policies, practices, and culture reflect the organization’s Jewish values and communal mission.

Reporting to the President, this executive provides strategic vision and operational leadership for human resources, talent strategy, leadership and professional development, organizational culture, and workforce planning. The CPO ensures the Federation attracts, develops, and retains exceptional professionals and lay leaders; fosters an inclusive, engaged, and values-driven workplace; and maintains strong, compliant, and forward-looking HR practices. The CPO plays a critical role stewarding a culture where people in both lay leadership and professional roles are empowered to thrive and contribute meaningfully to the Federation’s impact.

Essential Job Functions/Key Areas of Responsibility

Executive Leadership & Strategic Partnership

• Align talent strategy, leadership development, and HR infrastructure with evolving organizational and community priorities.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to the President and senior management team on organizational design, workforce planning, leadership transitions, and succession planning.
• Act as the chief advocate and voice for the Federation’s people, leadership development, and organizational culture agenda with senior management and lay leadership.
• Contribute to Federation-wide vision, strategy, and long-term planning as a member of the senior management team.

Organizational Culture, Engagement & Values

• Champion a culture of belonging, care, accountability, and shared purpose grounded in Jewish values and communal responsibility, and reflected consistently in policies, leadership behaviors, and organizational practices.
• Lead strategies that strengthen employee engagement, connection, and recognition across departments.
• Create meaningful opportunities for cross-team collaboration, professional growth, and alignment between mission and daily work.

Human Resources Operations, Total Rewards & Compliance

• Provide executive oversight of all HR operations across the employee lifecycle, including recruitment, onboarding, development, performance management, compensation, benefits, employee relations, and offboarding.
• Develop, implement, and regularly review HR policies, procedures, codes of conduct, and the employee handbook to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws, regulations, and industry standards.
• Stay current on legislative and regulatory changes affecting employment, benefits, workplace safety, labor relations, and data privacy, ensuring organizational policies and practices are updated accordingly.
• Identify and proactively mitigate HR-related organizational and reputational risks, through thoughtful policy design, training on HR compliance topics, and partnership with legal counsel and other stakeholders.
• Oversee employee relations matters, including the investigation and resolution of complaints, grievances, and allegations of misconduct, ensuring fair, consistent, and compliant processes.
• Partner with Finance on payroll administration, HR systems, records management, audits, and regulatory reporting requirements.
• Use data and insights to monitor workforce trends, engagement, and talent outcomes, providing actionable guidance to senior leadership.
• Continuously assess and strengthen HR and talent processes to ensure alignment with best practices, organizational strategy, and Federation values.
• Maintain the highest standards of confidentiality, integrity, and professionalism.
• Design and implement an integrated talent and leadership development strategy for professionals and lay leaders that supports organizational effectiveness, succession planning, and long‑term growth.
• Lead the development and delivery of Mandel Leadership programs, including the redesigned Mandel Course for Advanced Leadership (MCAL), ensuring relevance to Federation, agency, and participant needs. Partner with the Director of Leadership Engagement on the Mandel Symposium and other leadership skill‑building initiatives.
• Champion a coaching‑centered culture by embedding coaching practices into leadership expectations, team development, and performance management and improvement across the organization.
• Oversee performance management and learning systems that support goal‑setting, regular feedback, accountability, and measurable growth and improvement.
• Provide guidance and support to senior leaders in fostering employee growth, facilitating constructive conversations, and addressing performance challenges effectively.
• Champion programs that identify and develop high‑potential employees through mentoring, coaching, and targeted learning opportunities, including the Wolf Fellowship program.
• Ensure performance improvement plans and talent decisions are fair, consistent, and aligned with organizational goals and values.
• Provide internal executive coaching and oversee the Federation’s professional coaching program.

Lay Leadership Engagement & Governance

• Strengthen pipelines for lay leadership across Federation and agency boards and committees.
• Provide staff leadership and support to the Human Resources Development (HRD) Committee.
• Partner with the Director of Leadership Engagement to staff the Federation’s Nominating Committee and oversee governance‑related appointment processes.
• Work closely with the President, Board Chair, and senior staff to ensure governance compliance and effective leadership transitions.
• Oversee recognition awards processes for lay leaders.
• Conduct individual outreach to key lay leaders in support of HRD and broader Federation priorities.
• Manage the Mandel Leadership Excellence Center’s relationship with the Jack, Joseph, and Morton Mandel Foundation, including reports, presentations, and Joint Advisory Team meetings.
• Collaborate with beneficiary agency executives and board chairs on leadership development and HR initiatives, providing consultation and convening the Agency Leadership Roundtable.
• Maintain active relationships with Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) and other Federations.
• Coordinate HRD and leadership initiatives with other Federation departments and partner agencies.
• Provide overall management, supervision, and strategic direction for the Mandel Leadership Excellence Center HRD staff.
• Prepare and manage departmental budget.
• Participate in Annual Campaign responsibilities, as assigned.

Qualifications:

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Organizational Development, Business Administration, Social Sciences, or a related field.
• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in human resources, talent management, leadership development, or organizational development, including senior‑level or organization‑wide responsibility.
• Deep knowledge of HR operations, employment law, and best practices across the employee lifecycle.
• Demonstrated ability to build trust and work effectively with senior professionals, boards, and volunteers.
• Strong strategic thinking, facilitation, and executive coaching skills.
• High degree of discretion and professional integrity; ability to manage sensitive and confidential matters, and aptitude to inspire confidence and cooperation.
• Working knowledge of and/or experience in the Jewish community, and Jewish culture and traditions.

Preferred

• Master’s degree in Human Resources, Organizational Development, Leadership, Business Administration (MBA), Public Administration (MPA), or related field.
• Professional certification(s) such as SHRM‑SCP, SPHR, and ICF or similar coaching credential.
• Experience in a nonprofit or values‑driven organization; experience in a Jewish communal or Federation setting strongly preferred.

About the Federation:

The Jewish Federation of Cleveland is the only organization in Cleveland that focuses on the health and vitality of the entire Jewish community. For more than 120 years, the Federation has created the critical scale necessary to drive meaningful social change and provide relief in times of crisis in ways no one person or organization could do alone. As Jewish Cleveland’s hub for innovative solutions and collaborative services, the Federation is able to change and improve lives in Cleveland, Israel, and around the world.