By Catherine Landgraf
•
September 4, 2024
Chief People Officer ABOUT THE COMPANY In 2008, Columbia Distributing, Mt. Hood Beverage, and Gold River Distributing united to form Columbia Distributing as we know it today. With this merger and the 2018 acquisitions of Marine View Beverage and General Distributors, Inc., our company is now one of the Top 5 largest beer/wine distributors in the US. Size is not our only distinction, however, as Columbia Distributing boasts an extensive selection of beverages, including craft beer, wine and spirits. Columbia Distributing’s success lies in the teamwork of the roughly 3,000 employees spread throughout 27 locations in Oregon and Washington, who every day come together to execute on a common vision. Based on the success of the company and our future growth plans, Columbia Distributing is looking for a Chief People Officer to join the executive team where it will lead the overall people strategy of the company. ABOUT THE ROLE Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief People Officer (CPO) will develop and execute the People strategy for the organization and partner with the Executive Leadership Team (ELT) to execute on the vision. The CPO will serve as a thought partner to the CEO and ELT, provide advisory services with regards to leadership, coaching, employee relations, talent acquisition, engagement, compensation, organizational design and change, performance management, learning and development. This role involves leading initiatives that support Columbia’s business objectives, enhance the employee experience and engagement, and ensure our continued ability to attract, develop, and retain top talent. The CPO will champion and further Columbia’s organizational culture while directly leading all aspects of the human resources function. The successful candidate will have strong communication skills, a deep understanding of best practices, and the ability to navigate complex organizational challenges. The role requires a high level of integrity, autonomy, confidentiality, and professionalism. The CPO will play a critical role in shaping the future of our organization and ensuring that our people are engaged, motivated, and aligned with our mission and values. ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Strategic Leadership Develop and implement a People strategy that aligns with the overall mission and strategy of the organization, resulting in innovative best practices and policies that will service the full range of the Company’s needs and help build a high-performing culture of success, accountability, transparency and collaboration. Act as a strategic partner to all members of the ELT and proactively provide insightful, innovative thinking and problem solving on critical HR issues. Gain an understanding of the organization and participate fully in all strategic deliberations. Optimize the People function/team, modernize and refine key processes and activities aligned toward achieving strategic objectives. Provide guidance on special projects, analytics & reporting, talent reviews, training, change management, organizational design, and cultural initiatives. Talent Management Oversee the recruitment, selection, and onboarding process to ensure we attract high quality candidates who align with our company values. Proactively manage resource allocation and maintain a competitive approach to recruiting and assimilating high-potential talent throughout all branches. Implement and manage programs for employee learning and development, performance management, and career progression. Design and implement succession planning strategies to ensure continuity of leadership and critical roles. Advise on people programs and processes to enhance talent attraction, retention, development, and succession. Coach and mentor organizational leaders for leadership bench strength capable of addressing the challenges of a highly dynamic organization. Organizational Culture Foster a positive, inclusive, and high-performance culture that supports employee engagement, satisfaction, retention and ultimately, business results. Develop and implement initiatives that promote the organization’s core values. Develop relationships with the employees and become someone who is sought for advice and counsel on HR, cultural and organizational issues. Facilitate integration of diverse workgroups, cultures and newly acquired assets. HR Operations Lead and oversee the design and administration of competitive compensation and benefits programs that are compliant with legal requirements and aligned with industry standards. Analyze market trends and adjust programs as necessary to remain competitive. Develop and implement people policies and procedures that promote fairness, consistency, and compliance. Mediate employee relations and performance issues and provide counsel to fellow managers on appropriate methods of performance management. Leverage data and analytics to drive decision-making as well as measure and report out on the effectiveness of people initiatives. Ensure HRIS systems and processes are efficient, scalable, and support business needs. Ensure compliance with all applicable labor laws, regulations, and industry standards. Manage and mitigate people related risks, including legal and regulatory issues. Stay current on industry trends and best practices to maintain a forward-thinking, value-added people function. Interact with vendors and external partners to create and maintain relationships and negotiate contracts. Partner with legal to ensure compliance & mitigate organizational risks. EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS Bachelor’s degree required. Advanced degree or MBA preferred. Certifications in HR helpful (SPHR, GPHR). 15+ years of relevant business experience ideal. Solid knowledge of all facets of Human Resources. Broad and deep experience as an HR Business Partner supporting executives or senior leadership. General business and financial acumen with the ability to develop and utilize HR data and metrics as they relate to and impact business topics in Finance, Legal, IT, payroll, and administration. Excellent communications skills - written, verbal and interpersonal - and an ability to tailor communication style to diverse audiences. Demonstrated capability in adapting and innovating HR practices and solutions and right sizing them to the needs of a fluid and fast-paced, entrepreneurial organization. Results-driven, agile, change agent with the commitment and confidence to assume a leadership role in an evolving complex environment. Drive initiatives with limited resources and roll-up your sleeves attitude to achieve desired results. Unquestionable personal integrity, fairness and credibility necessary to gain the trust and commitment of individuals at all levels of the organization. Demonstrated success at cultivating strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders and creating partnerships at all levels within the organization to achieve results. Empathetic and engaging individual, who listens well, is responsive, solutions focused and results oriented. Passionate about the mission of the Company, enthused by the challenges confronting the organization, and dedicated to achieving its goal. Interested in Learning More? 180one is a retained search firm and has been engaged by Columbia Distributing to manage this search. If interested in learning more about the opportunity, please contact Tom Haley /503.334.1350/ tom@180one.com