Interim Chief People Officer

A complex, community-based not-for-profit health system in the western United States is seeking an experienced interim Chief People Officer to guide the organisation through a critical transition period of 6 to 9 months. The role carries significant on-site presence requirements, with accommodation provided. This is an active, hands-on executive mandate, not a caretaker role.

The interim CPO will assume visible leadership of the people and culture function, serve as a trusted adviser to the CEO and senior leadership team, and work to modernise HR capabilities, strengthen talent and succession practices, and navigate a partially unionised workforce environment. The assignment concludes with a well-prepared handover to the incoming permanent Chief People Officer.

• Serve as strategic adviser to the CEO and executive team on workforce strategy, culture and organisational performance.
• Lead, assess and coach the existing HR team, strengthening capability, structure and accountability across the function.
• Partner with leadership to define and advance a values-led organisational culture and improve employee experience and engagement.
• Strengthen talent management, succession planning and leadership development practices across clinical and non-clinical environments.
• Provide experienced leadership across labor and employee relations within a partially unionised healthcare setting.
• Identify opportunities to modernise HR policies, processes and operating models, building sustainable foundations for the permanent CPO.

• Substantial executive HR leadership experience at Chief People Officer, CHRO or equivalent level within a hospital, health system or similarly complex healthcare organisation.
• Meaningful experience in unionised or partially unionised environments, including sophisticated labor and employee relations.
• Demonstrated track record leading organisations through significant transition, transformation or periods of heightened complexity.
• Ability to move comfortably between strategic advisory work and hands-on operational leadership.
• Strong executive presence with the credibility to counsel the CEO and build relationships across the senior leadership team.
• Coaching-oriented leadership style with sound judgement, resilience and the confidence to make decisions in a fast-moving environment.

LHH is a global talent and leadership advisory firm that connects organisations with experienced interim and fractional executives. The firm works across sectors including healthcare, supporting clients through leadership transitions, workforce transformation and organisational change.