Vice President of People

Location: Carmel, Indiana (Headquarters)
Reports To: Chief Executive Officer

WalkerHughes Insurance is a founder-led independent insurance brokerage headquartered in Carmel, Indiana, serving individuals, families, farmers, and businesses across Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, and Ohio. We believe insurance is about protecting what matters most, and we invest in exceptional people who are passionate about building relationships, serving clients, and driving growth.

We are changing the story of the traditional insurance experience, and it starts with our people. WalkerHughes exists to put people first in the insurance industry, and that applies to both our employees and our clients. By valuing our people, we instill the philosophy and expectation that our people will value others.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Vice President of People is responsible for leading the people strategy for WalkerHughes Insurance as the organization continues to grow across the Midwest. This role is accountable for employee engagement, performance and development, total rewards, HR operations, and compliance, partners closely with Recruitment on hiring and workforce planning, and serves as a strategic partner to the CEO and leadership team.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

People Strategy & Executive Leadership

• Develop and execute a people strategy that supports WalkerHughes' growth goals, culture, and “Putting People First” philosophy.
• Serve as a strategic advisor to the CEO and leadership team on organizational design, workforce planning, leadership capability, and people-related risks.
• Lead, coach, and develop the HR and Employee Engagement teams.
• Set clear people goals and KPIs, including retention, engagement, time-to-hire, and development, and report results, trends, and risks to the CEO.
• Partner with Finance on headcount planning, compensation budgets, and benefits costs.

Recruitment Partnership & Workforce Planning

• Partner with Recruitment to align hiring strategy for producers, advisors, account managers, service teams, and leadership roles with WalkerHughes' growth plans across all locations.
• Partner with Recruitment to establish consistent job descriptions, interview processes, and hiring standards that reflect the WalkerHughes story and service culture.
• Partner with Recruitment and Marketing to strengthen the WalkerHughes employer brand across the website, job postings, social media, and local communities.
• Partner with leaders and Recruitment to forecast staffing and capacity needs and build talent pipelines ahead of growth.
• Oversee onboarding to ensure new team members feel welcomed, prepared, and connected from day one.

Culture & Employee Engagement

• Champion a culture employees are proud to be part of and a work environment they enjoy coming to each day.
• Lead employee engagement programs, including the “Putting People First” Employee Engagement Committee, “Cheers for Peers” recognition, and milestone celebrations.
• Support community involvement and volunteer programs in the communities where our employees and clients live, work, and play.
• Measure employee engagement through surveys and feedback, and lead action plans that respond to the results.
• Ensure consistent communication and connection across all offices and remote and hybrid team members.

Performance, Development & Leadership

• Set the framework for clear performance expectations and goals, regular one-on-ones and performance reviews, ongoing feedback and recognition, and prompt handling of performance concerns.
• Build training, mentorship, and career development programs that strengthen individual performance and build team capabilities.
• Develop current and emerging leaders, including managers, team leads, and office leaders, through leadership training and coaching.
• Lead succession planning for key roles across the organization.

Mergers, Acquisitions & Agency Integration

• Partner with the Mergers & Acquisitions and Agency Integration teams to evaluate the people, culture, and compensation of agencies joining WalkerHughes.
• Lead the people side of integration, including employee communication, benefits and payroll transitions, policy alignment, and onboarding into WalkerHughes systems.
• Develop a standardized, repeatable people integration process that helps new team members feel part of one work family.
• Monitor retention and engagement of acquired teams and address concerns early.

Total Rewards, HR Operations & Compliance

• Oversee compensation, incentive, and benefits programs to remain competitive in the markets we serve, including health, retirement, wellness, paid time off, volunteer time off, and summer hours.
• Ensure consistent HR policies, procedures, and an up-to-date employee handbook across all locations.
• Ensure compliance with federal and state employment laws in Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Ohio, and any states where employees work remotely.
• Oversee HRIS, payroll, and people data to provide accurate reporting and improve the employee experience.
• Serve as the escalation point for employee relations matters and lead fair, timely investigations and resolutions.
• Support company initiatives, special projects, and other responsibilities that contribute to the continued improvement of the organization.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business, or a related field required; master's degree preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive human resources experience, including talent acquisition, employee relations, and people programs.
• 5+ years of HR leadership experience leading teams and strategic initiatives.
• Experience supporting a growing, multi-location organization; experience with mergers, acquisitions, or integrations strongly preferred.
• Insurance, financial services, or professional services industry experience preferred.
• SHRM-SCP or SPHR certification preferred.
• Strong knowledge of multi-state employment law, compensation, and benefits practices.
• Excellent communication, leadership, relationship-building, and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency with HRIS, applicant tracking systems, and Microsoft Office.
• Ability to balance strategic planning with hands-on execution in a fast-paced, growing environment.

TRAVEL

Travel to WalkerHughes locations, acquired agencies, company events, and recruiting events is required, estimated at 20–25%.