Chief People Officer - Washington, DC

Join McKissack & McKissack as Chief People Officer in DC or Chicago and drive growth in a thriving construction management firm!

Join McKissack & McKissack’s team! We have an immediate opening for a Chief People Officer in Washington, D.C. or Chicago, IL. Apply now for this exciting opportunity! McKissack is a national program, project, and construction management firm, with additional capabilities in project controls and architecture and interiors. The firm delivers complex capital programs for public and private sector clients across the country and is entering a major growth phase supported by a pipeline exceeding $300M in potential fees.

The Chief People Officer is responsible for ensuring the firm has the leadership, talent, and organizational capacity required to scale while preserving its culture. This role directly enables revenue growth, strengthens project delivery, and builds the leadership bench needed to support a national platform. This is a growth‑leadership role first. The CPO builds the workforce strategy, recruiting engine, and leadership pipeline required to support sustained growth, align staffing with project demand, and reduce executive and operational strain as the firm expands.

The primary measure of success for this role is ensuring the firm has the talent, leadership capacity, and organizational infrastructure required to deliver its growth strategy.

Responsibilities

• Translate business pipeline into workforce plans by role, market, and project lifecycle; ensure staffing capacity aligns with revenue targets and delivery timelines.
• Build and lead a high‑performing recruiting function; create repeatable pipelines for Program Executives, Project Managers, technical leaders, and early‑career talent.
• Partner with CEO and President on critical hires; drive hiring velocity, candidate quality, and market positioning in competitive talent environments.
• Partner with executive leadership to forecast staffing requirements for strategic pursuits and major program wins, ensuring organizational readiness ahead of demand.
• Develop leadership bench strength; create clear career pathways, such as from PM to Senior PM to Project Executive, and accelerate high‑potential talent.
• Design and refine organizational structure to support growth; establish appropriate spans of control and build a strong middle‑management layer.
• Implement performance management systems that tie individual performance to project outcomes, utilization targets, and company objectives.
• Address underperformance quickly and consistently; reinforce a culture of accountability, ownership, and measurable results.
• Preserve and scale company culture; align talent practices with mission and values while reducing burnout and voluntary turnover.
• Serve as strategic advisor to executive leadership; provide clear insights on organizational health, risks, and capacity gaps.
• Design and manage total rewards programs; align compensation, incentives, and career paths with performance, market conditions, and growth objectives.
• Establish clear career architecture across all roles; support development, retention, and internal mobility.

Qualifications

• 20+ years of progressive people leadership experience, including senior executive responsibility in a scaling organization.
• Proven experience scaling professional services, AEC, infrastructure, or project‑based firm from approximately 200 to 500 plus employees; AEC industry experience is a plus.
• Deep understanding of project‑based business models, including utilization, billability, project staffing, and ramp‑up and ramp‑down dynamics.
• Demonstrated success building recruiting engines, leadership pipelines, and performance management systems from the ground up.
• Builder mindset with a track record of creating systems and teams, not just maintaining existing HR functions.
• Strong executive presence with the ability to influence senior leaders, challenge decisions, and operate as a true business partner.
• Data‑driven with strong business acumen; uses metrics to drive decisions while applying sound judgment on people and culture.
• Experience designing total rewards programs, compensation structures, and career progression frameworks in competitive markets.
• Salary range: $275,000 - $350,000/yearly (dependent on years of experience, competency, location)
• Employee Benefits:
  • Medical Insurance
  • Vision Insurance
  • Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
  • Health Savings Account (HSA)
  • Tuition Assistance
  • Adoption Assistance
  • Matching 401k Plan
  • Company‑paid holidays
  • Paid‑Time‑Off (PTO)
  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
  • Life Insurance
  • Short and Long‑Term Disability Insurance

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

• McKissack & McKissack is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants. We prohibit discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under federal, state, and local laws.
• This statement applies to all employment practices, including recruitment, hiring, promotion, compensation, benefits, training, and termination. Salary ranges will be disclosed where required by law (e.g., CA, CO, NY, MA). Applicants needing reasonable accommodation during the application or interview process should contact View email address on click.appcast.io.
• Our aim is for the company to be representative of all sections of society and that each employee feels respected and able to give their best. We are committed to a policy of treating all our employees and job applications equally.