Chief People Officer

About the role

Creating a world where pets live longer, healthier lives, from their very first meal.

We're Looking For A(n): Chief People Officer

Location: Hybrid (El Segundo, CA and/or Burbank/North Hollywood, CA)

What You'll Be Doing

• The Chief People Officer (CPO) is a strategic executive responsible for leading the company's people strategy in alignment with business objectives.
• As a key member of the executive leadership team, the CPO will drive organizational effectiveness, talent strategy, culture, and compliance.
• This role requires a leader who can balance high-performance culture building with the rigor, governance, and transparency.

Executive Leadership & Strategy

• Partner with the CEO and Board of Directors (including Compensation Committee) on executive compensation, succession planning, and leadership development
• Develop and execute a comprehensive people strategy aligned with long-term business goals and market expectations
• Serve as a trusted advisor to senior leadership on organizational design, workforce planning, and change management

Public Company Governance & Compliance

• Ensure compliance with all applicable labor laws and regulatory requirements
• Partner with Legal and Finance on proxy disclosures, executive compensation reporting, and SEC-related people disclosures
• Support Board and Compensation Committee materials, including CD&A (Compensation Discussion & Analysis)
• Oversee internal controls related to HR processes in alignment with Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) requirements

Talent & Performance Management

• Build and lead a high-performing HR organization across Talent Acquisition, Total Rewards, HR Business Partners, People Operations, and Learning & Development
• Oversee executive and enterprise-wide succession planning
• Drive performance management frameworks tied to company objectives and shareholder value

Total Rewards & Executive Compensation

• Design and manage competitive compensation and equity programs aligned with public market benchmarks
• Partner with Compensation Committee on executive compensation philosophy, equity plans, and say-on-pay readiness
• Ensure transparency and competitiveness of compensation practices

Culture, Engagement & DEI

• Champion a strong, values-driven culture that supports business performance and employee engagement
• Lead Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) strategy with measurable outcomes
• Oversee employee engagement strategies and action planning

People Analytics & Reporting

• Leverage data and analytics to inform decision-making and provide insights to executive leadership and the Board
• Develop and report on key workforce metrics, including those relevant to ESG disclosures
• Ensure accuracy and integrity of people data and reporting

Change Management & Transformation

• Lead organizational transformations, including M&A integration, restructuring, and scaling initiatives
• Implement change management strategies to support growth and operational excellence

Qualifications (Note

We strongly encourage you to apply even if you don't tick ALL of these boxes.):

• Deep expertise in executive compensation, governance, and Board engagement
• Strong knowledge of regulatory requirements, including SEC disclosures and SOX compliance
• Demonstrated success in scaling organizations and leading through change
• Exceptional executive presence, communication, and stakeholder management skills
• Required Education: Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration or Human Resources or closely related field (or equivalent work experience) required
• Preferred Education: Master's Degree in HR or Business preferred
• Required Experience:
• 15+ years' experience in an HR leadership role.
• Proven experience in a publicly traded company environment
• Experience in scaling a fast growing organization.
• Experience working in large size organization (revenues greater than $800 million)
• Preferred Licensure/Certification: SPHR or SHRM-SCP

Golden Perks & Benefits

• Comprehensive healthcare coverage - We cover 100% of premiums for medical, dental, and vision plans for employee-only plans.
• Annual bonus
• We match up to 3.5% of your 401k contributions, ensuring your retirement savings grow alongside your career.
• 6 paid sick and mental health days, an Employee Assistance Program, free weekly yoga and meditation classes, and additional mental health benefits, because we take a holistic approach to your well-being.
• Invest in your future with our Employee Stock Ownership Plan, where company contributions fund your retirement plan with company stock.
• Reimbursements for a portion of personal cell phone and internet usage for eligible employees.
• Professional development opportunities with mentorship, continuous learning programs, and performance-based pay increases, empowering you to progress and excel in your career.
• Through our charity sponsorships, you can make a positive impact on communities worldwide. We've donated over $9 million to date.
• Potential for quarterly KPI bonuses.

• The base salary range is $288,000-$360,000, plus bonus potential.
• The posted salary range in this job posting reflects data based on California's cost of labor analysis. This salary range is subject to change per state; please click here to find the pay differential in your state of residence if the role is remote.
• Salary is based on a wide range of factors that include relevant experience, knowledge, skills, other job-related qualifications, and geographical location.

• A Note to Recruiting Agencies: At Golden Pet Brands, we handle all hiring through our internal Talent Acquisition team.
• Occasionally, we might use staffing or recruiting agencies to support our internal team in finding the right candidates.
• Agencies are not authorized to contact our hiring teams directly to present candidates.

• Our internal Talent Acquisition team is responsible for all candidate presentations to our hiring managers.
• Golden Pet Brands will need written approval and a signed agreement before submitting any candidate info for a specific job opening.
• Without this, we won't pay any fees for placements.
• Thank you for your understanding.

• Candidate Safety: The safety of our candidates is our highest priority.
• When looking for a job, please be aware of cyber criminals, fake domains, and fraudulent job offers.
• Golden Pet Brands recruiters will only contact applicants from our official company e-mail domain, () or through our internal Applicant Tracking System, Greenhouse.
• In addition, Golden Pet Brands recruiters will never send you checks, or ask you to disclose personal financial details.

Click here to learn more about general internet safety and our hiring practices.