Carrington & Carrington Retained by Amherst College to Recruit CHRO
May 5, 2021 – Executive recruiters continue to be in hot pursuit of chief human resource officers and other senior-level HR leaders across the nation. The latest: Chicago-based Carrington & Carrington has been enlisted by Amherst College in Massachusetts to find a new chief human resources officer. “Human resources at Amherst is at the end of a period of dramatic transformation in which it pivoted from a primarily transactional function into a strategic partner for the college,” said the search firm. This includes a complete restructure of the HR office, adding new strategic-focused positions and moving transaction-focused positions into a newly created shared services function. The new CHRO will build on the transformation, firmly establishing HR as a strategic campus partner.
“The CHRO must embody Amherst’s commitment to the principles of diversity, equity and inclusion, and carry forward college-wide initiatives and communicate in a variety of institutional settings their value and importance,” said the search firm. “In particular, the CHRO will lead the recruitment, mentoring, and retention of a staff that mirrors its student body.” Employee engagement and enhancing staff members’ sense of belonging must also be key priorities, with strategies, policies and procedures clearly linked to the college’s workforce.
Key Responsibilities
The CHRO will be a trusted advisor and partner to the senior leadership of the college, helping to develop and implement a workforce strategy that enables leaders to fulfill their [divisional] goals. The individual must be a diplomatic leader who can engage and influence others, up to and including the board of trustees. He or she will be expected to actively cultivate relationships with members of the college community at every level.
Responsibilities will include HR organization leadership, said Carrington & Carrington. The new CHRO will oversee all aspects of HR management and build strong teams within and across the following HR areas: organizational development and engagement, workplace relations, recruitment and onboarding, and compensation and benefits.
The CHRO will also be responsible for HR organization management. Duties in this area will involve continuously reviewing and evaluating the effectiveness, compliance and value of HR services, plans, programs, policies, procedures and activities, among other responsibilities.
Qualifications
A bachelor’s degree, with a preference for a relevant master’s or other graduate degree, is required. Candidates must have a minimum of 10 years of relevant experience, including developing effective HR strategy to support the mission and goals of an institution or business, leading culture change, and leading the drive for operational excellence in the day-to-day administration of HR functions.
The ideal candidate will be a strategist with demonstrated track record as a trusted and active collaborator with a senior leadership team in a higher education institution or other highly complex and diversified organization where HR has had a positive impact on the business or institution, said Carrington & Carrington. Strong oral and written communication skills are essential. Candidates should have a deep commitment to and experience with developing an intentionally inclusive culture that attracts, engages and retains a diverse set of employees.
Bristol Myers Squibb Turns to Carrington & Carrington for Chief Diversity Officer
Carrington & Carrington was recently enlisted to find a chief diversity officer for Bristol Myers Squibb. The search firm is seeking candidates with strong experience in the international arena with an ability to navigate complex, matrixed corporate environments. But the winning candidate must have a passion for diversity and inclusion. In addition, Carrington & Carrington is looking for an executive with proven leadership experience, comfortable and articulate in communicating with the C-suite and board. The position is based in Lawrenceville, NJ.
Bristol Myers Squibb CEO Giovanni Caforio recently shared a note to the company about its commitment to accelerate and expand health equity and diversity and inclusion efforts. “As a company, we have had many conversations about the serious challenges facing the black/African-American community and have learned a great deal since the death of George Floyd,” he said. “The global COVID-19 pandemic has further exposed persistent health disparities that leave under-resourced and minority communities at greater risk of poor health outcomes. Now more than ever, we recognize our role in creating the change needed to address the health disparities and racial inequality present in our rapidly changing communities.”
A high degree of diplomacy with robust interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability as a consensus builder is also required. Amherst College wants a CHRO who is a creative thinker, collaborator and who leads by example. He or she must also thrive in a fast-paced environment. The job requires a leader who can manage multiple competing priorities and ensure alignment with stakeholder needs and interest
Amherst College, founded in 1821, is a diverse and selective liberal arts institution, renowned for its intellectual rigor, the quality of its student body and the contributions of its alumni. The college has an enrollment of 1,849 students from 48 states, plus Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and 54 countries. Amherst has 209 full-time instructional faculty members. Its student to faculty ratio is 7:1. The college offers the bachelor of arts degree in 41 majors in the arts, sciences, social sciences and humanities. Students can carry more than one major, create their own interdisciplinary major or engage in independent scholarship.
Respected Recruiters
Carrington & Carrington, with offices in Chicago, Washington, D.C., and Memphis, was founded in 1979 and specializes in the recruitment and placement of African-Americans, Latinos, women, LGBT and other diverse professionals. It places middle management and senior level executives across various industries and functional areas. Co-founded by Willie and Marian Carrington, the firm ranks as one of the most respected African-American-owned search firms in the nation.
Mr. Carrington has played and continues to play a significant role in increasing the representation of diverse professionals in major companies including banking, finance, manufacturing, and utilities. Prior to this, he was executive director of Inroads/Chicago and an auditor for the former CPA firm Arthur Andersen & Company.
Ms. Carrington is heavily focused in the firm’s healthcare, academic, and non-profit sectors. She was previously a human resources and operations executive with Allstate Insurance. She focuses in large part on the healthcare, academic and non-profit sectors.
Related: Carrington & Carrington Recruits Chief Diversity Officer for McDonald’s
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; and Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
