The Christopher Group Tapped by MITRE for Head of Total Rewards Search
October 29, 2026 – The Christopher Group (TCG), a boutique HR executive search and business solutions recruiting firm, has been selected by MITRE to lead in its search for a head of total rewards. The search is being led by managing partner Ayla Maloney and recruiting director Kat Kilkenney.
“This is an incredibly exciting opportunity for a total rewards leader who wants to make a meaningful impact at the enterprise level,” said Ms. Maloney. “The role has tremendous visibility across MITRE, partnering closely with the CHRO, executive leadership and the board on some of the organization’s most important talent decisions. With significant work ahead around job architecture and compensation strategy, this leader will have the opportunity to shape how MITRE attracts, rewards and retains the talent critical to its mission. They’ll also inherit an exceptional team, including several truly outstanding leaders, which makes the opportunity to build, influence and elevate the function even more compelling,”
The director of total rewards will provide strategic leadership for the design, execution, and optimization of the organization’s compensation, benefits, recognition, mobility, wellness, and performance management programs. Partnering closely with the CHRO, executive leadership team, and board of trustees, this leader will ensure total rewards strategies remain competitive, equitable, and aligned with organizational goals while enhancing the employee value proposition.
The role combines strategic vision with operational leadership, overseeing a high-performing team and driving innovative rewards programs that attract, retain, and engage top talent in support of the organization’s mission.
MITRE is a non-profit organization dedicated to solving some of the nation’s most critical and complex challenges, from national security and defense systems to aviation safety and cybersecurity. Operating federally funded research and development centers (FFRDCs), MITRE brings together approximately 7,500 engineers, scientists, and technical experts who work in the public interest. As a trusted partner to U.S. government agencies, MITRE delivers objective guidance, innovative solutions, and advanced engineering expertise that help safeguard the nation and improve lives.
Founded in 1998, The Christopher Group has expanded its offerings beyond traditional executive search to deliver agile HR business solutions, including executive search, interim HR leaders, fractional CHROs, and HR advisory & consulting. The firm serves large corporations, middle-market companies, private equity firms, family-owned enterprises, and closely-held businesses, providing comprehensive solutions to their human capital challenges.
TCG boasts a team of seasoned HR executives with backgrounds from companies, including Pepsi, GE, Merrill Lynch, Novartis, Dell, Microsoft, and Citibank. The firm’s leadership team, who acquired the firm in April 2023, is comprised of managing partners Nate Schiffer, Pam Noble, Ms. Maloney, and Tobin Anselmi.
Ms. Maloney partners with organizations during some of their most pivotal moments, including periods of growth, transformation, succession, acquisitions, and organizational change, helping leadership teams identify the HR executives who will shape what comes next. Over the course of her career with TCG, she has led executive searches for organizations ranging from Fortune 500 companies to founder-led businesses, private equity-backed organizations, venture-backed startups, and privately held enterprises.
In addition to serving clients, Ms. Maloney is a member of TCG’s leadership team and serves as the firm’s chief of staff. In this role, she helps drive strategic initiatives across the organization while overseeing key aspects of culture, leadership development, training, and operational excellence.
Related: The Christopher Group Places CHRO for American Society of Health-System Pharmacists
Ms. Kilkenney has worked in human resources for over 15 years as both a recruiter and HR generalist. She works with and places exceptional manager and director-level human resources candidates across the U.S. Prior to joining TCG, Ms. Kilkenney worked in corporate talent acquisition with PartsSource and OfficeMax as well as contract and permanent placement recruitment with Brickpath Group and IT consulting firms.
Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education Search
The Christopher Group was also recently selected by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) to lead in its search for a chief human resources officer. Managing partner, Pam Noble, and Partner Jeff Wilbanks are leading the assignment.
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“The ACGME plays a vital role in shaping the future of healthcare by advancing excellence in graduate medical education,” said Ms. Noble. “This search represents an important opportunity to identify a chief human resources officer who can strengthen the organization’s people strategy while supporting its mission, culture, and long-term impact. We’re proud to partner with The ACGME on this significant leadership search.”
The CHRO is the organization’s senior HR executive, responsible for leading enterprise-wide human capital strategy while serving as a trusted advisor to the CEO, executive leadership team, and board. This leader will oversee all aspects of human resources, including organizational effectiveness, leadership development, talent acquisition, total rewards, employee relations, workforce planning, succession planning, compliance, and culture transformation.
Related: The Christopher Group Recruits Head of HR for Blistex
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
