Appointing an Interim Chief People Officer to Stabilise HR Operations and Drive Strategic Workforce Planning in an Independent Statutory Authority
The Brief
Future Leadership™ partnered with an independent statutory authority to appoint an Interim Chief People Officer (CPO) during a critical period of organisational transformation.
The organisation faced significant workplace challenges, including HR investigations, performance management issues, and workplace conflict resolution. The Interim CPO was tasked with providing immediate stability to the People & Culture function, improving employee engagement, and developing a strategic workforce plan to enhance organisational capability.
This role required an experienced HR leader skilled in organisational transformation, stakeholder management, and navigating complex HR challenges in high-pressure environments.
Increase in General Management Skills
According to the American Management Association, only 14% of businesses consider themselves “well prepared” to handle a sudden loss in senior management. Add to that the fact that it takes at least four months to fill an executive role, and an Interim Executive experienced in operations makes a lot of sense!
Increase in Customer Experience Skills
These days experience is everything. What truly makes for a good experience? Speed. Convenience. Consistency. Friendliness. And human touch. Our Interim Executives deliver a great experience while improving your customer experience!
Increase in People & Culture Skills
Organisations are constantly changing as they respond to internal and external pressures. Continual process improvement can enable team engagement and lead to growth. Interim Executives bring fresh eyes and effective industry best practice to the execution.
Increase in Data Analytics
Complex challenges require critical thinking and in the age of information-overwhelm it is imperative to have analytical minds at the table. These skills range across finance, data science, systems and more. An Interim Executive can be the right person to optimise your inputs to maximise your output.
The Process
Future Leadership™ implemented a swift and targeted interim search strategy to meet the client’s urgent needs:
- Immediate Action: Identified and shortlisted candidates with proven expertise in HR transformation and compliance with public sector regulations.
- Candidate Assessment: Evaluated candidates on their ability to address workplace challenges and align HR strategies with organisational goals.
- Cultural Fit: Ensured alignment with the organisation’s values and the requirements of the Victorian Public Service regulations.
The appointed Interim CPO quickly stepped into the role, leveraging their extensive experience to stabilise the HR function and address key priorities.
Emerging Capabilities
Governance and Compliance
Establishes, champions, and measures the effectiveness of an organisation’s regulatory and reporting systems.
Culture and Engagement
Fosters a positive culture, creating a sense of belonging and inclusiveness while improving engagement and trust.
Stakeholder Relations
Builds and sustains trusted relationships with internal and external stakeholders to foster collaboration and achieve goals.
Strategy and Purpose
Develops and leads HR strategies aligned with organisational goals, taking a broad and long-term perspective.
Adaptability and Resilience
Demonstrates positivity and agility in navigating change, high-pressure environments, and organisational challenges.
The Outcome
The Interim Chief People Officer delivered transformative results during their tenure, including:
- HR Stability: Resolved workplace conflicts and performance management issues, fostering a more harmonious and productive work environment.
- Strategic Workforce Planning: Developed a comprehensive workforce plan to address skill gaps and implement targeted strategies for talent acquisition, retention, and development.
- Enhanced Engagement: Boosted employee engagement through proactive communication and trust-building initiatives, aligning HR practices with strategic organisational goals.
- Regulatory Compliance: Ensured all HR processes met Victorian Public Service regulations, reducing organisational risk and enhancing accountability.
The Interim CPO’s leadership provided immediate stability and long-term strategic direction, enabling the organisation to successfully navigate its transformation. Feedback from the leadership team highlighted the interim leader’s exceptional ability to exceed expectations, delivering clarity, structure, and lasting value to the HR function.
