The role of chief HR officers today

The career trajectory of working in HR can be wide and vast—from administrative duties to more executive positions, individuals may work on various internal functions. A chief human resource officer (CHRO) is in charge of overseeing current HR practices and supervise employees within that department. If you’re looking for a role that incorporates managerial tasks with that of general HR duties, the CHRO job can be an exciting prospect.

As the world of work continues to evolve with novel trends transforming organisational climate’s, HR personnel must be prepared to adapt and accommodate existing business policies according to current employee needs. This requires a level of attention on industry trends and to be receptive to employee feedback. Successful CHROs can envisage positive business strategy for consistent growth.

Beyond general HR duties, this HR job in Malta or elsewhere manages the department as a leadership role. They oversee initiatives related to employment processes, such as recruitment and hiring, as well as training developments for employees. Given that the CHRO profession is a senior one, these individuals often have a demonstrable background in HR management and other leadership roles. They also frequently collaborate with other c-suite executives such as the CEO or CFO for further company insights and similar information.

Duties and responsibilities of chief HR officers

As mentioned beforehand, the CHRO is a key point of support for internal and external parties of a business. Whilst their duties may vary according to industry, common duties and responsibilities of CHROs includes:

• Develop training opportunities: CHROs understand what employees need and how they can develop professionally in their careers. They implement training programs that support employee growth and incorporate initiatives that are relevant, useful, and informative.
• Recruitment: a standard HR process is in recruitment, whereby CHROs assist in hiring functions within a company and actively advertise any vacancies. They usually help other HR personnel in how to effectively assess job applications and interview prospective new hires.
• Conduct interviews: as part of the recruitment process, CHROs can be part of interviews in providing valuable company insights to job applicants. 
• Abide by governmental regulations: HR as a department often works alongside legal frameworks to determine appropriate company policies. As these can be quite sensitive, CHROs have a duty of care to ensure any legal regulations are effectively enforced.
• Organise team-building events: similar to developing training measures for employees, CHROs can organise activities that focus around improving employee morale and engagement. In this way, activities will assist in cross-collaboration and encourage innovation from staff.
• Mentor HR employees: CHROs importantly supervise HR personnel in any processes and areas they can offer guidance. This is especially relevant for junior-level employees who require further training and support. CHROs can offer their expertise and knowledge in dedicated HR processes and assist employees in various functions.

From the above, you can see that CHROs work on diverse tasks to ensure the order of company operations through collaboration. Their role is truly communicative, meaning jobseekers should aim to work on their interpersonal skills to succeed in this HR job in Malta or elsewhere.

Salary expectations 

The demand for CHROs is rapidly increasing, leading the career with fast-paced growth capabilities alongside impressive salary raises. The Castille Salary Survey is based on the average gross basic salary ranges we have seen offered in the local market over the last 12 months. This survey is updated quarterly, remaining representative of current market trends.  

For a global perspective, it is worth keeping in mind that sources vary and are subject to change with time. Considering these variances, salaries for CHROs jobs consistently reflect an average salary ranging from $90,000 to $150,000 a year. These numbers vary according to level of experience, specialisation, and other associated living costs. 

Education and qualifications of CHROs

Like many senior and leadership positions, CHROs spend many years engaging in educative opportunities to help them stand out among other job applicants. To succeed in this HR job, jobseekers must present at least a bachelor’s degree in HR or a similar discipline. As there are many roles within the HR department, students are able to explore internship opportunities that help kickstart their careers in a relevant company. 

As the field is growing more competitive each day, it’s worth exploring work opportunities that can help you gain work experience early on. Additionally, depending on the country and business, many HR personnel and CHROs must receive further certification to practise their role. As CHROs possess various responsibilities, it’s not uncommon for these professionals to earn a master’s degree as well to upskill.

Trending technologies and skill sets 

Unsurprisingly, the CHRO role includes many core skills that carry the leadership position. These include the following:

• Leadership: naturally, the CHRO must possess leadership skills to manage an HR department and to supervise team members. They offer guidance where needed and form an integral part of internal employee support.
• Organisation: managing an HR department requires good organisational skills to monitor current processes and oversee novel projects. When it comes to organising training developments, for example, CHROs must plan the logistics properly to ensure any events runs smoothly. Generally, this HR job is up-to-date on the going’s on in the company.
• Communication: as CHROs frequently collaborate with internal functions, clear communication is a must skill for this profession. They work with individuals from diverse backgrounds and levels of experience, and often respond to various employee concerns. This means CHROs must be attentive to multiple employee needs and ensure any company communications are clear and resources are effectively accessible.
• Creativity: in addressing diverse employee needs, CHROs must be creative problem-solvers. This skill is also handy for organising various company events, including team-building activities and similar workshops. 
• Legal skills: proposing company policies typically follows a legal framework to ensure operations comply with these. CHROs in this regard typically have demonstrable knowledge in work-related laws and similar protocols. This includes knowledge to do with worker’s rights and other employment regulations. In this way, this HR job is a key figure in developing novel company policies and can inform these from a unique legal perspective.

The above illustrates the general skills of such an HR job that is focused around supporting business professionals whilst ensuring internal structures operate well. They understand current business objectives and help amend these during shifting workplace trends. 

Career prospects as a chief HR officer

CHROs typically work in various office environments, including a work from home job. They collaborate with diverse personnel frequently and facilitate internal and external communications. The consistent use of valuable hard and soft skills employed by the CHRO is transferable across organisations, meaning these individuals are able to work in diverse workplace settings.

For jobseekers interested in pursuing a career path as a CHRO, individuals should work to gain valuable work experience in any preferred industry. Of course, if applicants are interested in specialising in a certain industry, they should look for HR jobs in these specific areas. CHROs can continue to improve their technical and soft skills through independent learning and training measures they develop within the company.

Begin your chief HR officer career today with Castille 

Now that you’ve critically assessed what working as a CHRO is about and whether it is right for you, you are able to kickstart your career in this ever-growing field. As technology and the workforce continues to rapidly advance, the role of a CHRO remains a career suitable for the long-haul.