Position Specification

Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)

President and Chief Executive Officer

Copyright 1992-2008. Korn/Ferry International and Lominger International. All Rights Reserved.
POSITION SPECIFICATION

Position President and Chief Executive Officer

Organization The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)

Headquarters Alexandria, VA (Washington DC Metro Area)

Website www.shrm.org

ORGANIZATION BACKGROUND/CULTURE

The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) is the world’s largest professional
association devoted to human resource management. Its mission is to serve the needs of HR
professionals by providing the most current and comprehensive resources, and to advance the
profession by promoting HR’s essential, strategic role. SHRM provides its membership with
education and information services, conferences and seminars, government and media
representation, online services and publications that equip human resources professionals for
their roles as leaders and decision makers within their organizations. Founded in 1948, SHRM
has a staff of over 300 and represents 250,000 individual members in over 140 countries. The
organization has an operating budget of approximately $100 million. Membership dues
comprises one-third of its total revenue with no other revenue source greater than 20% of the
total organization. The Society on average has grown its revenues annually with a total increase
of 37% since 2003 and is expected to increase revenue by 8% in the next year. SHRM’s Net
Assets total $125 million including long-term investments of $120 million. The organization has
a network of more than 575 affiliated chapters in the United States, as well as offices in China
and India. SHRM has a strategy to grow its membership to a minimum of 400,000 by 2014.
SHRM is in a strong position to prepare human resources practitioners globally for the near-
term and long-term business challenges.

KEY RESPONSIBILITES

Reporting to SHRM’s Board of Directors and Chair, the new President and Chief Executive
Officer (“CEO”) is responsible for providing comprehensive leadership, strategic vision,
operating management and market representation for the SHRM organization and the HR
profession as a whole. He/She will be responsible for leading the largest association focused on
human resources management. This executive will have the unique opportunity to impact the
future in a meaningful and measurable way. Specifically, this executive will:

• Develop and implement an effective, well-defined strategy to advance the HR profession

through serving/growing and/or evolving SHRM’s membership both domestically and

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 internationally. This will also include aggressively exploring new strategic channels,
including alliances and business combinations.
• Serve as the primary spokesperson for the organization with the media, industry analysts,
executives, and government officials.
• Develop and support the Board members in their roles as fiduciaries of the organization by
keeping them regularly engaged and promoting their involvement in SHRM’s mission and
growth. Proactively provide well thought out direction, strategies, and recommendations to
the Board for consideration, guidance and approval.
• Have P&L responsibility for an organization of 300 employees as well as be responsible for
volunteer leaders and the business community. He/She will ensure that the organization’s
human capital is effectively developed and managed to carry out SHRM’s strategy.
• Establish, develop and maintain key external relationships, including with SHRM members,
thought leaders (Business, HR, Government, Academia, etc…), Strategic Partners,
Government Officials, Corporate (Private Sector – Both United States and Global), Human
Resources organizations, Media, and the Association community.
• Establish, develop and maintain key internal relationships, including with the SHRM Board,
SHRM staff, Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI), SHRM Foundation, SHRM
Membership Advisory Council (MAC), and SHRM Special Expertise Panels.
• Serve as a strategic and hands-on leader of this large association helping to foster a
transparent, business-oriented environment while putting in programs and processes that
help the organization behave like a corporate entity.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE / QUALIFICATIONS

SHRM’s new President and CEO will exhibit exceptional leadership qualities and a strong public
image with a proven track record of results. Specifically, he/she will:

• Possess a minimum of 15 years of experience with at least 10 years in executive positions.

He/She will have had direct management/P&L responsibility, ideally as a CEO of a growing,
complex for-profit or not-for-profit organization with a global focus. True P&L experience is
required; additional experience in HR is a plus.
• Previous experience working closely with a Board of Directors is ideal.

• Have substantial global experience, including scaling a business across international markets.

• Be both strategic and tactical with a proven track record of innovation and results. He/She
will have experience taking an organization “to the next level.” This executive will be well
rounded and savvy with a marketing orientation and strong financial and business acumen.
• Have experience positively influencing the culture of an organization. Be a strong leader
and motivator, able to inspire multiple constituencies with similar yet varying objectives.
This executive will have proven experience gaining buy-in as he/she helps lead an
organization to meet aggressive objectives.

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• Have a proven track record of hiring, developing, mentoring, motivating, and empowering a
diverse workforce to advance goals. Ensure that the team remains engaged, motivated and
enthusiastic about the direction of the organization and their specific impact on that
direction.

• Proven ability to lead cross functional teams and coordinate and manage complex projects
with outside partners. This will include achieving objectives while working through people
and teams of people.

• Has a demonstrated ability to develop products and services that align with a particular
strategy or long range business plan, and which are financially self sustaining.
• Possess a strong executive presence and public image and will represent the organization to
the highest levels in business and government as well as the entire HR community. He/She
will be an exceptional communicator with experience clearly articulating complex content to
diverse stakeholders thereby enticing them to move in a particular direction. Must have
strong listening skills and a successful track record as a spokesperson before media and
other audiences, including large live audiences.
• Possess understanding and appreciation of the human resources function at all levels of an
organization.
• Familiarity working with legislative processes and governmental entities, including non-U.S,
is a plus.

EDUCATION

Undergraduate degree required; graduate degree such as an MBA a decided plus. Experience in
the field of HR highly desirable.

KORN/FERRY CONTACT(S)

Kim Shanahan Matt Page

Senior Client Partner Client Partner
Managing Director, Northern Virginia (202) 955-0958 Direct
(703) 873-3211 Direct Matthew.Page@kornferry.com
Kim.Shanahan@kornferry.com

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