Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO)
Location: Nashville, TN or Northern California
Industry: Construction / General Contractor / Engineering & Construction
Reports to: CEO
Direct Reports: HR Generalists / Talent Acquisition / HR Operations (varies by company size)
About Guardian Fire Services
Guardian Fire Services is a rapidly growing company dedicated to safeguarding lives and property. As we continue to expand, we’re committed to creating a supportive, inclusive, and innovative workplace where talent thrives. Guardian Fire Services is seeking an experienced Regional Sales Manager (East Coast) with extensive expertise in fire sprinkler and fire alarm service and inspections. This role combines coaching and training junior reps, managing regional sales performance, and leading national account execution for clients with multi-location footprints.
As we continue to scale, we are investing in building a disciplined, high-performing sales organization across all Guardian Family Companies.
Position Overview
The Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) is responsible for leading the people strategy for a growing Private Equity backed Fire & Life Safety company. This role partners with executive leadership to build a high-performance culture that supports project delivery, operational excellence, and scalable company growth.
The CHRO will oversee all HR functions including talent acquisition, workforce planning, leadership development, compensation, benefits, compliance, employee relations, and organizational design. This leader must understand the unique workforce dynamics of the construction/fire protection industry, including field labor, project-based teams, union workforce, and multi-state compliance requirements.
This role is ideal for a hands-on HR executive who can both build strategic people programs and execute operational HR initiatives in a fast-paced environment.
Key Responsibilities:
Strategic HR Leadership
- Partner with the CEO and executive leadership to develop and execute the company’s people strategy aligned with business growth goals
- Lead workforce planning initiatives to support project pipeline and geographic expansion
- Serve as a strategic advisor on organizational design, succession planning, and leadership development
- Build scalable HR infrastructure as the company grows
Talent Acquisition & Workforce Planning
- Oversee recruitment strategies for project managers, estimators, superintendents, and corporate staff
- Develop workforce pipelines for skilled trades, field personnel, and construction management roles
- Implement employer branding initiatives to attract top talent in a competitive labor market
- Lead national recruiting efforts if operating across multiple states
Compensation & Benefits
- Design competitive compensation programs for both field and corporate employees
- Conduct market benchmarking for construction roles
- Oversee annual salary planning, bonus programs, and incentive structures tied to project performance
- Manage benefits strategy including healthcare, retirement, and wellness programs
HR Operations & Compliance
- Ensure compliance with federal, state, and multi-state employment laws
- Oversee HR policies, employee handbooks, and HRIS systems
- Manage risk related to worker classification, wage laws, and construction labor regulations
- Lead investigations and resolution of employee relations matters
Culture & Leadership Development
- Build leadership capability across project and operations teams
- Develop performance management systems aligned with company values
- Implement training programs for project leadership, safety culture, and management skills
Employee Engagement & Retention
- Develop retention programs for high-value roles
- Lead employee engagement initiatives across both field and office teams
- Support a culture of accountability, safety, and collaboration
Qualifications:
Required
- 5–10 years of progressive HR leadership experience
- Experience supporting a B2B commercial services, construction, engineering, or skilled-trade workforce
- Strong knowledge of multi-state employment law
- Experience building HR systems and processes in a growing organization
- Demonstrated success in recruiting construction professionals
- Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field
Preferred
- CHRO, VP of HR, or Head of People experience
- HR leadership within a Commercial services, general contractor, commercial builder, or infrastructure company
- Professional certifications such as SHRM-SCP or SPHR
- Experience supporting project-based or service-based organizations
Key Competencies
- Strategic leadership
- Culture building
- Construction workforce expertise
- Talent acquisition strategy
- Executive partnership
- Organizational design
- Change management
- Compliance & risk management
Why You’ll Love Working Here
At Guardian Fire Services, we value innovation and collaboration. Here’s what we offer:
- Competitive Pay: $160k - $200k, based on experience. Bonus: 20% AND Equity, profit units
- Comprehensive Benefits: Health, dental, vision, and life insurance options.
- Future Savings: A 401(k) plan with employer match.
- Professional Growth: Opportunities for leadership and career advancement.
- Work-Life Balance: Generous PTO and paid holidays.
We Value All Experiences
We understand that no candidate is perfectly qualified for any job. Experience comes in different forms; many skills are transferable, and passion goes a long way. Even more important than your resume is a clear demonstration of dedication, impact, and the ability to thrive in a fluid and collaborative environment. We want you to learn new things in this role and encourage you to apply if your experience is close to what we’re looking for.
We also know that diversity of background and thought makes for better problem-solving and more creative thinking, so we’re dedicated to adding new perspectives to the team.
Our Commitment to Diversity
Guardian Fire Services is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
Guardian Fire Services is committed to an inclusive experience for all applicants and will endeavor to make reasonable accommodations in the interview process, to the known physical or mental limitations of qualified employees with disabilities unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the operation of our business.
How to Apply
If you’re ready to take the lead in shaping HR systems and processes in a growing company, we’d love to hear from you. Apply now to join Guardian Fire Services and make an impact!