Chief People Officer

Rapid7 is seeking an experienced and visionary Chief People Officer to lead our global People Strategy efforts as we continue to grow and evolve our business.This is an opportunity to make a lasting impact at one of the leading B2B cybersecurity companies in the world by cultivating an environment where diverse talent flourishes, innovation thrives, and every individual feels empowered to contribute their best work.

About the Team

The Chief People Officer (CPO) at Rapid7 is a strategic leadership role responsible for overseeing all aspects of People Strategy including talent retention and acquisition, performance management, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), compensation and benefits, and organizational development to foster a positive and high-performance work environment. The CPO will serve as a key cross-functional partner and trusted advisor to the senior executive team and the Board of Directors on all people matters. 

About the Role
Reporting directly to the CEO, the CPO will play a critical role in defining and executing a modern day people strategy that not only aligns with and supports our business goals but also elevates our unique, award-winning culture. Our “Moose” are key to our success and this leader will have a direct impact on our company’s success as we scale to be $1B+ in revenue.

Specific responsibilities include: 

• Develop and Implement People Strategy: Drive the execution of a bold, forward-thinking people strategy that powers Rapid7’s mission, amplifies our core values, and fuels our long-term success. Lead and inspire a high-performing, global team across talent acquisition, performance management, talent development, DEI, compensation and benefits, operations, and employee relations to create an exceptional culture that accelerates growth and innovation.

• Executive Advisory & Leadership Support: Provide critical talent insights as a trusted advisor to the CEO, Board of Directors, and executive team, offering strategic guidance on all people-related matters. Collaborate with the leadership team to ensure alignment between company priorities, customer focus, and our people.

• Culture & Employee Engagement: Cultivate a vibrant, inclusive company culture that unites our global team, drives collaboration, and fuels employee engagement. By championing our  core values, you’ll help us not just grow—but grow with purpose—ensuring we “scale with soul” while creating an environment where everyone can thrive and feel empowered to contribute their best work.

• Talent Acquisition & Workforce Planning: Oversee a global talent acquisition team responsible for developing competitive recruitment strategies to attract and retain high-quality talent. Along with TA leadership,  work with business leaders to build scalable recruiting processes that meet both current and future talent needs while ensuring diversity and inclusion.

• Employee Development & Retention: In partnership with People Strategy leadership, design leadership programs, career progression plans, and retention strategies that drive employee satisfaction, well-being, and professional growth.

• Compensation, Benefits & Performance Optimization: Work with our Total Rewards and Compensation leaders to continuously refine compensation, benefits, and HRIS processes based on evolving market dynamics and business needs. Leverage data-driven insights to develop key metrics and measure the effectiveness of people strategies.

The skills you’ll bring include:

• Deep People Strategy Expertise: 15+ years of experience leading talent management, organizational development, and employee engagement practices, with a proven track record of designing and executing people strategies that drive high-performance cultures. Deep understanding of talent lifecycle management, from recruitment and onboarding to leadership development and succession planning. Demonstrated ability to cultivate an environment at scale where top talent is not only attracted but retained and developed, ensuring a continuous pipeline of future leaders.

• Strategic Vision & Execution: Exceptional ability to craft and execute people strategies that align seamlessly with the company’s long-term business goals. Expertise in identifying emerging workforce trends and aligning people initiatives with broader business priorities to drive sustainable success. Adept at balancing immediate organizational needs with future talent requirements, creating scalable programs that evolve alongside the company's growth and changing market demands. Proven track record of building agile teams and structures to adapt to business transformation and changing industry landscapes.

• Excellent Communication: A highly skilled communicator with the ability to influence and engage senior leadership, while building consensus across all levels of the organization. Ability to articulate complex people strategy initiatives clearly, both verbally and in writing, and aligning teams to shared, measurable goals. Skilled in fostering open communication, transparency, and trust within leadership teams and throughout the broader organization, ensuring alignment and engagement with the company’s vision and objectives. Proven capability to lead difficult conversations and navigate complex organizational dynamics with diplomacy and tact.

• Legal & Compliance Knowledge: In-depth, global knowledge of employment laws and regulations, ensuring compliance across multiple geographies. Proven experience managing labor relations, compensation compliance, and risk mitigation strategies within rapidly changing legal frameworks. Strong track record of advising senior leadership on complex regulatory issues, such as workplace safety, wage and hour laws, employee rights, and international labor laws, ensuring the company’s operations remain compliant, ethical, and risk-free.

• HRIS & Data-Driven Decision Making: Proficiency with HRIS systems and advanced analytics tools to drive data-informed decision-making. Ability to leverage HR technology to track key performance metrics, conduct employee sentiment analysis, and measure the success of people programs while using data to inform talent decisions, optimize workforce productivity, and identify opportunities for continuous improvement. Demonstrated ability to create and report on actionable insights that directly influence business strategies and help scale the organization effectively. Direct experience with Workday and Lattice preferred.

• Change Management & Culture Building: A transformative leader with extensive experience in driving organizational change at companies at scale and shaping a company’s culture during periods of growth, mergers, or restructuring. Demonstrated experience navigating complex transitions while ensuring that employees remain engaged and aligned with company values. Proven ability to nurture a positive, inclusive culture that fosters collaboration, innovation, and employee satisfaction across all levels. Skilled in creating strategies that reinforce the company’s core values and culture, ensuring they are embedded in the organization’s DNA, especially during times of change.

• Bachelor’s degree in People Strategy, Business, or a related field. An advanced degree or HR certification (e.g., SHRM-SCP, SPHR) is preferred.

• Experience working in cybersecurity / technology is preferred.
   

About Rapid7

At Rapid7, we are on a mission to create a secure digital world for our customers, our industry, and our communities. We do this by embracing tenacity, passion, and collaboration to challenge what’s possible and drive extraordinary impact.

Here, we’re building a dynamic workplace where everyone can have the career experience of a lifetime. We challenge ourselves to grow to our full potential. We learn from our missteps and celebrate our victories. We come to work every day to push boundaries in cybersecurity and keep our 11,000+ global customers ahead of whatever’s next.

Join us and bring your unique experiences and perspectives to tackle some of the world’s biggest security challenges.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or any other status protected by applicable national, federal, state or local law.