Executive Recruiting, Development & Succession Planning Manager

This isn’t your average recruiting gig—it’s about finding and developing future leaders wherever they are. You’ll spend time out in the field, connecting with teams, spotting potential, and building relationships with top talent. If you have a knack for seeing what others miss and love shaping the future of a business, this role is calling your name. Bring your energy, your vision, and your people skills—we’re ready for you!

Responsible for identifying, attracting, onboarding, and developing top executive talent, both internally and externally, to build Kroger’s future leadership bench. Drives strategic talent initiatives by proactively aligning leadership needs with business goals, conducting in depth field assessments and leading comprehensive succession planning and executive development programs. Serves as a trusted, strategic partner to senior leadership ensuring Kroger has the right leaders in place to fuel business success and innovation.

Demonstrate the company’s core values of respect, honesty, integrity, diversity, inclusion, and safety.

• Develop and execute a comprehensive executive recruiting strategy to identify and attract high-potential internal and external candidates for key leadership roles.
• Partner with business leaders across the enterprise to understand current and future executive talent needs, aligning recruiting efforts with business strategy.
• Spend time in the field, walking stores/sites, meeting teams, and assessing leadership potential to ensure a deep understanding of the business and talent landscape.
• Own the executive onboarding process, ensuring a seamless and impactful transition for new leaders, including tailored onboarding plans and integration support.
• Design and oversee executive development programs, partnering with Talent and Org Effectiveness leadership, senior executive leadership, and Pearl Street Academy leadership as appropriate, including coaching, mentoring, and targeted learning experiences to accelerate readiness for future roles.
• Lead succession planning efforts for executive positions, maintaining an up-to-date, actionable pipeline of ready-now talent.
• Assess and report on executive talent metrics, providing insights and recommendations to senior leadership on bench strength and development opportunities.
• Cultivate relationships with external partners, search firms, and industry networks to expand Kroger’s reach and reputation among top executive talent.
• Ensure Our Values of Diversity and Inclusion are embedded within executive recruiting, onboarding and development.
• Deliver an integrated executive talent strategy that aligns priorities and builds a strong leadership pipeline.
• Maintain confidentiality and integrity in handling sensitive executive talent information.
• Travel up to 50% to field locations and business sites.
• Ability to work cooperatively in high paced and sometimes stressful environment.
• Ability to manage conflict in a reasonable, nonconfrontational and cooperative manner.
• Ability to act with honesty and integrity regarding customer and business information.
• Ability to follow directions and seek assistance when necessary to resolve customer and business issues.
• Provide support and assistance through direct interaction with minors, individuals with special needs, and/or older adults.
• Must be able to perform the essential functions of this position with or without reasonable accommodation.

• 5+ years of experience in executive recruiting, talent acquisition, talent or leadership development, preferably in a large, complex organization.
• Strong business acumen and ability to quickly understand diverse business operations.
• Demonstrated experience designing and executing executive onboarding and development programs.
• Exceptional relationship-building and influencing skills, with the ability to partner effectively with senior leaders.
• Experience with succession planning and talent assessment methodologies.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and project management skills.
• Passion for elevating leadership and driving business results through people.
• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business, or related field, or equivalent experience.
• Certification in executive coaching, leadership development, or assessment tools (e.g., Korn Ferry, Hogan, DDI).
• Experience working with external search firms and executive networks.
• Track record of recruiting and developing diverse executive talent.
• Experience with HRIS and talent management systems.