Chief of People & Performance

George

B. Kaiser founded the George Kaiser Family Foundation (GKFF®) in 1999 around a fundamental conviction: no child’s future should be limited by the circumstances of their birth. He believes those who have benefited from opportunity have an obligation to help extend it to others, and that philanthropy should be used to increase opportunity for children and families facing the greatest barriers.

That conviction has shaped a distinctive approach to philanthropy in Tulsa, grounded in evidence, analysis, long-term commitment, and a willingness to act boldly when existing systems or solutions fall short. From helping establish the Tulsa Community Foundation (TCF) in 1998 to founding GKFF a year later, George has invested not only in individual programs and organizations, but in the institutions, partnerships, and capabilities needed to strengthen Tulsa over time.

GKFF practices hands-on, place-based philanthropy. Rather than simply making grants, it builds, convenes, and stays involved alongside the operators and partners closest to the work, using its resources and influence to make things happen that otherwise would not. It pairs transformational ambition with practical discipline: it seeks lasting change, learns from results, and adjusts course. Over the past several years, GKFF continues its legacy as a grantmaking foundation to one that both continues that legacy while also overseeing a network of affiliated programs and initiatives.

Today, GKFF and TCF work closely across a broad network of organizations and initiatives focused on expanding long-term opportunity, strengthening family well-being, revitalizing neighborhoods, and contributing to a thriving Tulsa.

As the GKFF and TCF Networks continue to grow in size, complexity, and impact, the strength of their leaders, teams, and organizational capabilities becomes increasingly important. Employed by GKFF, the Chief of People & Performance will lead People & Performance strategy across both Networks and strengthen the People Team and organizational capabilities needed to support their continued effectiveness and evolution.

The Chief leads an integrated People Team of approximately nine professionals serving the GKFF and TCF Networks, which together include approximately 600–700 employees. This includes GKFF’s own staff of nearly 50 and more than 25 Network organizations, each led by its own executive leader.

The Chief reports to the Executive Director and serves on the GKFF Leadership Team, which meets biweekly and is the primary forum for setting direction and building consensus across the foundation.

This role will strengthen the organizational capabilities needed to sustain the GKFF and TCF Networks for their next generation. Central to that work is institutionalizing GKFF’s Approach in Action within GKFF, strengthening the executive bench and succession, and developing strong people managers across both Networks. The Chief helps ensure that strong leadership, management practices, organizational capabilities, and distinctive ways of working endure as the Networks continue to evolve.

Historically, the People function has focused on core HR services, including payroll, benefits, and day-to-day employee relations support. The Chief will shape and build a proactive, enterprise-wide People function, with significant latitude to set its vision and priorities. Most of GKFF’s senior leaders have shaped the foundation over the past two decades. As GKFF grows and a new generation of leaders emerge in tandem, expectations around leadership, systems, and ways of working may also evolve.

The Chief will help bridge these approaches, preserving what has made GKFF successful while introducing the practices and structures needed for…