Chris Hudson has only been the Vancouver School Board's Executive Director, Employee Services for about five months, but already his tall, affable presence has become familiar to many throughout the district. Hudson oversees the teams that handle labour relations, human resources, health and safety, and payroll and compensation. That is a big job -- the VSB has an annual enrolment of more than 50,000 students in kindergarten to Grade 12 and almost 9,000 staff members support them.
"I think it's important that any organization of this size really takes the time to listen," Hudson says. "I've been spending my first months here listening, being accessible, and getting to know people." For Hudson, developing very positive, constructive relationships with the VSB's numerous stakeholders, and understanding what's impacting them, is a top priority.
"One of the initial attractions of the VSB for me was the complexity of the organization, the challenge inherent in that and wanting to help," he says.
Hudson discovered his interest in human resources watching and learning from his father who worked in the field. In his off time, this active Vancouverite enjoys martial arts, but more excitingly, he and his wife are looking forward to becoming new parents in the fall.
This spring, preparing for contract negotiations and hiring are front and centre for Hudson. The VSB has 15 bargaining units coming to the negotiating table next year, and very good progress is being made in filling vacancies, with a record number of recent hires. VSB recruiters have been to more than a dozen hiring fairs in the first two months of the year alone.
Hudson has an upbeat attitude about his job and brings a sunny smile to his work.
"There is very good enthusiasm for the VSB - many, many student teachers are interested in coming here, so we're actually quite optimistic," he enthuses.
