2015 Dynamic Dozen Top Local Human Resources Professional: Christopher Bos

Christopher Bos believes in people. A business’ most essential resource is its workforce, and Bos says that has never changed over the years.

As the director of human resources for Mercy Hospital Springfield, Bos manages the health care provider’s team of human resources professionals in various departments. Building relationships and investing in that workforce are among his top job priorities.

“Our co-workers chose to serve our community through being a part of Mercy’s ministry of healing, and part of my role is to make certain we continue to recognize each co-worker’s individual contribution to that mission as often as possible,” he says.

Bos got his start with Mercy, then St. John’s Health System, in 2002 as a benefits health specialist, facilitating and administering benefit plans for co-workers. He has worked his way up the ladder, serving as human resources coordinator and senior human resources manager before taking his current job in 2012.

Along with his changing role over the past 13 years, Bos says the focus of the human resources department has evolved as well.  

“It’s been a big culture change,” he says. “I love the fact we are looking outside the scope of local health care and we’ve moved to a regional focus as well.”

Bos has stuck with Mercy for more than a decade because he says he truly believes in its mission of  “extending the healing ministry of Jesus by improving the health of our communities, with an emphasis on the poor and underserved.”

“This is my part to help those who can support the patients in healing,” he says. “It’s truly about healing at Mercy and using my talents to bring those people in.”

Ultimately, Bos says he wants to make the lives of Mercy employees easier, both within the workplace and in their home life.

“Our co-workers are very talented in each of their roles, and we allow them to spend more time using those talents as much as possible,” he says.

In an effort to better facilitate his role as HR leader and to further the Mercy mission, in May 2012, Bos earned his master’s in health care administration from Missouri State University.

“This has served me well in understanding the challenges employees face and how to provide support in these areas as human resources director,” he says, crediting his success within the HR field and at Mercy to his passion for people. “The best thing about my role is getting to know the people and the relationships I’ve built. You get to see people from all walks of life, hear about their experiences and help them.”

Outside the hospital walls, Bos extends his passion for helping people to his hometown. Born and raised in Billings, Bos has served on the R-4 district’s board of education since being elected in 2012. He wanted to be a part of future generations after seeing his two sons enter the school system.

“This is our future and the people that we will be hiring,” he says. “I wanted to be able to give them real life human resources experience and give back to the school.”[[In-content Ad]]