Senior Director of Human Resources

Caribou Biosciences is a leading clinical-stage CRISPR genome-editing biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing transformative therapies for patients with devastating diseases. Our next-generation genome-editing technology enables superior precision to develop cell therapies that are armored to potentially improve antitumor activity. We believe the future of cell therapy is off-the-shelf, and we are advancing our pipeline of off-the-shelf, or allogeneic, cell therapies from our CAR-T and CAR-NK platforms as readily available treatments for patients with hematologic malignancies and solid tumors.

Members of the Caribou herd open their minds to new ideas and welcome diverse perspectives. We proudly assert that teams do their best work when their members are personally engaged, their ideas are taken seriously, and contributions are recognized. Members of the herd work from our headquarters in Berkeley, California, hybrid, or remotely.

Caribou is seeking an experienced, forward-thinking, and culture-driven Senior Director of Human Resources to join our growing organization.  Reporting to the Chief People Officer, the main responsibilities of this role will be to build and lead the Talent Acquisition function, drive culture engagement initiatives, and act as a HR Business Partner, providing counsel, coaching, and support to assigned departments. This position requires excellent strategic and operational human resources leadership, strong organizational development experience, business acumen, strategic and analytical thinking, and the ability to influence, motivate, and communicate effectively with individuals at every level of the company. This role will be hybrid with the expectation to be on-site on a regular basis.

Key responsibilities include:

 HR Business Partner:

• Collaborate with senior leaders to understand their business goals and objectives
• Partner with CPO and leadership to identify strategies that support the desired organizational culture across Caribou while also connecting to specific needs of individual functional areas
• Provide strategic HR guidance and support to ensure alignment between HR initiatives and departmental goals
• Identify opportunities for organizational improvement and implement initiatives to enhance efficiency and employee engagement
• Educate, coach, and partner with managers in all issues regarding people management, HR practices, policy, employment law, employee relations, change and performance management, and employee development
• Partner with leaders and HR on performance management including the facilitation of calibration meetings, compensation support, promotions, and the annual compensation year-end process
• Partner with hiring managers on recruitment efforts
• Conduct exit interviews and provide insight/data on an ongoing basis
• May provide guidance and input on organizational design, workforce planning, and succession planning

Talent Acquisition Leadership:

• Develop and implement a comprehensive talent acquisition strategy aligned with organizational goals
• Develop and manage the end-to-end recruitment process, leveraging technology and best practices to improve efficiency and candidate experience
• Collaborate with hiring managers to understand staffing needs and implement effective recruitment plans
• Manage external vendors and oversee the various channels of recruiting, including job boards, social media, and industry networking
• Stay abreast of industry trends and best practices to enhance the organization's competitive position in talent acquisition
• Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the effectiveness of the talent acquisition function

Strategic HR Planning:

• Contribute to the development and execution of overall HR strategies that support organizational growth and objectives
• Work with CPO to assess and address the organization's current and future HR needs
• Partner with CPO to implement effective HR policies and practices that will support the strategic growth of the organization
• Participate and collaborate with HR team in the continual development of specific programs and initiatives in the areas of performance management, recognition, career development, organizational design, talent development, and employee engagement
• Work in partnership with CPO on projects related to employee engagement, culture, and DEI
• Perform other duties as necessary and assigned

Education & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience
• Requires 15 years of experience in progressive HR management and/or a business partner role
• Experience and familiarity with talent acquisition best practices
• Life Sciences industry experience preferred

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

• Strategic thinker with the ability to align HR initiatives with business goals
• Demonstrated ability to drive organizational change and foster a positive work culture
• Proven successful track record and knowledge in organizational and employee development, performance management, employee relations, and change management
• Adept at anticipating emerging human resources issues and designing and implementing strategies and tactics to address them
• Strong understanding of industry trends and talent market dynamics
• Familiarity with applicant tracking systems and other recruitment technologies
• Self-driven and ability to roll up sleeves
• Effective interpersonal skills to collaborate effectively and build strong relationships
• Ability to work and communicate with employees at many levels across diverse cultures
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills; proven experience articulating strategy-related concepts to all audiences
• Experience with a HRIS, Microsoft Suite tools (including Outlook, PowerPoint, Word, and Excel)
• Excellent skills in developing and presenting effective presentations
• Extensive knowledge of Federal, California, other state and local legal regulations related to employment and HR policies

Caribou compensation and benefits include:

• Comprehensive compensation package, which includes competitive salary, bonus, and equity for all employees
• Salary Range: $250,000 to $280,000. This represents the present low and high end of the Company’s pay range for this position. Actual pay will vary based on various factors, including but not limited to location, skill, experience, and performance.
• Generous paid vacation time, in addition to company-observed holidays and floating holidays
• Excellent medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) retirement savings plan, which includes matching employer contributions
• Employee stock purchase plan (ESPP)
• Tuition reimbursement program

The benefits and stock purchase described above are subject to the terms and conditions of any governing plans, policies, practices, agreements, or other materials or documents as in effect from time to time, including but not limited to terms and conditions regarding eligibility.

Caribou is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical conditions, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender (including gender identity and gender expression), sex (which includes pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding), genetic information, taking or requesting statutorily protected leave, or any other basis protected by law. In addition, Caribou prohibits the harassment of any individual on any of the bases listed above or any other characteristics protected under federal, state, or local laws.

Legal authorization to work in the United States is required. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.

For more information about Caribou, visit www.cariboubio.com and follow the company @CaribouBio