Chief Human Resources Officer

A clinical-stage biotechnology company in San Francisco, CA is preparing for commercial launch and seeking a Chief Human Resources Officer to lead their people strategy during this pivotal transformation. The CHRO will serve as a strategic partner to Clinical Development, Regulatory, Quality, CMC, and early Commercial functions—driving organizational design, workforce planning, and compliance readiness. This executive will shape the culture, build HR infrastructure for late-stage development, strengthen HR governance, and prepare the organization for commercialization.

Key Responsibilities

• Partner with senior leaders to design and scale clinical development and commercial-ready teams.
• Lead HR compliance and governance across federal, state, and global regulations (GxP, EEO, FDA-adjacent workforce expectations).
• Drive workforce planning, talent acquisition strategy, and total rewards alignment for late-stage and commercial growth.
• Introduce scalable HR systems for onboarding, performance management, and leadership development.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to the C-suite, supporting change management and cross-functional effectiveness.

What We’re Looking For

• 10+ years of progressive HR leadership experience in biotech or pharma.
• Demonstrated success supporting clinical development scale-up and preparing organizations for commercial launch.
• Deep knowledge of clinical development functions and regulated environments; specifically oncology, immunology, and/or inflammation program needs
• Strength in organizational design, talent strategy, compensation, and HR operations.
• Executive presence, data-driven mindset, and ability to thrive in a mission-driven, science-first culture.
• Local to the Bay Area or willing to relocate; onsite office presence in San Francisco required.

Success in This Role Looks Like

• Scalable HR infrastructure supporting pivotal trials and commercial readiness.
• Strong clinical and G&A leadership bench, clear org design, and succession plans.
• High compliance maturity and improved cross-functional collaboration.
• Strong engagement and retention during a period of rapid growth.