Senior Director, Human Resources
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AI Summary
Job Title: Sr. Director, Human Resources
Location: San Diego or Remote
Job Type: Full-Time
Who We Are
Avenzo Therapeutics, Inc. (“Avenzo” or “Company”) is a clinical-stage biotechnology Company focused on developing next-generation oncology therapies for patients. The Company was co-founded in 2022 by Drs. Athena Countouriotis and Mohammad Hirmand (former CEO and CMO of Turning Point Therapeutics, Inc., respectively). Our team is passionate about and committed to advancing a pipeline of potentially differentiated targeted oncology programs that make a difference in the lives of people with cancer. The Company is headquartered in San Diego, California.
Position Summary
Reporting to the Chief Human Resources Officer, the Senior Director, Human Resources is responsible for building, leading and continuously enhancing the Company’s human resources (“HR”) operational infrastructure, HR systems, workforce data, compliance and HR processes, and HR business partnership activities. This role ensures that HR programs, systems, policies, and processes are scalable, efficient, compliant, and aligned with the Company’s business objectives.
The Senior Director, HR will serve as a senior HR leader and trusted advisor to executives, managers, and employees. The position requires broad experience across all major areas of Human Resources, including HR operations, HRIS, employee relations, talent management, compensation, benefits, performance management, organizational development, workforce planning, and regulatory compliance.
The ideal candidate has experience operating in a publicly traded Company, managing HR-related SOX controls, implementing and optimizing HR technology, and supporting leaders as an HR Business Partner. The successful candidate will be a strategic and hands-on leader who will shape HR operations strategy while executing day-to-day HR activities.
Essential Job Functions and Responsibilities
HR Operations and Infrastructure
- Develop and maintain scalable HR programs and operating processes that support the Company’s current needs and future growth
- Establish clear standards, service levels, documentation, and accountability across HR operations
- Manage and oversee employee lifecycle processes, including onboarding, employment changes, promotions, transfers, leaves of absence, reorganizations, and terminations
- Identify opportunities to simplify processes, reduce manual work, improve service delivery, and strengthen the employee and manager experience
- Maintain accurate and complete employee records in accordance with Company policies, legal requirements, and record retention standards
- Partner with Payroll, Finance, Legal, IT, and other functions to ensure effective administration and governance of HR processes
Public Company and SOX Compliance
- Lead the design, documentation, execution, and ongoing evaluation of HR-related SOX controls
- Ensure that HR systems, compensation processes, payroll inputs, employee data changes, system access, approvals, and supporting documentation meet internal control requirements
- Partner closely with Finance, Legal, Payroll, and external auditors during SOX testing and financial audits
- Maintain appropriate segregation of duties, approval workflows, access controls, audit trails, and documentation within HR systems and processes
Compensation and Benefits
- Partner with relevant stakeholders on compensation planning, annual merit programs, promotions, incentives and support executive compensation, equity programs, and benefits administration
- Ensure compensation and employee change processes include appropriate approvals, controls, documentation, and system updates
- Assist with the evaluation and administration of employee benefit programs and vendor relationships
HRIS and HR Technology
- Serve as the owner of the Company’s HRIS and related HR technology platforms
- Evaluate current systems and recommend improvements that strengthen efficiency, reporting, compliance, and the user experience
- Partner with IT and system vendors to manage integrations between HRIS, payroll, benefits, recruiting, performance management, learning, and other business systems
- Establish HR data governance standards, including system ownership, access permissions, data entry protocols, quality controls, and change management practices
- Develop dashboards, reports, and workforce analytics that provide leaders with meaningful and actionable business insights
HR Business Partnership
- Build strong relationships with leaders and develop a deep understanding of business priorities, operating challenges, talent needs, and organizational risks
- Advise leaders on organizational design, workforce planning, performance management, succession planning, leadership effectiveness, employee relations, and change management
- Translate business objectives into practical talent and organizational strategies
- Support organizational changes, restructurings, integrations, M&A, and other significant business initiatives
Employee Relations and Compliance
- Provide timely and practical oversight and guidance on employee relations matters, workplace investigations, performance concerns, disciplinary actions, leaves, accommodations, and terminations
- Lead the development, review, and implementation of employee policies, handbooks, procedures, and manager guidance and compliance training
Talent and Performance Management
- Support the design and administration of performance management, talent reviews, succession planning, leadership development, and employee engagement programs
- Partner with Talent Acquisition, as needed, to improve workforce planning, recruiting processes, candidate experience, and hiring manager effectiveness
- Provide guidance on promotions, career development, employee mobility, and leadership capability
- Manage HR vendors, consultants, system providers, budgets, and contractual relationships
Preferred Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in human resources, Business Administration, or a related field required; advanced degree preferred (e.g., MBA) with at least 12+ years human resources or HR operations experience in the life sciences industry, or an equivalent combination of academic and industry experience
- Proven ability in evaluating, building and implementing HR systems and platforms
- Experience in managing recruiting operations, benefits, and leave administration
- Strong knowledge of federal and multi-state employment laws and regulations
- Excellent project and program management skills, highly organized, detail-oriented, and capable of managing multiple workstreams simultaneously
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with internal and external stakeholders
- Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, with a strategic mindset
- This position will require periodic travel, including up to 25%, which may include overnight travel
Physical Demands and Work Environment
Physical Demands:
- Constant or continuous use of a computer keyboard, monitor, and mouse to perform a variety of tasks
- Constant or frequent sitting, standing, or walking
- May lift and/or move objects of various weights
Work Environment:
- Noise level in the work environment is usually moderate
- Fast-paced, time-sensitive environment with frequently changing priorities
- Handle multiple projects simultaneously
Reasonable accommodations may be provided to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.
Salary Range
The salary range for this position is $266,000 to $284,000 per year. The final pay offered to a successful candidate will be dependent on several factors that may include, but are not limited to, the type and years of experience within the job and the industry, education, and skills and certifications.
Benefits
Provided they meet all eligibility requirements under the applicable plan documents, employees (and their eligible dependents) will be eligible to enroll in group healthcare plans that offer medical, dental, vision, and basic life and AD&D insurance. Additional benefit programs include short-term and long-term disability insurance, flexible spending accounts, health savings accounts, and voluntary insurance programs, including voluntary life, AD&D accident, and critical illness. Employees will also be able to enroll in the Company’s 401(k) plan. In addition, employees will accrue 10 hours of paid vacation time every month and accrue 1 hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked. Employees also enjoy 17 paid holidays each calendar year, including a winter closure, subject to applicable Company policies. All benefits are subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable plan documents and Company policies, which may be amended from time to time.
Other Compensation
The hired candidate will be eligible to receive an annual discretionary bonus and an equity award, subject to the terms of the applicable employment agreement, plan documents, and Company policies.
The information above is intended to provide a general description of benefits and other compensation and is not a substitute for applicable plan documents or Company policies.
Applications for this position are anticipated to close on August 31, 2026. For more information about this posting, please contact careers@avenzotx.com.
Equal Employment Opportunity
Avenzo is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to an individual’s actual or perceived protected characteristic or characteristics, or any combination of protected characteristics including race (including traits associated with race, such as hair texture and protective hairstyles, including braids, locks, and twists), ethnicity, religion, religious creed (including religious dress and grooming practices), color, sex (including childbirth, breast feeding, and related medical conditions), gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, uniformed service member and veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, age (40 and over), protected medical condition (including cancer and genetic conditions), genetic information, disability (mental and physical), reproductive health decision-making, medical leave or other types of protected leave (requesting or approved for leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act or the California Family Rights Act), the employee or their family member’s status as a victim of a qualifying act of violence, political activity or affiliation, use of cannabis off the job and away from the workplace, association with an individual who has, or is perceived to have, a protected characteristic or characteristics, or any combination of protected characteristics, or any other protected status in accordance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws.
Notice to Search Firms/Third Party Agencies
Avenzo does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters, employment agencies or search firms without a valid, executed search agreement in place.
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