Senior Director, Human Resources Business Partner, Research and Clinical Development

We are seeking an experienced business and human resources leader to join our team. This role will serve as Senior Director, Human Resources Business Partner for our global Research and Clinical Development teams. This individual will act as a strategic partner for senior business leaders and will have a business-focused approach to help translate objectives to workforce strategies. The role will support clients in multiple functions and geographic locations, serving as a key member of the Kite HR team on planning and delivering HR programs and services.

This is an opportunity to join hardworking people to bring forth innovation within the cell therapy industry. Everyone at Kite is grounded by one common goal – curing cancer. We are at the forefront of immunotherapy and engineered T cell therapy. Our personalized approach is what sets us apart. Unlike traditional pharmaceutical manufacturing, our therapies are not created on an assembly line. With CAR T-cell therapy, we are reengineering a patient’s own immune cells to fight cancer — one patient at a time. We also are entering a pivotal time in our history with multiple planned launches and evolving competitive dynamics on a global scale. That means a fast moving, constantly changing environment and innovative culture, where we make discoveries every day – discoveries that include our own capabilities and our individual potential.

This role reports to the Vice President of Human Resources for Kite Pharma and can be based in Foster City, CA or Santa Monica, CA.

Key Responsibilities

• Organizational Development. Partner with clients in planning and implementation of workforce strategies and thoughtful changes in organizational structure or processes to support growth. Drive organizational effectiveness and thoughtful change management.

• Strategic Advisor. Serve as integrated part of the business, working with and advising leaders to accomplish broader strategic objectives. Partner with cross-functional leaders to understand how they can better develop and support Kite’s operating model and how they might consider realigning organization structures, resource plans, and processes to better align to product team deliverables across pipeline and marketed assets.

• Talent Acquisition, Assessment and Development. Serve as a strategic business partner with Talent Acquisition, Total Rewards, and Global Mobility to support efforts to attract, develop and retain the best talent. Analyze talent data to recommend solutions to improve performance, retention, engagement, and employee experience. Drive comprehensive talent management, critical capability build, development planning, and key succession planning.

• Team Effectiveness. Support the build of high-performing teams through chartering and effectiveness activities. Partner on feedback loops to identify pain points and areas for improvement in ways of working. Assist with clarifying roles and responsibilities as needed.

• Talent Development & Inclusion. Drive leadership and manager capability development. Encourage utilization of resources to improve talent and career development. Partner in building and embedding Inclusion & Diversity (I&D) strategies.

• HR Programs & Services. Partner to ensure seamless delivery of enterprise HR programs to client group. Identify the need for HR programs or strategies to support business goals. Develop and conduct presentations on HR subjects as needed.
  

Basic Qualifications

• MS/MA and 12+ years of experience in Human Resources OR

• BS/BA and 14+ years of experience in Human Resources OR

• High School diploma and 18+ years of experience in Human Resources

Preferred Qualifications

• BS or BA degree, preferably with an emphasis in HR or Business. Master’s degree preferred

• 8+ years of HR business partner experience with in-depth knowledge of HR practices, preferably with some experience in more than one HR function

• Strong track record of serving as a strategic HR partner for senior executives, HR leaders, and employees at all levels, preferably in life sciences, healthcare or pharma/biotech

• Strong track record of developing solutions to a wide range of highly complex problems

• Strong business acumen with the ability to translate business objectives into talent priorities

• Strong leadership competencies, demonstrating accountability for coaching, developing, progressing and retaining employees while ensuring an inclusive work environment

• Ability to exercise judgment and independently determine and take appropriate action

• Excellent active listening skills that encourage employee trust

• Professional and effective verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills

• Strong conflict management and resolution skills

• Proficient knowledge of employment laws, principles, policies, and procedures

• Role model for Kite and Gilead core values and People Leader Accountabilities (PLA)