[Hiring] Senior Director, Human Resources @AVENZO THERAPEUTICS INC

Role Description

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
• 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.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, Business Administration, or a related field required; advanced degree preferred (e.g., MBA)
• 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

Requirements

• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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

Benefits

• Eligible to enroll in group healthcare plans that offer medical, dental, vision, and basic life and AD&D insurance
• Short-term and long-term disability insurance
• Flexible spending accounts
• Health savings accounts
• Voluntary insurance programs, including voluntary life, AD&D accident, and critical illness
• 401(k) plan enrollment
• Accrue 10 hours of paid vacation time every month
• Accrue 1 hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked
• 17 paid holidays each calendar year, including a winter closure