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Associate Director of Talent Development and Employee Experience (HR)

Berkeley, California, United States

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 activity against diseases. 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 cell therapy platform as readily available treatments for patients with hematologic malignancies and autoimmune diseases.

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 their contributions are recognized. Members of the herd work from our headquarters in Berkeley, California, or remotely.

We are seeking an experienced and strategic Associate Director of Talent Development and Employee Experience to join our dynamic team at Caribou. This role will report directly to the Chief People Officer (CPO) and will be a critical partner in driving the company’s talent development strategy and be a close business partner to our Research organization. Along with being the HRBP for the Research organization, the Associate Director will focus on developing and implementing talent development programs, fostering a culture of engagement, and leading Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives across the organization.

Responsibilities:

Talent Development:

  • Design, implement, and manage talent development programs that align with the organization's strategic goals
  • Create career development frameworks and succession planning strategies to identify and cultivate future leaders
  • Partner with CPO and HRBPs to provide coaching and development opportunities to employees at all levels, ensuring a continuous learning environment
  • Collaborate with department heads to identify skill gaps and design targeted training interventions
  • Regularly evaluate the impact of training initiatives, adapting strategies to maximize effectiveness and ROI
  • Oversee performance management in partnership with HR functional partners which includes goal setting, performance check-ins, calibration and year-end processes

 Human Resources Business Partnering:

  • Act as a trusted advisor and partner with management to understand their business
  • 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, employment 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
  • In partnership with Talent Acquisition, support workforce planning, including recruitment, onboarding, and retention strategies

 Employee Engagement:

  • Develop and implement engagement strategies that foster a positive and inclusive workplace culture
  • Conduct regular employee surveys and focus groups to assess engagement levels and identify areas for improvement
  • Partner with the CPO to design and execute initiatives that enhance employee satisfaction and retention

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI):

  • Lead the development and execution of DEI initiatives that align with the company’s mission and values
  • Collaborate with the CPO to establish DEI goals and metrics, tracking progress
  • Champion a diverse and inclusive work environment, ensuring all employees feel valued and respected
  • Provide training and resources to managers and employees on DEI best practices

Strategic HR Leadership and HR Team Collaboration:

  • Serve as a key member of the HR leadership team, contributing to the overall HR strategy and initiatives
  • Analyze HR metrics and data to provide insights and recommendations for continuous improvement
  • Stay abreast of industry trends and best practices in HR, talent development, and employment labor laws
  • Serve as backup to other HR team member’s tasks as needed

Qualifications:

  • Bachelor’s degree in human resources, Organizational Development, or a related field
  • Minimum of 7 years of experience in HR, with a focus on talent development and HR business partnering
  • Proven experience leading DEI initiatives and driving organizational change
  • Ability to develop and deliver scalable people programs that are consistent with the strategic needs of the business and continue to build a purposeful employee experience
  • Excellent communication, coaching, and interpersonal skills
  • Technically savvy with experience with a variety of systems and tools
  • Ability to work collaboratively across all levels of the organization
  • Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
  • Ability to work onsite at Caribou’s Berkeley Office a few days a week

Nice-to-haves:

  • Strong understanding of the biotech or life sciences industry is a plus
  • Background in small to midsized organizations with HR cross-departmental collaboration
  • Certification in key organizational and individual assessment instruments

Caribou compensation and benefits include:

  • Comprehensive compensation package, which includes competitive salary, bonus, and equity for all employees
  • SF Bay Area Salary Range: $180,000-195,000. 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.

We do not accept unsolicited resumes or candidate submissions from staffing agencies. All agencies must have a valid written agreement with Caribou Biosciences, Inc. for service in place. Any resume or candidate submitted by a staffing agency without such an agreement in place will be considered unsolicited, and Caribou Biosciences, Inc.  will not be obligated to pay any referral or placement fee.

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