Director of People

Director of People Application Deadline: 22 June 2026 Department: Facilities and General Operations Employment Type: Full Time Location: Emeryville, CA Reporting To: Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer Compensation: $170,000 - $200,000 / year Description The Director of People is responsible for providing organization‑wide leadership and management on everything related to the hiring, performance, and wellbeing of BioMADE’s people. This role will be accountable for establishing HR strategies that align with our mission, values, and organizational goals. The Director will bring their expertise and experience to advise and coach both managers and employees on policies and procedures, employee relations, performance management, compensation, benefits, and people strategy. The Director will collaborate with managers and staff across the organization to ensure they are incorporating best practices to build and maintain a culture of operational excellence and that values our employees. The Director will partner with BioMADE’s Legal and Compliance team to ensure the organization consistently operates in compliance with state and federal employment laws in a multi‑state environment across both office and manufacturing plant‑based jobs. Key Responsibilities Develop, implement, and manage policies and procedures that align with BioMADE’s mission and values and are compliant with federal and state employment laws and regulations and best HR practices in a complex business environment. Lead BioMADE’s approach to hiring across a wide range of roles and locations, including the consistent application of best practices for recruiting, hiring, and onboarding new staff. Advise managers and executive staff on job performance matters and organizational growth strategies. In collaboration with senior leadership, develop future workforce plans aligned with BioMADE’s strategic goals and available funding and partner with cross‑functional leaders to implement those plans. Manage employee relations and handle employee complaints, corrective actions and terminations. Under the guidance of legal counsel, conduct investigations as needed and prepare proper documentation. Design and facilitate BioMADE’s talent management strategy, including leading the continuous improvement and implementation of an effective performance appraisal process including developing recommendations for compensation changes and incentives. Plan, execute, and organize employee training and development programs to improve employee and leadership skills and knowledge. Oversee compliance with mandated training. Propose and manage BioMADE’s benefits programs and offerings to provide high value benefits to employees through fiscally responsible strategies. Act as Plan Administrator for the BioMADE 401(k) Plan ensuring accuracy of all plan transactions. Partner with the Finance and Payroll staff to ensure accurate payroll processing and maintenance. Develop and manage the HR budget, ensuring cost‑effectiveness while maintaining high‑quality standards of service. Minimize organizational risk through effective collaboration and coordination with BioMADE’s Legal Department. Hire, supervise, develop, and mentor a team of HR professionals. Travel as needed to all BioMADE locations to maintain organizational awareness and strengthen relationships across the organization. Other duties as assigned. Skills, Knowledge & Expertise Qualifications / Requirements Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Organizational Development, Business Administration, or related field required. Must possess 10+ years of progressively increasing experience in HR management, with a proven track record of successful strategic HR leadership. Ability to build and scale people programs, org structures, and compliance frameworks to support headcount growth tied to new manufacturing facility launches. SHRM-CP/SCP, PHR, SPHR or other relevant certifications required. Strong working knowledge of federal and multi‑state (including California) employment laws, regulations, and best practices required. Extensive experience in all functional areas of human resources management required including talent acquisition, benefits and 401(k), multi‑state wage and hour compliance, compensation structure and benchmarking, performance management, employee engagement, and training. Experience in organizational structure development and succession planning required. Strong leadership and interpersonal skills with a high degree of emotional intelligence required. Must be detail oriented and possess excellent organizational skills. Must be proficient in Microsoft Office 365 applications. Preferred Qualifications / Requirements Demonstrated experience supporting HR functions within a manufacturing environment, including hourly and salaried workforce management. Prior experience navigating the launch or opening of a new manufacturing plant site, including standing up HR infrastructure, recruiting pipelines, and policy creation and governance. Job Benefits 100% employer‑paid options for medical, dental, and vision Paid time off that accrues from your hire date 13 paid holidays, including a winter closure between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day Hybrid work policy for most positions; stipend for internet and personal phone use 401(k) retirement plan with up to 6% match on compensation (no vesting period!) Discretionary Incentive Plan based on organizational and individual performance 100% employer‑paid short‑term disability and life insurance Paid parental leave Section 125 Flexible Spending Plan for medical and dependent care Commuter pre‑tax benefit Full access to LinkedIn Learning’s suite for professional development Free parking, casual dress code, free snacks and beverages, and on‑site gym access at both offices Fun on and off‑site employee activities sponsored by the Employee Engagement Committee And much more We nurture merit, talent, and achievement by supporting equal opportunity and welcome people of all backgrounds and beliefs to join us in our mission to enable domestic bioindustrial manufacturing at all scales. Come join our team! #J-18808-Ljbffr BioMADE