People Advisor (HR Business Partner), Research & Development

Who We Are:

Calico (Calico Life Sciences LLC) is an Alphabet-founded research and development company whose mission is to harness advanced technologies and model systems to increase our understanding of the biology that controls human aging. Calico will use that knowledge to devise interventions that enable people to lead longer and healthier lives. Calico’s highly innovative technology labs, its commitment to curiosity-driven discovery science and, with academic and industry partners, its vibrant drug-development pipeline, together create an inspiring and exciting place to catalyze and enable medical breakthroughs.

Position Description:

Our mission in HR is to promote a culture and community where people can innovate, collaborate and develop. The People Advisor (PA) role partners with our leaders and client groups and collaborates with our HR Centers of Excellence (Staffing, Total Rewards, HR Operations and Learning and Organization Development) to implement and coordinate Calico’s various HR programs and processes, including recruiting great people, providing competitive and inspiring total rewards, fostering a values-based culture, implementing straightforward processes and systems and offering learning and development programs tailored to our unique needs. The PA partners with senior managers to anticipate and address individual, team and organizational needs and works to develop solutions through cultural and process perspective organizational development. The PA is viewed as a strategic partner, change agent, and member of the line management staff.

HR provides value to the business through influencing analysis and decision-making around organizational strategy, leadership, talent management and development, succession planning, team effectiveness, change management, workforce planning, organization development and design, performance management, employee engagement, employee relations and organizational communications. The PA builds relationships with specific business and scientific leaders to determine their organization’s people-related needs and collaborates with the HR Centers of Excellence to bring the most effective processes, programs and solutions to our workforce.

We are seeking a People Advisor to partner with our Research & Development organizations. The ideal candidate will contribute at strategic levels to bring creative and actionable ideas and solutions to a growing organization. This person should have strong business acumen combined with a proven ability to align business needs with HR solutions to move the organization forward. We currently have about 135 people in our Research and Development teams.

Position Responsibilities:

Diagnose Organizational Needs

• Develop a deep knowledge of client groups and their needs through regular engagement with leaders and their teams

• Use their knowledge of business and Human Resources insights, metrics, expertise, and decision principles to effectively diagnose topics with a wide range of complexity

• Diagnose root causes of work environment issues, disruptive team dynamics, and ineffective organizational setups

Recommend Organizational Interventions

• Provide thought leadership and guidance to managers on organizational design and organization development matters (e.g., reorganizations, building organization capability, strategic workforce planning)

• Initiate interventions and shape solutions in collaboration and co-creation with key stakeholders

• Proactively assess team and manager development needs, make recommendations, and implement appropriate solutions

Implement HR Processes

• Serve as a creative partner and “delivery arm” to your client groups for HR processes designed and run by the HR Centers of Excellence, include performance management, promotions, development planning, compensation planning, onboarding, offboarding, and performance improvement

• Advise hiring managers on headcount planning, role scoping and search strategy in collaboration with Staffing Partners

• Provide employee relations interventions as needed in close collaboration with direct managers and leaders

Coach Leaders and Managers

• Coach and advise leaders in an effort to make them self-sufficient as strong managers and leaders in areas such as leadership team effectiveness, organizational planning, change management, team leadership, organizational leadership, talent management and general management issues

Advise on People Strategy

• Support senior management in translating company mission and goals into sustainable people and organizational strategies, programs, practices and behaviors

• Advise executives on how to align manager and employee capabilities to the mid- to-long-term business needs

Address People and Organizational Challenges

• Consult with leaders to help them navigate through employee issues so they understand the risks and benefits of different scenarios to make the best decisions for the organization

• Mediate and help resolve complex employee relations issues

Design and Implement HR Processes, Interventions, and Solutions

• Gather and analyze internal and external data and share insights with leaders in order to make critical decisions and recommend innovative solutions

• Integrate and partner with fellow PAs and colleagues in the HR Centers of Excellence to implement solutions and help scale the organization

• Facilitate team and offsite meetings as needed

• Participate as an integral member of the extended HR Big Bets community

Position Requirements:

• 10+ years of progressive HR experience, with 5+ years in an HRBP role or equivalent role; management consulting experience a plus

• Biotech/Pharma experience

• Experience supporting research scientists preferably in an industry setting and/or experience supporting drug development sub-functions and team members

• State and Federal employment law knowledge

• HRIS experience

• Inspired by Calico’s mission and business model

• Experience working with scientist leaders and managers

• Demonstrated competence in a variety of HR functional areas including, but not limited to, coaching, employee relations, compensation, performance management, and program management

• A "roll up your sleeves and get it done" work style

• Good judgment and discretion; the ability to maintain confidentiality

• The ability to engage, inspire, and influence people across diverse groups and levels

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills

• Project management and change management experience

• Humility and an ability and willingness to work cross-functionally at all levels

• A demonstrated consultative approach where you see the business leaders as your clients whom you partner with to build solutions

• Committed to building a diverse and inclusive work culture and fostering psychological safety and a strong sense of belonging

• Enterprise mindset and system thinking, proven ability to work effectively across multiple functional areas, and networks in a fast-paced environment

• Influencing skills to build trust with individuals at all levels within the organization

• Must be willing to work onsite at least 4 days a week

The estimated base salary range for this role is $250,000 - $305,000. Actual pay will be based on a number of factors including experience and qualifications. This position is also eligible for two annual cash bonuses.