Associate Director, Human Resources

Raven (RA Ventures)•Boston, MA

8d•$155,000 - $175,000

About The Position

Reporting to the VP of HR and Operations, The Associate Director, Human Resources will support a range of HR activities within our early-stage incorporated companies as they build scientific and operational teams and support our incubator. This is a hands-on role requiring experience in putting in place HR infrastructure in biotech startup environments. Working closely with the VP of HR and Operations, and members of RA Capital’s HR team this role will create and / or improve infrastructure, develop appropriate materials and toolkits, advise on performance management processes, assist with compensation reviews and help develop positive culture.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field.
7–10 years of HR experience, ideally within biotech, life sciences, or biotech venture firm
Strong knowledge of employment law and compliance requirements
Experience supporting early-stage or high-growth organizations preferred
Strong judgment, discretion, and ability to manage confidential information

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with equity compensation and venture-backed environments is a plus
Demonstrated ability to build HR infrastructure from the ground up
HR certification (SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, SPHR) preferred

Responsibilities

HR Compliance & Regulatory Alignment
Conduct annual review of federal, state, and local employment laws, with particular attention to biotech environments and share when appropriate
Develop and maintain compliant HR policies aligned with life sciences best practices.
Advise Newcos on how to maintain documentation and employee records consistent with audit and regulatory expectations
Support newly incorporated companies with HR compliance guidance as needed
Training & Development
Develop onboarding programs tailored to scientific, technical, and operational staff.
Implement training initiatives including compliance (e.g., workplace safety, harassment prevention, leadership development, and manager effectiveness)
Performance Management
Design and manage performance review processes suitable for both incubator staff and early-stage biotech teams
Develop goal-setting frameworks aligned with scientific milestones, operational deliverables, and funding objectives
Train managers on providing effective feedback in high-performance scientific environments
Support performance improvement planning and talent optimization strategies
HR Infrastructure & Template Development
Update and maintain toolkit of HR templates and a calendar of HR activities to share with Newcos
Develop and standardize HR templates including offer letters, employment agreements, performance review forms, confidentiality agreements, and policy documents
Build scalable HR systems and processes that support growing biotech startups
Ensure documentation consistency across incubator entities and portfolio companies.
Improve HR workflows to enhance operational efficiency and reduce risk
Compensation & Workforce Planning
Partner with Vice President to design competitive compensation structures for scientific, technical, and operational roles
Conduct market benchmarking within the biotech and life sciences sectors
Support equity compensation administration in collaboration with finance and legal teams
Lead annual merit review and bonus processes for Newcos
Startup Payroll and Benefits
Conduct annual research on payroll, benefit and PEO options for toolkit of options to share with Newcos
Present payroll and benefit options, help Newcos make decisions and assist with initial outreach to set up contracts and start up activities
Employee Relations & Culture
Serve as a trusted resource for employee relations matters, conflict resolution, and investigations
Assist with disciplinary actions and terminations in a compliant and respectful manner