Director, HR Business Partner (R+D)

Headway • San Francisco, CA

1d • Remote

About The Position

As an HR Business Partner, Director at Headway, you will serve as a strategic thought partner to our R+D executives. You’ll shape and execute people strategies that enable scale, strengthen leadership, and drive Olympic-level performance. Partnering closely with our leaders, you’ll provide counsel on organizational design, performance management, talent planning, and leadership development - balancing near-term priorities with long-term organizational health and cultural integrity. You’ll use data-driven insights and sound judgment to identify trends, influence decisions, and lead high-impact initiatives that elevate the employee experience, strengthen manager capability, and ensure our teams are empowered to perform at their best.

Requirements

• Have 12+ years of progressive experience in HR or HR-adjacent roles (e.g., Chief of Staff, Strategy), with a track record of supporting senior executives in high-growth or scaling environments.
• Are a strategic operator who can anticipate organizational needs, shape people strategies, and influence through credibility and insight.
• Are data-driven, using qualitative and quantitative insights to inform decision-making, program design, and measurement of impact.
• Are a trusted coach and advisor, capable of balancing candor and empathy while influencing at all levels.
• Have deep expertise in org design, performance management, and leadership development.
• Thrive in fast-paced, high-growth settings where agility, sound judgment, and ownership are essential.
• Model Headway’s cultural principles and uphold our Olympic-level performance standard, driving clarity, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

• Act as a trusted advisor to executives. Anticipate organizational needs, connect people strategy to business outcomes, and challenge assumptions through evidence and insight.
• Lead performance management and talent review processes with rigor and fairness. Coach leaders to recognize and reward top performance, address underperformance, and build high-performing, inclusive teams.
• Partner with leaders to design scalable org structures, strengthen alignment, and enable growth. Use workforce analytics and org design principles to optimize spans, layers, and team health.
• Build trusted relationships with executives and managers, providing candid, actionable feedback that sharpens leadership effectiveness. Reinforce Headway’s cultural principles and managerial excellence through coaching and systems.
• Leverage people data to identify trends, diagnose root causes, and drive measurable improvements in organizational health.
• Lead complex, cross-functional people initiatives end-to-end - from scoping and planning to flawless execution and follow-through. Balance strategic impact with hands-on execution to ensure scalability and continuous improvement.
• Model and amplify Headway’s values and performance standards. Ensure fairness, inclusion, and consistency in decision-making. Surface patterns in sentiment and proactively strengthen engagement and trust.

Benefits

• Equity Compensation
• Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage
• HSA / FSA
• 401K
• Work-from-Home Stipend
• Therapy Reimbursement
• 16-week parental leave for eligible employees
• Carrot Fertility annual reimbursement and membership
• 13 paid holidays each year as well as a Holiday Break during the week between December 25th and December 31st
• Flexible PTO
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Training and professional development

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Education Level: No Education Listed