Principal Talent Acquisition Partner

Olema Oncology•San Francisco, CA

About The Position

The Principal Talent Acquisition Partner, R&D and G&A will play a critical role in building the scientific, clinical, technical, and corporate capabilities required to advance Olema’s portfolio and support the company’s continued growth. Reporting to the Senior Director and Head of Talent Acquisition, this individual will serve as the lead recruiting partner for R&D and G&A and personally drive full-cycle hiring across Clinical Development and Operations, Regulatory Affairs, Research, Quality, CMC and Technical Operations, Biometrics, Pharmacovigilance, Finance, Legal, People, IT, Communications, Business Development, and related functions. This is a highly visible, hands-on individual contributor role for an accomplished recruiter who understands the specialized talent required to discover, develop, and advance oncology therapies while also bringing the versatility to recruit across corporate functions. The successful candidate will combine deep biotechnology recruiting expertise with strong sourcing instincts, sound judgment, and the ability to translate complex scientific, functional, and business needs into effective recruiting strategies. This individual will proactively identify and engage exceptional passive talent, build pipelines for current and anticipated needs, and convert highly qualified prospects into successful hires. They must be comfortable simultaneously advancing multiple searches across diverse functions and levels while maintaining urgency, quality, and a high-touch candidate experience. Operating within Olema’s broader talent acquisition strategy, this individual will lead R&D and G&A recruiting execution and serve as a trusted talent expert across these functions. This is a senior individual contributor position.

Requirements

10 or more years of progressive talent acquisition or search experience, including substantial responsibility for R&D hiring within biotechnology or pharmaceuticals
Broad recruiting experience across multiple R&D functions, such as Clinical Development, Clinical Operations, Regulatory Affairs, Research, Quality, CMC and Technical Operations, Biometrics, or Pharmacovigilance
Demonstrated success recruiting across all organizational levels, from individual contributors through Vice President-level leaders
Proven ability to develop qualified pipelines, engage passive candidates, and close highly sought-after talent while managing multiple searches simultaneously
Experience supporting an emerging-growth biotechnology or pharmaceutical company is strongly preferred
Experience recruiting across both early- and late-stage drug development environments is preferred
Oncology recruiting experience is strongly preferred; experience supporting breast cancer research or clinical development is particularly valuable
Strong understanding of biotechnology talent markets and the organizational capabilities required to advance programs from research through clinical development, registration, and commercialization
Demonstrated ability to quickly learn complex scientific and technical subject matter and translate it into focused recruiting and assessment strategies
Strong negotiation skills and experience managing complex leadership-level offers
Advanced proficiency with applicant tracking systems, recruiting CRM platforms, sourcing tools, and recruiting analytics; experience with Greenhouse and Gem is preferred
Exceptional project-management skills and demonstrated ability to create structure, maintain urgency, and drive multiple priorities to completion
Ability to advise, influence, and constructively challenge senior executives, functional leaders, and hiring managers
Clear and persuasive written and verbal communication skills, strong judgment, intellectual curiosity, and a high level of discretion
Bachelor’s degree is required

Responsibilities

Lead full-cycle recruiting across Olema’s R&D and G&A organization, including Clinical Development and Operations, Regulatory Affairs, Research, Quality, CMC and Technical Operations, Biometrics, Pharmacovigilance, and related scientific and technical functions
Develop a deep understanding of Olema’s portfolio, development programs, organizational plans, and capability needs to serve as a trusted advisor to R&D and G&A leaders
Own hiring manager relationships across R&D and G&A, establishing clear expectations, communication cadences, and shared accountability while adapting recruiting strategies to each function and driving timely, high-quality hiring decisions
Translate scientific, technical, and business needs into clear candidate profiles, sourcing strategies, search plans, and effective selection processes
Lead intake meetings, align interview teams, assess candidates, and maintain momentum and accountability from search launch through accepted offer
Manage a portfolio of concurrent searches across functions and levels, consistently producing qualified pipelines and advancing candidates at the pace required by the business
Advise leaders on talent availability, competitive organizations, candidate quality, location considerations, compensation, and relevant market dynamics
Constructively challenge assumptions, calibrate expectations, and recommend adjustments when candidate or market feedback indicates a need to refine the search
Partner with People team colleagues and hiring leaders to create structured interview plans, meaningful scorecards, and consistent candidate-evaluation practices
Personally identify, engage, assess, and cultivate high-caliber passive talent rather than relying primarily on applicants or external agencies
Build and continuously replenish pipelines for specialized, difficult-to-fill, and anticipated R&D needs
Develop targeted research and sourcing strategies across relevant companies, scientific disciplines, development stages, geographies, and talent segments
Build relationships with prospective candidates before an immediate hiring need exists, creating stronger access to talent as Olema’s programs and organization evolve
Use professional networks, referrals, LinkedIn Recruiter, Gem or comparable CRM platforms, Greenhouse, scientific publications, conference materials, research resources, and emerging sourcing technologies to identify talent
Track relevant clinical programs, regulatory milestones, organizational changes, scientific developments, and leadership movement across the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry
Convert talent intelligence and recruiting data into practical recommendations regarding search feasibility, candidate profiles, sourcing channels, and recruiting strategy
Represent Olema at scientific conferences, industry meetings, networking events, and other talent-engagement opportunities
Evaluate candidates for functional and technical expertise, development-stage relevance, leadership capability, organizational fit, and ability to succeed in an emerging-growth biotechnology company
Develop sufficient fluency in assigned R&D functions to assess candidate experience, distinguish depth from surface-level expertise, and credibly represent opportunities to specialized talent
Build an understanding of each candidate’s motivations, concerns, competing opportunities, and decision criteria early in the recruiting process
Develop individualized engagement and closing strategies for highly sought-after scientific, clinical, technical, and leadership talent
Communicate Olema’s science, pipeline, culture, and opportunity to contribute to patients with breast cancer in a compelling and credible manner
Partner with Compensation, HR leadership, and hiring leaders to develop competitive and internally equitable offers
Lead complex negotiations involving base salary, annual incentives, equity, sign-on compensation, relocation, and other relevant considerations
Maintain candidate engagement and actively address potential barriers through acceptance and start
Use pipeline data, conversion metrics, and market feedback to assess search health, identify obstacles, and take action when progress is off track
Provide clear, concise updates to hiring leaders and the Head of Talent Acquisition regarding progress, pipeline quality, risks, decisions, and anticipated outcomes
Maintain accurate and timely candidate and search information in Greenhouse and other recruiting systems
Deliver a thoughtful, high-touch candidate experience that reflects Olema’s values and strengthens its reputation within the scientific and biotechnology communities
Contribute to the continued development of Olema’s recruiting practices, technology, employer brand, candidate experience, and talent acquisition capabilities