Senior HR Business Partner

Vaxcyte•San Carlos, CA

21d•Hybrid

About The Position

Vaxcyte is a clinical-stage vaccine innovation company focused on engineering high-fidelity vaccines to protect humankind from bacterial diseases. The Senior HR Business Partner (Sr. HRBP) will serve as a strategic partner to senior leaders, primarily supporting the Research & Development (R&D) organization during its pre-commercial stage. This role is crucial for shaping organizational design, developing leadership capabilities, and fostering a high-performance, innovation-driven culture. The Sr. HRBP will provide a forward-looking, business-oriented perspective on talent strategy to ensure effective scaling and advancement of pipeline programs towards commercialization.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree with 8+ years of progressive HR experience, ideally within biotech, pharmaceutical, or life sciences; HR certification a plus. Other combinations of education and/or experience may be considered.
Proven HR Business Partner experience supporting senior leaders.
Strong business acumen with the ability to translate organizational strategy into actionable talent and workforce plans.
Expertise in organizational design, talent management, leadership coaching, and integrating culture into people practices.
Deep experience in employee relations and navigating complex organizational dynamics with sound judgment and discretion.
Exceptional influencing, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build trusted relationships across all levels of the organization.
Strong critical thinking, problem-solving, and analytical capabilities.
Ability to operate effectively in a high-growth environment, managing ambiguity and driving cross-functional collaboration.
Embodies core attributes consistent with Vaxcyte’s culture of caring, courage, passion and excellence.

Responsibilities

Act as a trusted advisor to R&D senior leaders and managers, providing thought leadership on organizational strategy, talent planning, and workforce scaling in alignment with scientific and business priorities.
Partner with leaders to assess and evolve organizational structures, capabilities, and operating models to support pipeline progression, cross-functional collaboration, and future commercialization readiness.
Coach and influence senior leaders and managers to enhance leadership effectiveness, decision-making, and team performance, particularly within a fast-paced, highly technical environment.
Drive talent reviews, succession planning, and development strategies to ensure a strong pipeline of scientific and functional leaders.
Identify critical roles and capabilities required for future growth.
Provide expert guidance on performance management, employee relations, and complex organizational dynamics, ensuring fair, consistent, and values-aligned outcomes.
Champion a culture of innovation, accountability, and collaboration.
Partner with leaders to strengthen engagement, reinforce company values, and foster an inclusive environment that enables scientific excellence.
Lead and support change initiatives as the organization evolves toward commercialization, ensuring thoughtful communication, stakeholder alignment, and adoption of new ways of working.
Effectively partner with the broader HR team and cross-functional groups to support HR programs.
Stay current on industry trends, competitive talent landscapes, and emerging practices within biotech to inform proactive talent strategies.