Executive Director, People & Culture Business Partner

Position Title: Executive Director, People & Culture Business Partner

Department: People & Culture

Reports To: Chief People Officer

Location: South San Francisco, CA – On-site 4 days per week (Mon to Thurs)

Job Overview

Kardigan is seeking an experienced and strategic Executive Director, People & Culture Business Partner to serve as a trusted advisor to senior leaders across multiple functions and lead People & Culture initiatives at our South San Francisco, CA site. This role will be instrumental in shaping and executing workforce strategies that align with Kardigan’s mission and values, fostering a high-performance, inclusive, and purpose-driven culture.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Serve as the People & Culture site lead for Kardigan’s South San Francisco location, ensuring alignment with company-wide People & Culture strategies and values.

• Act as a strategic business partner to senior leaders across Research, Translational, New Targets, Discovery Research, and other functions, providing guidance on organizational design, talent strategy, and change management.

• Lead workforce planning efforts, including headcount forecasting, succession planning, and organizational effectiveness initiatives.

• Drive initiatives that support employee engagement, performance management, and leadership development.

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure seamless execution of People & Culture programs and policies.

• Champion Kardigan’s values and culture, fostering an environment of authenticity, collaboration, and continuous learning.

• Provide coaching and counsel to leaders and managers on team dynamics, employee relations, performance, and development.

• Partner with People & Culture centers of excellence including Talent Acquisition, Total Rewards, and Learning & Development to support Kardigan’s growth and employee experience.

Qualifications and Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree in Human Resources, Organizational Development, or related field preferred.

• Minimum of 15+ years of progressive HR experience, with at least 5 years in a strategic business partner role supporting senior leadership. Experience in Biotech/Pharma highly desirable.

• Proven experience in workforce planning, employee relations, and organizational development.

• Demonstrated experience as a strategic talent advisor to executive and senior leaders across scientific functions, including Research, Translational Sciences, New Targets, and Discovery Research.

• Proven success partnering with executive leaders to scale both site-based operations and functional organizations during periods of rapid growth and organizational evolution.

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to influence and build trust across all levels of the organization.

• Demonstrated ability to thrive in a fast-paced, start-up environment.

• Passion for building inclusive, mission-driven cultures that prioritize patients and people.