Executive Director, People & Culture Business Partner
- Pay
- $274,000 – $357,000 per year
- Location
- South San Francisco, CA
- Job type
- Full-time
- Level
- Director
- Experience
- 15+ years
- Education
- Bachelor's degree
- Listed
- 31 days ago
Skills & highlights for this role
- workforce planning
- employee relations
- organizational development
Also useful
- talent strategy
- change management
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 the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, or broader life sciences industry is strongly preferred.
- 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.
Exact Compensation may vary based on skills, experience and location.
Pay and benefits
Pay range $274,000—$357,000 USD
About Us
Kardigan is a heart health company working to make cardiovascular disease preventable, curable and no longer the leading cause of death in the world.
It is Kardigan's mission to develop multiple targeted treatments in parallel that bring people with cardiovascular diseases to the cures they deserve.
Led by Tassos Gianakakos, Jay Edelberg, M.D., Ph.D., and Bob McDowell, Ph.D., Kardigan's co-founders have reunited after leading MyoKardia to discover and develop mavacamten, the first cardiac myosin inhibitor, resulting in an acquisition by Bristol Myers Squibb in 2020.
We have a cutting-edge discovery and translational research platform, a pipeline of late-stage candidates, and an industry-leading team that is driven to improve the lives of patients.
At Kardigan, we are motivated by our values which guide how we work, interact, and achieve our goals. Driven by patients and their families, we are deeply committed to improving the lives of patients and prioritizing their needs above all else. We believe in being authentic-leading with truth to bring out the best in others by creating an environment where every person knows they will be fully accepted.
With an eagerness to learn, we encourage the highest levels of curiosity and are open to changing our minds. We are committed to winning as a team with urgency, excellence, and intention, and support each other no matter what role we play or where we sit. Lastly, we strive to enable the impossible because patients are counting on us. We are not afraid to take risks to unlock innovation and advance scientific discoveries.
These values are the foundation of our work, empowering us to make a real difference, every day.
- 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)
From Kardigan's careers page, first listed on Rolev.ai on October 10, 2026. Rolev.ai is not the employer.
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Common questions
What is the salary for the Executive Director, People & Culture Business Partner role at Kardigan?
The Executive Director, People & Culture Business Partner posting at Kardigan states compensation of $274,000 – $357,000 per year. It is listed as a full-time position. Final pay may depend on location, experience, and interview evaluation on Kardigan's official career site.
Where is the Executive Director, People & Culture Business Partner job at Kardigan located?
This Executive Director, People & Culture Business Partner position at Kardigan is located in South San Francisco, CA. Always check Kardigan's application page for specific state eligibility or relocation policies.
What qualifications are required for Executive Director, People & Culture Business Partner at Kardigan?
For the Executive Director, People & Culture Business Partner role, Kardigan highlights 15+ years of relevant experience; a bachelor's degree; experience with workforce planning, employee relations, organizational development. Rolev.ai can score your existing resume against these requirements and show any skill gaps before you apply.
How do I apply for the Executive Director, People & Culture Business Partner position at Kardigan?
This listing links directly to Kardigan's Greenhouse application page. You can apply directly on Kardigan's site, or use Rolev.ai to check your resume fit, generate a zero-hallucination tailored resume and cover letter for this posting, and autofill the Greenhouse application form in 1 click with the Rolev.ai Chrome extension. You always review the form and press Submit yourself.