Director, People Strategy Partner
BlueRock Therapeutics
Summary
BlueRock Therapeutics is seeking a Director, People Strategy Partner to join our People & Culture team, reporting to the Senior Director, People Strategy and Engagement. This role will serve as the primary People partner to the Chief Technical Operations Officer and Technical Operations leadership team, supporting one of BlueRock's largest and most complex functions. The Director will translate business priorities into practical people strategies while providing hands-on support for organizational effectiveness, talent, employee relations, workforce planning, and core People processes. Success requires strong business acumen, sound judgment, and the ability to balance strategic partnership with operational execution.
Job description
The Role
BlueRock Therapeutics is seeking a Director, People Strategy Partner to join our People & Culture team, reporting to the Senior Director, People Strategy and Engagement. This role will serve as the primary People partner to the Chief Technical Operations Officer and Technical Operations leadership team, supporting one of BlueRock's largest and most complex functions. The Director will translate business priorities into practical people strategies while providing hands-on support for organizational effectiveness, talent, employee relations, workforce planning, and core People processes. Success requires strong business acumen, sound judgment, and the ability to balance strategic partnership with operational execution.
Key Responsibilities
Business and People Partnership
- Serve as the primary People Strategy Partner to the Chief Technical Operations Officer and Technical Operations leadership team, translating business priorities into actionable people and workforce plans.
- Advise and coach leaders on organizational effectiveness, leadership capability, talent decisions, performance, engagement, retention, and organizational health.
- Provide hands-on guidance on complex employee relations matters, including performance concerns, workplace conflict, conduct issues, accommodations, and other sensitive employee situations.
- Lead or support timely, fair, and well-documented reviews of employee concerns in partnership with Legal, while coaching managers to address issues early, consistently, and effectively.
- Partner with the Senior Director, People Strategy and Engagement to align Technical Operations priorities with BlueRock's broader people strategy and employee experience.
Organizational Effectiveness and Talent
- Partner with leaders to evaluate organizational structures, role clarity, decision rights, work processes, capability needs, and talent deployment.
- Support organizational changes by assessing people implications, developing implementation plans, and helping leaders communicate with clarity and care.
- Facilitate talent reviews, succession planning, performance management, development planning, and retention discussions within Technical Operations.
- Coach leaders to strengthen team effectiveness, leadership capability, collaboration, accountability, and sustainable performance.
- Use workforce data, employee insights, and business context to identify organizational risks, opportunities, and practical solutions.
People Programs and Operational Delivery
- Lead the execution of core People processes within Technical Operations, including goal setting, performance reviews, compensation planning, talent reviews, workforce planning, and engagement activities.
- Coordinate across Talent and Learning, People Rewards and Operations, Legal, and other partners to deliver timely and integrated solutions.
- Develop practical tools, resources, and manager guidance that address recurring organizational and employee needs.
- Maintain accurate and timely documentation related to employee matters, organizational changes, and key talent decisions.
- Identify opportunities to simplify processes, improve service delivery, strengthen operating rhythms, and reinforce BlueRock's values throughout the employee experience.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business, or a related field required
- Minimum of 8 years of progressive human resources experience, including experience as an HR business partner or People partner in a complex organization
- Strong employee relations experience, including advising leaders on performance, conduct, conflict, workplace concerns, and sensitive employee matters
- Demonstrated experience supporting organizational design, talent management, workforce planning, performance management, and organizational change
- Strong business acumen, judgment, emotional intelligence, and coaching skills, with the ability to build credibility and influence at senior levels
- Working knowledge of US and Ontario employment law, HR compliance, and regulatory requirements preferred
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to use data and employee insights to inform recommendations
- Proven ability to manage competing priorities, respond effectively to changing needs, and maintain attention to operational detail
- Clear and adaptable communication skills, with proficiency in HR systems, PowerPoint, and Excel
- Ability to travel between BlueRock locations up to 25%, including offices/facilities in Toronto and New York
- Life sciences or other regulated-industry experience is preferred
Company overview
BlueRock Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering engineered cell therapies for the treatment of devastating neurological and ophthalmic diseases. Founded in 2016 as a joint venture between Versant Ventures and Leaps by Bayer, the company became a wholly owned, independently operated subsidiary of Bayer AG in late 2019. BlueRock leverages its proprietary induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) platform to develop novel cellular medicines that aim to transform disease treatment through regenerative approaches. The company's pipeline includes two clinical-stage programs: bemdaneprocel (BRT-DA01) for Parkinson's disease and OpCT-001 for primary photoreceptor diseases affecting vision. With operations spanning Cambridge, Massachusetts; Toronto, Ontario; New York; and Berlin, BlueRock employs 201-500 professionals dedicated to advancing cell and gene therapies. The company's mission centers on harnessing the power of cell therapy to create breakthrough medicines for patients with limited treatment options, operating at the intersection of neurology, cardiology, and immunology research.