Associate Director, HR Business Partner

Crinetics is a pharmaceutical company based in San Diego, California, developing much-needed therapies for people with endocrine diseases and endocrine-related tumors. We were founded by a dedicated team of scientists with the simple belief that better therapies developed from rigorous innovation can lead to better lives. Our work continues to make a real difference in the lives of patients. We have a prolific discovery engine and a robust preclinical and clinical development pipeline. We are driven by science with a patient-centric and team-oriented culture. Crinetics is known for its inclusive workplace culture. We are also a dog-friendly workplace. This is an exciting time to join Crinetics as we shape our organization into the world’s premier fully-integrated endocrine company from discovery to patients. Join our team as we transform the lives of others.

Position Summary:

The Associate Director, HRBP role is a highly motivated, strategic human resources leader that will help nurture the organization as we thoughtfully grow. This role will serve as a strategic HR business partner to leaders across our scientific, clinical, and corporate functions. The HRBP will lead initiatives that support a high-performance, mission-driven culture while aligning HR strategies with the evolving needs of Crinetics’ growth. The HRBP will help shape our employee experience, enable organizational growth, and drive scalable people practices in a fast-paced, highly collaborative environment. This role will report directly to the Head of Human Resources Business Partners based out of headquarters in San Diego, California. Additionally, we seek someone with a great attitude, high energy and strong work ethic.

Essential Job Functions and Responsibilities:

These may include but are not limited to:

• Partner with scientific and business leaders to implement people strategies that support the advancement of our research, clinical development, and commercialization goals.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to leaders by offering strategic guidance, data-driven insights, and leadership coaching to elevate team performance and organizational impact.
• Build leadership capabilities across the organization by facilitating targeted coaching for people managers, and employees, focusing on team effectiveness, communication, and accountability in a matrixed, science-driven environment.
• Partner on organizational design efforts to evolve structures and team configurations that enable agility, innovation, and operational excellence across programs and functions.
• Lead headcount planning, talent mapping, and workforce analytics for both full time and contingent workers to inform business decisions and optimize team effectiveness in strong partnership with Finance.
• Collaborate with business and HR leaders to drive strategic workforce planning, identifying capability needs across R&D, Commercial, G&A, and Clinical Development functions while supporting scalable talent strategies in a dynamic growth environment.
• Lead company-wide employee engagement initiatives, including the execution and follow-through of engagement survey results, ensuring data is translated into action and accountability at the team and functional levels.
• Provide guidance and organizational effectiveness support through periods of rapid change, program transitions, and regulatory milestones, ensuring teams are informed, aligned, and engaged.
• Champion inclusion and belonging through talent practices that recognize the unique contributions of a scientifically diverse workforce.
• Actively partner with HR functional areas (e.g., Talent Acquisition, Total Rewards, Talent & Development) to develop and implement tailored HR solutions for a highly specialized workforce.
• Manage sensitive and complex employee relations matters with discretion, empathy, and a focus on equitable outcomes that support a high-integrity culture.
• Interpret and apply evolving HR policy, compliance, and employment law requirements in a regulated industry context.
• Lead or contribute to enterprise-wide HR projects and initiatives that strengthen organizational capabilities and employee experience.
• Other duties as assigned.

Education and Experience:

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree with 10+ years of HR experience, with 3+ in an HRBP role, preferably in the life sciences, biotech, pharma, healthcare industries (an equivalent combination of experience and education may be considered).
• Demonstrate solid judgement and experience assessing risk related to the business.
• Proven track record of effectively growing and managing organizations in fast-paced, fluid environments.
• Strategic mindset coupled with the ability and willingness to roll up sleeves where necessary and desire to constantly improve the status quo.
• Proven ability to develop relationships with effective written and verbal communication.
• Demonstrated success as a trusted HR Business Partner supporting senior leadership while maintaining an objective view supporting all employees across the organization.
• Adaptable to changing priorities while effectively managing multiple commitments, at times on tight deadlines.
• Committed to building a culture of collaboration, high performance, accountability, transparency, and integrity.
• Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills with proven experience in cultivating cross-collaborative working relationships across an organization and ability to influence at all levels.
• Other duties as assigned.

Preferred:

• Master’s degree in Human Resources, Organizational Behavior, Psychology, or any related field is preferred.
• Completed certifications in HR preferred (sHRBP, PHR, SPHR, GPHR, Coaching)

Physical Demands and Work Environment:

Physical Activities: On a continuous basis, sit at desk for a long period of time; intermittently answer telephone and write or use a keyboard to communicate through written means. Some walking and lifting up to 25 lbs. may be required. The noise level in the work environment is typically low to moderate. The physical demands described above are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions and responsibilities of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions and responsibilities.

Laboratory Activities (if applicable): Biology and chemical laboratory environment experience needed. Environmental health and safety requirements also apply.

Travel:

You may be required to travel for up to 5% of your time.

Equal Opportunity Employer:

Crinetics is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and employment applicants without regard to unlawful considerations of sex, sexual orientation, gender (including gender identity and/or expression), pregnancy, race, color, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, religion or similar philosophical beliefs, disability, marital and civil union status, age, genetic information, veteran status or any personal attribute or characteristic that is protected by applicable local, state or federal laws.

Salary Range

In addition to your base pay, our total rewards program consists of a discretionary annual target bonus, stock options, ESPP, and 401k match. We also provide top-notch health insurance plans for employees (and their families) to include medical, dental, vision and basic life insurance, 20 days of PTO, 10 paid holidays, and a winter company shutdown.