Director – People and Culture

Company Summary 

Ampersand Biomedicines is an innovative, privately held biotechnology company leading the way in developing multi-specific medicines that direct a wide range of therapeutic molecules to specific cells and biological contexts (www.Ampersand.bio).  Ampersand is headquartered in Boston, MA with a site in Pilsen, Czech Republic and was founded in Flagship Pioneering’s venture creation engine, where companies such as Moderna Therapeutics (NASDAQ: MRNA) and Seres Therapeutics (NASDAQ: MCRB) were conceived and created.  With a strong emphasis on innovation, Ampersand cultivates a highly dynamic and entrepreneurial environment. 

Position Summary

Ampersand is looking for a passionate, self-motivated, and dynamic Director of People & Culture to join our rapidly growing biotech company. As a key leader in our expanding international team, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of our organization and cultivating a thriving, mission-driven culture. Our leadership team believes that people are the cornerstone of our success, and this role will be instrumental in driving that vision forward.

In this role, you will report temporarily to the CEO and, eventually, to the Chief People Officer. You will lead the development of the People organization, fostering a workplace that empowers employees to grow, innovate, and contribute to Ampersand’s next phase of growth.

Operational Transition & Optimization

• Collaborate with Flagship’s N2G (NewCo to Growth) transition team to fully transition from corporate HR centers of excellence and establish independent and optimized People systems and processes.

• Act as a strategic thought partner, translating the company’s people strategy into actionable initiatives while leading operational excellence in HR functions.

Talent Training & Development

• Oversee the creation of world-class talent and development training programs that directly align with Ampersand’s mission and objectives.

• Leverage AI, cutting-edge software, and performance-enhancing tools to drive growth and development across Ampersand’s sites in Boston and Pilsen, Czech Republic. 

• Build and implement a comprehensive employee development framework, including leadership and management training to strengthen leadership capacity.

• Revamp performance management practices to support continuous improvement, focusing on agile feedback loops and fostering a culture of growth and accountability.

Team Building & Recruitment

• Take immediate ownership of the recruitment pipeline in collaboration with the Flagship Talent Acquisition team, ensuring timely and strategic hires.
• Oversee the recruitment of a junior recruiter (if necessary), while collaborating with the broader Ampersand leadership team to build high-performing teams.

Employee Engagement & Company Culture

• Solidify and embed Ampersand’s core values and culture into every aspect of employee interactions, ensuring alignment between cultural goals and day-to-day operations.

• Play a key leadership role and drive leadership engagement and accountability in fostering and modeling company culture during all phases of the company’s growth.

• Continuously refine company culture and operating behaviors, ensuring a high level of engagement and alignment with business objectives.

• Design and implement reward systems that reinforce cultural and behavioral goals, integrating them into the total rewards strategy.

Key Competencies

• Balance strategic vision with hands-on execution, regularly delving into operational details to ensure successful implementation.

• Entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to operate and make decisions in ambiguous, rapidly changing environments.

• Strong decision-making capabilities, a fast learner with a bias toward speed and action; inspires team members to operate in a similar manner.

• Optimistic, solution-focused, and innovative, approaching challenges with a can-do, practical attitude. 

• Transparent and respectful communicator, adept at building relationships and influencing across all levels of the organization.

• Passionate about culture-building beyond traditional HR model, inspiring personal and professional growth among individuals.

• High emotional intelligence (EQ), low ego, and a collaborative approach to leadership.

• Strong proponent of experimentation, embracing new and innovative HR approaches that incorporate both human-centered and AI-driven design.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; additional HR certifications (SHRM-SCP, SPHR) are a plus.

• Extensive experience in start-up environments and scaling HR operations, ideally within the biotech or technology sectors.

• Proven expertise across the full range of HR functions, including talent acquisition, talent management, compliance, HR systems, compensation/benefits, employee relations, and leadership coaching.

• Ability to manage and execute HR responsibilities in a hands-on manner during the early growth phase 

More About Flagship Pioneering

Flagship Pioneering is a platform innovation company that invents and builds platform companies, each with the potential for multiple products that transform human health or sustainability. Since its launch in 2000, Flagship has originated and fostered more than 100 scientific ventures, resulting in more than $90 billion in aggregate value. Many of the companies founded by Flagship have addressed humanity’s most urgent challenges: vaccinating billions of people against COVID-19, curing intractable diseases, improving human health, preempting illness, and feeding the world by improving the resiliency and sustainability of agriculture.  Flagship has been recognized twice on FORTUNE’s “Change the World” list, an annual ranking of companies that have made a positive social and environmental impact through activities that are part of their core business strategies and has been twice named to Fast Company’s annual list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies. Learn more about Flagship at www.flagshippioneering.com.

Flagship Pioneering and our ecosystem companies are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status.

Recruitment & Staffing Agencies: Flagship Pioneering and its affiliated Flagship Lab comapanies (collectively, “FSP”) do not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than candidates. The submission of unsolicited resumes by recruitment or staffing agencies to FSP or its employees is strictly prohibited unless contacted directly by Flagship Pioneering’s internal Talent Acquisition team. Any resume submitted by an agency in the absence of a signed agreement will automatically become the property of FSP, and FSP will not owe any referral or other fees with respect thereto.

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