Director, Human Resources Business Partner

Cambridge, US   |   full time   |   Job ID: 11369 

Company Summary:

BioNTech is a Nasdaq based Germany-based global biotechnology company with U.S. offices in Cambridge, MA, Gaithersburg, MD, and Berkeley Heights, NJ that focuses on developing cancer therapeutics, including individualized immunotherapy, as well as vaccines for infectious diseases, including COVID-19. The company's oncology pipeline contains several classes of drugs, including mRNA-based drugs to encode antigens, neoantigens, cytokines, and antibodies; cell therapies; bispecific antibodies; antibody conjugates and small-molecule immunomodulators. BioNTech is partnered with several large pharmaceutical companies, including Roche, Pfizer, BMS and Genmab. Comirnaty (COVID-19 vaccine) is its first commercialized product.

About the role:

The Director, HR Business Partner serves as a strategic advisor to senior leadership, driving human resources initiatives that align with organizational goals. This role is responsible for overseeing talent management, workforce planning, and organizational development for the respective function to support key business objectives. The Director partners closely with division heads to identify HR needs, develop solutions, and implement programs that foster a positive workplace culture. They play a vital role in driving organizational transformation, ensuring BioNTech is well-positioned to adapt to change and achieve its strategic goals.

Your contribution:

Strategic HR Expertise & Organizational Assessment

• Partner with executive leadership to develop and execute HR strategies that align with business goals and drive organizational success.
• Lead the implementation of HR initiatives that support business transformation, including change management initiatives.
• Conduct organizational assessments to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT analysis) in close collaboration with business leaders.
• Use employee feedback, engagement surveys, and performance data to identify areas for improvement.
• Assess organizational needs and support leaders in developing strategies to enhance engagement, productivity, and collaboration.

Strategic Workforce Planning & Organizational Structure and Design

• Collaborate with leadership to assess current workforce capabilities and identify gaps, with a focus on business critical positions.
• Forecast future workforce needs based on organizational growth, market trends, and transformation goals.
• Partner with leadership to redesign and optimize organizational structures that align with business goals.
• Recommend adjustments to roles, responsibilities, and reporting lines to improve efficiency and collaboration.
• Ensure organizational design supports scalability and long term growth.
• Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of organizational development programs and make data driven recommendations for improvement.

Leadership Development, Talent Management & Succession Planning

• Partner with senior leaders to identify leadership gaps and create development plans; assess training needs.
• Provide coaching and feedback to managers to enhance their leadership capabilities and drive team success.
• Oversee talent acquisition, retention, and development strategies to ensure the function attracts and retains top talents.
• Collaborate with managers to identify high potential employees and jointly reflect on career development opportunities.
• Support leaders in succession planning initiatives to ensure continuity in key roles.
• Implement programs and initiatives to retain top talent and reduce turnover.

Performance Management 

• Partner with leaders to establish performance management process to align individual goals with BioNTech’s strategic objectives.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to leaders, addressing complex employee relations issues and ensuring compliance with labor laws and regulations. 

Enhance Employee Engagement and Culture

• Support initiatives to align company culture with transformation goals, fostering a positive and inclusive environment.
• Support implementation of initiatives to improve employee engagement and satisfaction.
• Promote a culture of transparency, accountability, and open communication across the respective business function.
• Act as a change agent, helping leaders and teams navigate organizational change and transformation.

Compliance, Risk Management & Continuous Improvement

• Support all transformation initiatives in compliance with labor laws, regulations, and company policies.
• Identify and mitigate risks associated with organizational changes, ensuring smooth implementation and adherence to legal standards.
• Stay updated on industry trends and best practices in organizational development to bring fresh ideas to the company.
• Continuously evaluate and improve HR programs to support the company’s transformation and long term success.

A good match:

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Demonstrated ability to align HR strategies with business goals, partnering with senior and executive leadership to influence decision-making and drive organizational outcomes.
• Strong business acumen with understanding of operations, financials, and industry trends, using data, metrics, and HR analytics to inform decisions and measure impact.
• Proven experience leading organizational change and transformation, including culture evolution, talent planning, and performance management to drive engagement and productivity.
• Expertise in employee relations, including managing and resolving complex issues and identifying HR-related risks to protect the organization.
• Ability to design and implement compliant HR policies and practices in line with labor laws, regulations, and organizational goals, leveraging HR systems and tools where needed.
• Exceptional interpersonal, communication, and influencing skills to build trust and credibility across all levels, negotiate outcomes, and co-design initiatives with HR partners and COEs.

Expected Pay Range: $168,100/year to $268,700/year + benefits, annual bonus & equity (bonus and equity is variable and dependent on company and individual performance).  *Compensation for the role will depend on several factors, including responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities. 

Your Benefits:

BioNTech US is committed to employee wellbeing and offers best-in-class benefits & HR programs to support an inclusive & diverse workforce. Salaried/Position-Targeted Hourly Employees working 30+ hours per week are eligible for our comprehensive benefits package. Benefits include but are not limited to:

• Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance
• Life, AD&D, Critical Illness Insurance
• Pre-tax HSA & FSA, DCRA Spending Accounts
• Employee Assistance & Concierge Program (EAP) available 24/7
• Parental and Childbirth Leave & Family Planning Assistance
• Sitterstream: Virtual Tutoring & Childcare Membership
• Paid Time Off: Vacation, Sick, Bereavement, Holidays (including Floating) & Year-End U.S. Shutdown.
• 401(K) Plan with Company Match
• Tuition Reimbursement & Student Loan Assistance Programs
• Wellbeing Incentive Platforms & Incentives
• Professional Development Programs
• Commuting Allowance and subsidized parking
• Discounted Home, Auto & Pet Insurance

…and more! More details to be shared.
 

Home to dozens of research institutions, biopharmaceutical companies, life science incubators, venture capital firms, and over 30 million square feet of laboratory space, Cambridge, Massachusetts has earned a reputation as the #1 life science cluster in the world. As part of the Greater Boston area, the city is often referred to as the "biotech supercluster" due to its high concentration of life sciences firms. This unique ecosystem is the result of a model partnership between academia and industry, fostering collaboration and innovation and driving the development of new therapies, medical devices, and diagnostics. As Cambridge’s thriving life sciences industry continues to evolve, the city remains a beacon of knowledge, innovation, and collaboration, poised to shape the future of science and technology.

Apply now - We look forward to your application!

Apply for our Cambridge, US location and simply send us your documents using our online form.

By submitting your application, you acknowledge that a background check will be conducted as part of the recruitment process in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. If you are considered for the position, BioNTech will conduct the background check through our service provider ‘HireRight’. You will be informed accordingly by your BioNTech-Recruiter.