Senior Director, Global HR People Partner – Innovation & Science
About the Company
We are partnering with a large, innovation‑led global organization with a long heritage of developing products and solutions that make a meaningful impact worldwide. Operating across multiple regions with deeply specialized teams, the business is continuing to invest in leadership, scientific capability, and organizational effectiveness to support sustained growth and long‑term value creation.
The environment is global, rigorous, and purpose‑driven, well suited to leaders who are thoughtful, credible, and comfortable operating in complexity.
About the Role
This role supports highly specialized global teams working across research, development, and advanced scientific disciplines.
Reporting into a respected global HR leadership team, you will serve as the primary strategic people advisor to senior leaders within R&D‑focused and innovation‑driven functions. You’ll partner at Leadership Team level, shaping people strategy, organizational design, and leadership capability across a large, international population of scientists, technical experts, and functional leaders.
The role carries genuine enterprise influence and is designed for someone who understands how best‑in‑class R&D organizations operate, and how people strategy enables innovation, productivity, and long‑term pipeline strength.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Act as a trusted advisor to senior R&D and functional leaders on people, organization, and leadership matters
- Shape and deliver global people strategies aligned to R&D priorities, scientific roadmaps, and future capability needs
- Advise on organizational design, operating models, and team effectiveness within complex research and development environments
- Lead strategic workforce planning for R&D and innovation functions, anticipating future skills, succession risk, and capability gaps
- Partner with leadership on talent strategies for critical scientific, technical, and leadership roles
- Guide leaders and teams through change, including portfolio shifts, organizational evolution, and operating model transformation
- Work closely with HR Centres of Expertise and regional HR teams to ensure globally consistent, locally effective execution
- Use data, insight, and external benchmarks to elevate decision‑making across R&D and technical populations
- Coach senior leaders with credibility and clarity, translating people strategy into practical action
Who This Role Will Suit
- A senior, globally experienced HR Business Partner operating at enterprise or functional leadership level
- Proven experience supporting R&D, scientific, or highly technical client groups within large organizations
- Strong background within global pharmaceutical, biotech, or research‑driven environments (strongly preferred)
- Comfortable influencing senior scientific leaders and navigating technically complex, matrixed organizations
- Deep experience in talent strategy, workforce planning, succession, and organizational effectiveness
- Experienced operating across regions, cultures, and regulatory environments
- A credible, steady leader with strong judgement and the ability to balance long‑term R&D needs with business priorities
Why This Role
- True global scope supporting R&D and innovation functions
- Direct partnership with senior scientific and functional leadership
- Opportunity to shape people strategy for future‑critical capabilities
- High trust, high autonomy role within a strong global HR leadership team
- Designed for leaders who value depth, continuity, and long‑term impact
Compensation & Location
- Salary: $300k to $400k base range plus bonus eligibility
- Location: New Jersey
