Associate DirectorDirector, HR Operations

Summary:

The Associate Director/Director HR Operations is a key member of the HR team responsible for scaling and governing efficient compliant and employee-centric HR operational services across a growing life-sciences organization. This role ensures HR infrastructure systems and workforce processesspanning employees contingent workers and global employment partnersare scalable compliant and aligned to a regulated commercialization-ready Associate Director / Director balances hands-on execution with strategic oversight to organizational growth evolving workforce models and global expansion.

Key Responsibilities

HR Operations & Service Delivery

• Lead end-to-end HR operational processes across the employee lifecycle (offers onboarding offboarding job changes promotions performance cycles and data governance).
• Provide strategic oversight of employee benefits administration ensuring accurate enrollment eligibility management vendor coordination and compliance with applicable regulations.
• Oversee the preparation review and issuance of employment offer letters.
• Own and govern background check and pre-employment screening processes for U.S. and global hires including vendor oversight process standardization and compliance with local regulations.
• Lead a fit-for-purpose HR operations model (inhouse shared services and/or vendorsupported) that scales with commercialization and geographic growth.
• Ensure process standardization across global and multi-state operations
• Provide direct people leadership to HR Operations team members including full-time employees and contractors setting clear expectations goals and accountability.

Contingent Workforce Management

• Provide operational leadership and governance for an established contingent workforce program including consultants contractors temporary staff and vendor-provided resources.
• Oversee standardized onboarding and offboarding processes for contingent workers ensuring appropriate documentation system access training requirements and security controls.
• Partner with Talent Acquisition Contracts Finance IT and Hiring Managers to support proper worker classification contract management and risk mitigation.
• Manage contracts with staffing agencies and workforce suppliers including service quality performance oversight and issue resolution in partnership with Talent Acquisition.
• Reporting on contingent workforce headcount spend tenure compliance status and overall workforce mix.

Immigration & Global Mobility

• Serve as the HR operations point of contact for immigration and work authorization programs partnering closely with external immigration counsel and internal teams.
• Support visa and work authorization processes (e.g. H-1B TN O-1 L-1 E-3 and other country-specific visas and permits) ensuring accurate documentation and timely case coordination.
• Advise Talent Acquisition Partners HR Business Partners and leaders on immigration considerations related to hiring role changes and workforce planning.
• Monitor changes in U.S. and global immigration and mobility regulations and policies proactively assessing impact and recommending mitigation strategies when needed.
• Provide operational oversight of employee mobility and relocation activities across both U.S. domestic and international (ex-U.S.) moves in partnership with relocation vendors immigration counsel and internal stakeholders.

Global Workforce Partner (PEO/EOR) Management

• Own operational relationships with Global Workforce Partners (PEOs/EORs) supporting international employees.
• Ensure consistent and compliant employee lifecycle management for PEO-employed staff including onboarding offboarding employment changes and documentation.
• Oversee PTO tracking leave administration and local statutory benefits in partnership with PEO providers.
• Coordinate country-specific employment updates including changes to compensation practices benefits policies and statutory requirements.
• Ensure global workforce practices balance local compliance internal consistency and a positive employee experience across countries.
• Maintain accurate workforce data and reporting aligned between internal HR systems and PEO records.

HR Systems Data & Reporting

• Serve as the functional owner for HR systems (e.g. HRIS ATS Benefits) ensuring configuration supports compliance reporting accuracy and scalability.
• Lead system enhancements integrations and process improvements to enable automation and executive-ready reporting.
• Deliver dashboards and insights on headcount attrition workforce mix and compliance tracking

Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in Human Resources Business Life Sciences or a related field; advanced degree or HR certification (SHRM-SCP SPHR) preferred.
• 812 years of progressive HR experience including significant experience in HR Operations within a biotech pharmaceutical or life-sciences environment.
• Demonstrated experience leading and developing teams including direct management of employees and contractors.
• Experience supporting regulated high-growth organizations and commercialization-ready operations.
• Working knowledge of contingent workforce management immigration processes and global employment models (PEO/EOR).
• Hands-on experience with HR systems workforce data governance and reporting.
• Proven ability to partner cross-functionally and operate effectively in fast-paced evolving environments.

This role may be performed remotely within the United States with a strong preference for candidates based in or willing to work in a hybrid capacity in San Diego CA.

Gossamer Bio is committed to equal opportunity in the terms and conditions of employment for all employees and job applicants and complies with all applicable national state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment.