About us:
Specific Biologics is dedicated to developing therapeutics that treat or cure diseases through precision genome editing. Our platform technology Dualase® is uniquely designed to target and correct genetic errors in ways that better use a cell’s natural repair processes. Our technologies hold the promise to provide new and potentially curative treatments to patients with serious, life-altering diseases.
Join us in our mission to treat or cure genetic diseases.
Role summary:
Specific Biologics is seeking a strategic and execution-focused Director of HR based in Toronto, to lead our people operations through a critical post-Series A growth phase in our Canada and US-based sites. As our first dedicated HR hire, you will manage an approximately 20-hire expansion plan over the next 2 years, which includes building core scientific teams and onboarding key executive leadership. You will own everything from talent acquisition and executive onboarding to labor compliance, and total rewards.
This role reports to the Chief Executive Officer.
Key responsibilities:
- Talent Acquisition:
- Lead full-cycle recruitment for approximately 20 roles over the next 2 years, balancing specialized technical hires (PhDs, researchers) with critical leadership positions (Directors/VPs)
- Manage engagement of, and interactions with, external search firms for difficult-to-fill scientific and executive roles
- Partner with leaders to define hiring plans, job descriptions, compensation ranges, interview processes, and hiring priorities
- Develop scalable recruiting processes, interview frameworks, candidate evaluation tools, and hiring practices
- Develop the company’s employer brand and candidate experience
- Canadian Compliance & HR Infrastructure:
- Ensure strict adherence to all applicable labour laws, occupational health and safety regulations for lab environments, and human rights legislation for employees in Canada and relevant US States. also extending to some employees in the U.S.
- Establish appropriate policies and processes for employment agreements, leave, workplace conduct, investigations, recordkeeping, privacy, employee classification and cross-border hiring, using external counsel as appropriate.
- Infrastructure and People Operations:
- Manage HR technology, benefits, HRIS, and other people-related vendors
- Develop and maintain employee policies, procedures, handbooks, and HR documentation that can evolve as the organization grows
- Oversee employee lifecycle processes including onboarding, promotions, leaves, performance management, and offboarding
- Compensation & Benefits Benchmarking:
- Maintain and enhance the existing compensation framework, including salary ranges, short-term incentives, and long-term incentives (equity).
- Partner with the CEO and leadership team on annual compensation planning, pay equity/compliance, offer exceptions and administration of cash and equity incentives subject to approved plans.
- Establish and administer employee benefits programs in Canada and potentially the US
- Conduct market benchmarking and provide recommendations to leadership on compensation and benefits
- Establish competitive salary bands, equity packages, and comprehensive Canadian benefits/health spending accounts to attract top-tier talent in these competitive life sciences markets
- Culture, Engagement and Employee Experience
- Serve as a trusted resource for employees and leadership on workplace issues and HR matters
- Provide guidance on employee relations, performance management, conflict resolution, and workplace conduct
- Build a simple, effective performance-management and manager-coaching approach suited to a small, rapidly growing scientific organization.
- Help define and strengthen SBI’s culture through its growth phase in collaboration with leadership.
- Create an employee experience that attracts and retains exceptional talent
The ideal candidate will have:
- 10+ years of progressive ‘hands-on’ HR experience, with a proven track record of building successful teams inside a Series A or venture-backed biotech, life sciences, or high-growth tech startup in Canada.
- Experience as a first HR hire or HR generalist leader in a growing organization
- Demonstrated ability to operate effectively as the sole or most senior HR professional, balancing strategic advice with day-to-day execution and external vendor management.
- Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree required; CHRP or CHRL designation would be an asset along with strong business acumen
- Deep, practical knowledge of Ontario employment laws (ESA), US employment law, payroll regulations, and health/safety guidelines.
- Experience coordinating US employment requirements with specialist advisers strongly preferred
- Demonstrated success recruiting VP or Director-level talent alongside specialized scientific professionals.
- Strong familiarity with startup compensation programs, including equity structures and stock options.
Key skills and attributes:
- Leadership – ability to positively motivate others as evidenced by timely, high-quality results from your team. Foster an environment of open and honest communication.
- Self-motivated — eager to ‘dive-in’ and take ownership and accountability for work.
- Collaborative and helpful — ability to work across functional areas – actively work with colleagues to troubleshoot challenges and take an active interest in other’s ideas and opinions.
- Strong communicator —ability to clearly communicate to a variety of audiences, including senior leadership. Ability to deliver impactful presentations to a large group. Clear, concise writing.
- Intellectual curiosity — desire to ask questions, challenge assumptions and develop unique solutions to challenging problems.
What we offer:
This is a hybrid role with the expectation of 4 days a week on-site at Specific Biologics’ lab in Toronto, and 1 day working from home. Specific Biologics benefit package offering includes:
- Participation in Employee Stock Option Plan (subject to board approval)
- Health, dental, life and accidental death insurance
- Health spending account
- Paid vacation and paid sick leave
Application details:
We thank all applicants for their interest. Only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.
Offers of employment are conditional upon the successful passing of a reference check and a background check, as well proof of post-secondary education.
Specific Biologics welcomes and encourages applications from people with disabilities. Accommodation is available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process. Please advise us at any point and we will work with you to meet your needs.
Specific Biologics Inc. is committed to workforce diversity, creating equity across our systems and fostering and advancing a culture of inclusion. We know that bringing diverse backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives together drives innovation which helps us to solve today’s complex health problems.
