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GRAIL is a healthcare company whose mission is to detect cancer early, when it can be cured.
The Role
The Director, People Business Partner will align people strategy with business goals, manage employee relations, develop programs, and support workforce planning in a hybrid role within a cancer detection healthcare company.
Summary Generated by Built In
Our mission is to detect cancer early, when it can be cured. We are working to change the trajectory of cancer mortality and bring stakeholders together to adopt innovative, safe, and effective technologies that can transform cancer care.
We are a healthcare company, pioneering new technologies to advance early cancer detection. We have built a multi-disciplinary organization of scientists, engineers, and physicians and we are using the power of next-generation sequencing (NGS), population-scale clinical studies, and state-of-the-art computer science and data science to overcome one of medicine’s greatest challenges.
GRAIL is headquartered in Menlo Park, California, with locations in Washington, D.C., North Carolina, and the United Kingdom. It is supported by leading global investors and pharmaceutical, technology, and healthcare companies.
For more information, please visit grail.com.
We are seeking an experienced People Business Partner, Director to join our team in North Carolina’s premier global innovation center, Research Triangle Park (RTP), supporting our Development and Operations functions at our flagship laboratory. You will also serve as the HR site lead for RTP, playing a critical role in shaping the culture, aligning local execution with broader corporate strategy, and creating an environment where people and teams can thrive.
This is a hybrid role, requiring onsite presence at least 4 days a week, with occasional travel to our California headquarters.
Responsibilities
- Partner closely with the SVP of Development and Operations (based in Menlo Park) and the VP of Operations (based in RTP) as a trusted advisor on people and organizational matters, helping to shape and execute the people strategy that supports team effectiveness, culture, and business goals.
- Design and implement organizational structures that scale with business growth, driving clarity, effectiveness, and accountability. Guide leaders and employees through organizational changes, ensuring effective communication and support during transitions.
- Drive change management initiatives that help teams adapt and thrive in a dynamic environment, partnering with leaders to develop and implement effective communication plans that support clarity, alignment, and engagement.
- Solve complex employee relations (ER) issues with fairness, legal compliance, and thoughtful care.
- Guide leaders on performance management, development, coaching, compensation, team, and organizational effectiveness initiatives.
- Facilitate and drive all core people programs, including performance reviews, calibrations, compensation planning, engagement surveys, succession planning, talent reviews, and workforce planning.
- Build trusted relationships across all levels to foster stronger collaboration and enhance employee engagement.
- Utilize HR data and analytics to deliver actionable insights and inform evidence-based decision-making.
- Collaborate with Centers of Excellence (Talent Acquisition, Total Rewards, Culture & Community, Legal, People Ops) to deliver integrated, scalable people programs.
- Support employees in both exempt and non-exempt roles with tailored HR strategies.
- Collaborate with the Site Lead, Facilities, Safety, Security, IT, and Site Operations to maintain a safe, inclusive, and engaging workplace while ensuring compliance with employment, policy, and health & safety standards.
- Partner on site-wide initiatives such as safety drills, training, and audits through an HR lens that promotes communication, readiness, and employee engagement.
- Embed the company’s mission, vision, and values into daily employee experiences by modeling ethical behavior, accountability, and inclusion across the RTP site.
- Foster community and belonging through engagement programs, culture-building events, and open communication channels such as town halls and feedback sessions that amplify the employee voice.
Preferred Qualifications
- 15+ years of progressive People Partner experience, including direct support of lab teams consisting of employees in both exempt and non-exempt roles; currently operating at a Director level or equivalent.
- Proven success in influencing and advising senior leaders, especially during organizational shifts or transformations.
- Strong project management skills with a proven ability to develop, lead, and oversee cross-functional initiatives from concept through execution.
- Deep experience with change management, organizational design, and enabling leadership effectiveness.
- Skilled in coaching and development of people managers and leadership teams.
- Strong understanding of employee relations, HR compliance, and employment law, with the ability to manage complex employee relations matters and drive timely, thoughtful resolutions. Skilled at coaching managers through sensitive issues and helping them navigate challenges with confidence and empathy.
- Experience supporting operations, technical, scientific, or life sciences teams is highly preferred.
- Ability to balance strategic thinking with operational execution—no task is too big or too small.
- Proficiency with people analytics and tools like Google Sheets, Slides, or HRIS platforms (Workday preferred).
- High emotional intelligence, integrity, and a growth mindset.
- Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree or HR certifications are a plus.
- A collaborative, big-picture thinker who can also operationalize strategy effectively.
- Demonstrated ability to diagnose organizational challenges and implement scalable solutions.
- Comfortable working in agile, matrixed environments with shifting priorities.
- Passion for mission-driven work and building a culture where people can thrive.
The expected, full-time, annual base pay scale for this position is $167K-$239K. Actual base pay will consider skills, experience, and location.
Based on the role, colleagues may be eligible to participate in an annual bonus plan tied to company and individual performance, or an incentive plan. We also offer a long-term incentive plan to align company and colleague success over time.
In addition, GRAIL offers a progressive benefit package, including flexible time-off, a 401k with a company match, and alongside our medical, dental, vision plans, carefully selected mindfulness offerings.
GRAIL is an Equal Employment Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status. We will reasonably accommodate all individuals with disabilities so that they can participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation. GRAIL maintains a drug-free workplace.
Top Skills
Google Sheets
Google Slides
Hris (Workday)
What the Team is Saying
Neda Ronaghi
Strategy and Operational Excellence Associate Director
Ruth Mauntz
Staff Bioinformatics Scientist
Tristan Matthews
Senior Director, Software Engineering
David Jenions
Principal Automation Engineer
Satnam Alag
SVP, Software Engineering
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The Company
What We Do
GRAIL is a healthcare company whose mission is to detect cancer early, when it can be cured. GRAIL is using the power of high-intensity sequencing, population-scale clinical studies, and state-of-the-art computer science and data science to enhance the scientific understanding of cancer biology, and to develop and commercialize pioneering products.
Why Work With Us
Everything we do is guided by our mission to detect cancer early, when it can be cured. It’s the reason we’re here, and it’s no small task.
The right people make all the difference. That’s why we’re looking for those who strive to share their knowledge, contribute their skills, inspire each other and commit to something bigger than themselves.
Gallery
GRAIL Offices
Hybrid Workspace
Employees engage in a combination of remote and on-site work.
GRAIL has a variety of work types depending on the roles. Some are onsite like a lab role, others are hybrid and still others are remote. Hybrid is typically Tuesday and Thursday but leaders may be flexible depending on the role.
Typical time on-site:
2 days a week
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