Sr. HR Director

About Vaxart:

Vaxart is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing a range of oral recombinant vaccines based on its proprietary delivery platform. Vaxart vaccines are designed to be administered using pills that can be stored and shipped without refrigeration and eliminate the risk of needle-stick injury. Vaxart believes that its proprietary pill vaccine delivery platform is suitable to deliver recombinant vaccines, positioning the company to develop oral versions of currently marketed vaccines and to design recombinant vaccines for new indications. Vaxart’s development programs currently include pill vaccines designed to protect against coronavirus, norovirus and influenza, as well as a therapeutic vaccine for human papillomavirus (HPV), Vaxart’s first immune-oncology indication. Vaxart has filed broad domestic and international patent applications covering its proprietary technology and creations for oral vaccination using adenovirus and TLR3 agonists.

We are looking for a Sr. HR Director to join our South San Francisco team. This is a part-time onsite position in our South San Francisco Office.

Summary:

Reporting directly to the Sr. Vice President (SVP) of HR, the Senior Human Resources Director exercises a high level of responsibility to collaborate with cross-functional leadership teams, leads project planning and project execution, and contributes to the overall success of our HR function. The Sr. HR Director primarily oversees the compensation, benefits, talent development, compliance and employee relations functions as well as serving as a trusted advisor and subject matter expert for Vaxart’s management team and cross-functional leaders.  The Sr. HR Director will take on leadership responsibilities in absence of the SVP of HR, with this part-time position (20 hours/week) being based at Vaxart’s corporate headquarters in South San Francisco.

Responsibilities:

• Benefits: Oversees benefit programs, working in partnership with the SVP of HR to recommend and implement strategies and programs to ensure the organization’s competitive edge while managing spend.
• Compensation: Manages compensation analysis, HR frameworks and reporting, including but not limited to job analysis, job leveling, compensation structure, career path and market surveys.
• Organizational Design: Partners closely with leadership to shape organizational structure, workforce planning, and process optimization that support company growth and clinical advancement. Leads organizational design & development initiatives that align talent capabilities with strategic priorities.
• HR Operations: Lead core Human Resources processes, including onboarding and offboarding programs, internal SOX compliance reporting and external reporting, work authorization and workers compensation program. Build efficient, scalable systems and continuously optimize workflows, policies, and infrastructure to improve effectiveness, accuracy, employee experience and audit readiness.
• Compliance: Ensure full compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws, as well as safety and regulatory requirements.
o Maintain policies and practices that meet the standards of a biotechnology environment.
o Maintains knowledge of trends, best practices, regulatory changes, and new technologies in human resources, talent management, and employment law.
• Employee Relations: In partnership with the SVP of HR and Legal, provides support and guidance to management, when complex, specialized, and sensitive questions and making or recommending appropriate pathways and/or decisions, which may be significantly complex.
• Talent and Performance: Leads talent development, performance management, and performance review programs. Strengthens Vaxart’s high-performance culture grounded in the guiding principles, accountability and results.
• Leads and supports HR initiatives and serves as a contact for executives, managers and employees.
• Partners with senior and mid-level leadership to implement people strategies aligned with business goals.
• Leads efforts to enhance leadership capability, team effectiveness, and employee performance.
• Drives initiatives to improve employee engagement, communication, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Coaches managers on effective people management and organizational best practices.

Knowledge, Experience and Skills
• Accustomed to working in a fast-changing and dynamic environment where accountability, change agility, urgency and responsiveness are valued.
• Comfortable operating in ambiguous, fast-changing environments.
• Excellent consulting, influencing, change management and interpersonal communication skills  
• Effective communication and influencing skills with the ability to partner across levels of the organization.
• Ability to coach executives, managers and employees in sensitive situations
• Expertise in employee relations, HR operations, and organizational development.
• Familiarity with current HR trends, best practices, and emerging technologies
• Flexibility and adaptability to manage multiple tasks and changing priorities.
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills with ability to leverage data insights.
• Proven experience identifying and leading through change, and building this capability in others
• Excellent interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills; demonstrated ability to connect, support, and empathize with a variety of people and perspectives.
• Demonstrates the utmost discretion, judgment, integrity, including the ability to manage sensitive and confidential information.
• Ability to build and maintain positive relationships with employees at all levels.
• Excellent project management skills, including planning, organizing, and prioritizing tasks.
• Demonstrated success implementing organizational change initiatives and transformation programs that drive business results
• Strong business acumen with ability to translate business strategy into effective people strategies.
• Excellent consulting and influencing skills with proven ability to build credibility as a trusted advisor to senior leaders
• Deep knowledge of HR practices including talent management, organizational development, compensation, and employee relations
Requirements:
• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field, or equivalent years of experience in Human Resources.
• 15 + years of experience in human resources, with at least 5 years of people management experience.
• Experience supporting scientific, technical, or clinical teams within biotechnology, pharmaceutical, or related research-driven organizations is required.
• Must be well-versed in California and Federal employment law.
• Proven ability to influence at all levels of an organization with strong executive presence, communication, and relationship-building skills.
• Strong business acumen with the ability to understand financial, operational, and talent implications of business decisions.
• Ability to maintain strict levels of confidentiality in handling sensitive information and use sound judgement.
• Proven organizational skills with strong attention to detail and the ability to prioritize work.
• Demonstrated experience supporting executive leaders in organizational design, leadership development, performance management, and change management.

In accordance with California’s Pay Transparency law, Vaxart’s base salary range for this position is approximately $125,000 - $144,000 USD annually. The actual salary for this role will vary based on a variety of factors including education, job-related knowledge, and experience. This range does not include equity, benefits, bonuses, or other non-monetary compensation which may be included.
Vaxart offers team members a competitive compensation and benefits package, including robust health plan options, bonus program, stock options, 401(k) with employer matching, tuition assistance, commuter benefits, and work-life balance.
Vaxart is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values diversity. We are committed to the principles of equal employment opportunity and affirmative action for all applicants and employees. Equal opportunity and consideration are afforded to all qualified applicants and employees in personnel actions, which include recruiting and hiring, selection for training, promotion, rates of pay or other compensation, transfer, discipline, demotion, and layoff or termination. Vaxart does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, gender identity, gender expression, family medical history or genetic information, citizenship, national origin or ancestry, sex, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, veteran status, military status, or any other basis protected by.
NOTICE TO RECRUITERS AND STAFFING AGENCIES: Vaxart, Inc. has an internal recruiting department. Vaxart may supplement that internal capability from time to time with assistance from temporary staffing agencies, placement services, and professional recruiters ('Agency'). Agencies are hereby specifically directed NOT to contact Vaxart employees directly to present candidates. Vaxart’s recruiting team or other authorized Vaxart personnel must present ALL candidates to hiring managers.
To protect the interests of all parties, Vaxart will not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than directly from a candidate. Any unsolicited resumes sent to Vaxart, including unsolicited resumes sent to a Vaxart mailing address, fax machine or email address, directly to Vaxart employees, or to Vaxart's resume database will be considered Vaxart property. Vaxart will NOT pay a fee for any placement resulting from the receipt of an unsolicited resume. Vaxart will consider any candidate for whom an Agency has submitted an unsolicited resume to have been referred by the Agency free of any charges or fees.
The Agency must obtain advance written approval from Vaxart's recruiting function to submit resumes, and then only in conjunction with a valid fully executed contract for service and in response to a specific job opening. Vaxart will not pay a fee to any Agency that does not have such an agreement in place.
Agency agreements will only be valid if in writing and signed by an officer of Vaxart or their designee. No other Vaxart employee is authorized to bind Vaxart to any agreement regarding the placement of candidates by Agencies. Vaxart hereby specifically rejects, and denies any liability under, any agreement purporting to be accepted based on negative consent, negotiation with a candidate, performance, or any means other than the signature of a Vaxart officer.