Human Resources Director
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Company: Orchestra Life Sciences
Reports to: Emilie Pelletier, CEO
Direct Reports: HR Manager
Employment Type: Full-Time, Exempt
Position Summary
The HR Director will build and lead the human resources function at Orchestra Life Sciences, establishing the people infrastructure, culture, and talent strategies that support the company's rapid growth across North America and Europe.
Reporting directly to the CEO, this individual will manage the HR Manager and serve as both a strategic partner and a hands-on practitioner, developing the HR capabilities Orchestra needs as it scales.
This is a high-impact, foundational role for a seasoned HR professional who thrives in fast-moving, mission-driven environments. The ideal candidate combines deep expertise in talent acquisition, people operations, and organizational development with a genuine passion for life sciences and Orchestra's mission to accelerate novel treatments for cancer and rare disease.
HR Discipline
Candidates with a background in life sciences, biotech, pharmaceutical, professional services, or technical consulting are strongly preferred. Applicants from high-growth, project-based, or engineering-driven organizations will be considered but are not the primary target profile for this role.
Key Responsibilities
- Build and lead Orchestra's HR function from the ground up, establishing scalable policies, programs, and systems spanning talent acquisition, onboarding, performance management, compensation, benefits, and compliance.
- Manage and develop the HR Manager, who reports directly to this role, provide direction, coaching, and support to build a high-performing HR team.
- Partner with the CEO and senior leadership team to develop and execute people strategies aligned with Orchestra's growth objectives, values, and culture.
- Drive full-cycle talent acquisition across all functions — including technical, scientific, and consulting roles — ensuring a best-in-class candidate experience that reflects Orchestra's brand.
- Design and implement employee development, engagement, and retention programs that attract and retain top talent in the competitive life sciences market.
- Establish and maintain HR infrastructure including HRIS, employee handbooks, job architecture, compensation benchmarking, and benefits administration.
- Serve as a trusted advisor to managers and employees on HR policies, employee relations, performance management, and organizational matters.
- Ensure legal and regulatory compliance across all employment practices at the federal, state, and local level, including multi-jurisdictional requirements across North America and Europe
- Lead organizational design efforts in support of new service lines, practice areas, and geographic expansion including OLS Europe
- Foster a culture of inclusion, collaboration, and excellence consistent with Orchestra's mission and values.
- Track, analyze, and report on HR metrics including organizational health, turnover, hiring velocity, and employee engagement to inform leadership decision-making.
Qualifications & Experience
- Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Organizational Psychology, or a related field; SHRM-SCP or SPHR certification preferred.
- 10+ years of progressive HR experience, with at least 3-5 years in a senior HR leadership role
- Proven experience building or significantly scaling an HR function within a growth-stage professional services, consulting, or life sciences organization.
- Deep knowledge of employment law, compensation strategy, benefits administration, and HR compliance across multiple jurisdictions
- Demonstrated success with full-cycle talent acquisition for technical, scientific, and consulting roles.
- Strong business acumen with the ability to align people strategies with organizational goals and operational realities.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build trust and credibility at all levels of the organization.
- Experience implementing and managing HRIS platforms and HR technology stacks.
- Self-starter mentality with the ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities, and deliver results in a dynamic, fast-paced consulting environment.
- High degree of integrity, confidentiality, and professional discretion
Preferred Experience
- Experience supporting companies in the radiopharmaceutical, nuclear medicine, cell and gene therapy, or advanced biotech sectors.
- Familiarity with HR practices in professional services, engineering, or technical consulting firms
- Experience managing multi-jurisdictional HR compliance, including EU employment law in support of international operations.
- Track record of building employer brand and culture programs within a high growth organization.
- MBA or master's degree in Human Resources, Organizational Development, or a related field
- Experience developing compensation frameworks and equity programs appropriate for a growth-stage company.
Why Join Orchestra Life Sciences
- Be part of a mission-driven company accelerating novel treatments for cancer and rare disease.
- Join a rapidly growing consultancy with a global footprint and deep relationships across the advanced therapy ecosystem.
- Work alongside world-class subject matter experts with over 100 years of combined industry experience.
- High visibility and direct impact — you will shape Orchestra's people strategy and culture at a pivotal moment of growth.
- Competitive compensation, benefits, and growth opportunities
