Executive Director, Total Rewards & HR Operations

Disc Medicine

13h•Hybrid

About The Position

The Executive Director, Total Rewards & HR Operations is a strategic and operational leader responsible for designing, implementing, and optimizing compensation, benefits, HR systems, and employee lifecycle processes. This role ensures compliance with applicable regulatory requirements (including FDA/GxP where applicable), public company standards, and multi-state employment laws. Reporting to the Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO), this role partners closely with Finance, Legal, and external advisors to build scalable infrastructure supporting the company’s transition to commercial-stage and potential global expansion. This position initially manages one direct report and serves as the primary interface with Payroll and Finance.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree (MBA, MS, or related) preferred
18+ years of progressive HR experience, with significant focus on Total Rewards and HR Operations.
Experience in biotech, life sciences, or regulated industry strongly preferred
Experience in a public company environment required
Prior experience in organizations with 500+ employees preferred.
Demonstrated exposure to global HR practices and scaling organizations internationally
Deep knowledge of compensation strategy, equity programs, and governance
Strong understanding of benefits design and compliance frameworks
Expertise in HRIS systems (ADP Workforce Now strongly preferred)
Familiarity with FDA/GxP environments and audit requirements.
Working knowledge of SOX controls as they relate to HR and payroll
Strategic thinker with strong operational execution skills
High attention to detail with audit-ready mindset
Ability to operate in a fast-paced, evolving biotech environment
Strong cross-functional collaboration skills (Finance, Legal, Executive Leadership)
Data-driven decision-maker with strong analytical capabilities

Responsibilities

Lead design and execution of the annual compensation cycle (merit, bonus, promotions, and market adjustments)
Partner with CHRO and Compensation Committee to prepare quarterly materials and analyses
Collaborate with external compensation consultants to refine and maintain compensation philosophy
Ensure alignment with public company requirements, including equity programs and disclosures
Conduct benchmarking and market analyses to support competitive positioning
Develop scalable compensation frameworks to support organizational growth
Design and manage comprehensive benefits programs (health, welfare, retirement, wellness)
Lead annual open enrollment planning, execution, and communications
Evaluate vendor performance and optimize broker and provider relationships
Ensure compliance with ERISA, ACA, COBRA, HIPAA, and applicable state regulations
Introduce scalable and competitive benefits aligned with workforce needs and growth strategy
Oversee and optimize end-to-end employee lifecycle processes (hire, onboarding, performance management, offboarding, retirement)
Standardize and document HR processes to ensure consistency, scalability, and audit readiness
Enhance employee experience to maintain employer-of-choice status
Implement process improvements leveraging HR technology and automation
Maintain accurate employee records in compliance with regulatory and internal requirements
Ensure HR practices comply with FDA/GxP expectations as applicable (e.g., training documentation, audit trails, record retention)
Maintain compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws across 20+ states
Support internal and external audits, including SOX-related controls where applicable
Develop and maintain HR policies, SOPs, and documentation aligned with regulatory standards
Partner with Legal on employee relations matters and risk mitigation
Serve as system owner for ADP Workforce Now, ensuring data integrity, reporting accuracy, and system optimization
Act as primary liaison with Payroll and Finance to ensure accurate and compliant payroll processing
Drive reporting and analytics to support business decisions and board-level insights
Implement enhancements to HRIS to support scaling and potential global expansion
Manage and develop direct report
Support CHRO on strategic initiatives and organizational planning
Contribute to HR function scaling in preparation for commercialization and global growth