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Job location is at 10240 Science Center Drive, San Diego, CA 92121
The Senior Director, People & Culture serves as a strategic leader and trusted advisor to the Vice President, Office of People & Culture, faculty, executive leadership, and managers across the Institute. The position provides leadership for employee relations, compensation, organizational effectiveness, performance management, immigration services, learning and development, compliance, and People Operations while helping advance a culture of collaboration, accountability, innovation, and inclusion that supports Salk's mission.
This position partners closely with Institute leadership to develop workforce strategies, strengthen organizational capability, improve employee engagement, support organizational change, and ensure People & Culture programs align with institutional priorities and long-term strategic objectives.
In conjunction with the OPC team, administers Institute policies, programs and practices, including planning, organizing, developing, and implementing programs. Designs new approaches, policies and procedures to effect continual improvements in the efficiency of the OPC function. Ensures policies, programs and processes are compliant with all applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations. Oversees OPC budget and is responsible for OPC audit and reporting requirements under the employment umbrella. Provides management support to faculty and managers as needed.
What You'll Do

• Lead and oversee OPC functions including employee relations, immigration services, performance management, compensation, learning and development, OPC operations, and compliance.
• Identifies legal requirements and government reporting regulations affecting OPC functions (e.g., EEOC, DOL, IRS, Wage & Hour). Manages and minimizes Institute exposure to lawsuits. Directs the preparation of information requested or required for compliance.
• Protects interests of employees and the Institute in accordance with policies and governmental laws and regulations. Works closely with managers, providing training on OPC policies, practices and forms and ensures consistency of application to applicable policies. Builds rapport with and maintains good working relationship with faculty, management and staff.
• Play a lead role in our total rewards strategy related to compensation philosophy, salary administration, market benchmarking, and pay equity.
• Champion HR technology modernization, AI-enabled workflows, automation, HRIS optimization, and people analytics. Reviews and evaluates work products, methods and procedures. Participates in the evaluation, development, and implementation of procedures and practices to ensure efficient team operations.
• Supervises hires, trains, and evaluates assigned staff. Works actively with employees to correct deficiencies and recommends and implements corrective action and discipline. Independently evaluates performance of staff, ensuring work performance is consistent with department and Institute expectations.
• In partnership with the CSO office, ensures transparent and active relationships with the laboratory Research Administrative Assistants and Lab Admin Managers.
• Provide guidance on complex employee relations matters, investigations, performance management, conflict resolution, and risk mitigation. Escalates issues to VP, Office of People & Culture as needed.
• Develop and oversee the Office of People & Culture operating budget and operational excellence initiatives.
• Act as the Responsible Officer for the J-1 SEVIS program and E-Verify program. Represents OPC on administrative management and emergency preparedness teams.
• Perform other related duties as assigned by VP, Office of People & Culture.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Directly supervises Associate Director, People & Culture, Sr. People & Culture Partners, Manager, Learning & Development, and Immigration Advisor.
• Indirectly supervises OPC personnel through subordinate managers.
• Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws.

Who We Are
The Salk Institute is an internationally renowned research institution that values all members of our scientific community. We seek bold and interactive leaders passionate about exploring new frontiers in science. Our collaborative community embraces perspectives across discipline, professional acumen, and unique life experiences, fostering innovation, and a sense of belonging. Together, we strive to improve the wellbeing of humanity through groundbreaking research.
Founded by Jonas Salk, developer of the first safe and effective polio vaccine, the Institute is an independent, nonprofit research organization and architectural landmark: small by choice, intimate by nature, and fearless in the face of any challenge. Salk's vibrant community has many talented individuals from varied backgrounds, each playing a crucial role in driving our mission forward. From visionary leaders to dedicated administrators and brilliant faculty members, the Institute is united by a shared passion for scientific exploration and innovation.
What we Require

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Organizational Development, or related field preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible OPC leadership experience, including at least 5 years managing leaders.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience managing a compensation program, including development and ongoing administration.
• Experience supporting executive leadership within complex organizations; higher education, healthcare, nonprofit, or research environments preferred.
• Strong knowledge of federal and California employment law.
• SHRM-SCP or SPHR certification preferred.
• Computer skills: UKG Human Resource Information Systems (HRIS), Microsoft Office, Project Management Software.

Why Join the Salk Institute?
The Salk Institute is one of the world's premier independent biomedical research organizations, where scientists pursue groundbreaking discoveries to improve human health. As part of the Office of People & Culture, you'll contribute to an organization dedicated to scientific excellence while helping create an outstanding workplace for our employees.
At Salk, we value:

• Integrity
• Community
• Accountability
• Respect
• Empowerment

If you're excited about combining operational excellence, innovation, and exceptional service in a collaborative environment, we encourage you to apply.
What We Can Offer
The expected pay range for this position is $180,000 to $210,000 per annum. Salk Institute provides pay ranges representing its good faith estimate of what the institute reasonably expects to pay for a position. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal equity, and external market pay for comparable jobs.
Benefits
Salk Institute offers competitive benefits, including medical, dental, vision, retirement, paid time off, tuition reimbursement, patient advocacy services, and transit/parking program.
Salk Values
The Salk Community, both scientists and administrators, worked together to define values that we believe support Salk's pursuit of excellence. To be truly the best scientific institution requires not only incredible discoveries, but a common understanding of how we should work together to enable those discoveries.
The acronym "I CARE" provides a simple way to remember each of the values and reminds each of us of the importance of what we do each day.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
The Salk Institute for Biological Studies is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to providing equal access to opportunities for students, employees, applicants for employment and other visitors. Salk has also adopted and maintains a policy to encourage professional and respectful workplace behavior and prevent discriminatory and harassing conduct in our workplace.
Accordingly, the Institute prohibits harassment and discrimination in employment on the basis of, and considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to, actual or perceived race (race is inclusive of traits associated with race, including, but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles. Protective hairstyles include, but not limited to, such hairstyles as braids, and twists), color, religion, religious creed (including religious dress and grooming practices), national origin, ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition (including cancer and genetic characteristics), genetic information, marital status, age, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), reproductive health decision making, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, veteran and/or military status (disabled veteran, veteran of the Vietnam era, other covered veteran status), political affiliation, and any other status protected by state or federal law.
Discrimination is prohibited with any intersectionality of the above-mentioned characteristics, including:

1. Any combination of characteristics.
2. A perception that the person has any of the characteristics or any combination of those characteristics.
3. A perception that the person is associated with a person who has, or is perceived to have, any of those characteristics or any combination of those characteristics.

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.