Elegen

Elegen is blazing a path towards a biology-based economy with a highly innovative approach to DNA synthesis that delivers an industry leading length of 7kb in 7 business days with a 99.999% per base accuracy. Our multidisciplinary team of best-in-class biologists, chemists, hardware, and software engineers apply cutting-edge technologies and methods to solve critical bottlenecks in synthetic biology workflows to help our customers in pharma, biotech, agbio, and biomanufacturing streamline their work and realize the full potential of programmable biology.

We are seeking a hands-on Talent Acquisition Leader/Manager to initially augment and potentially lead our in-house recruiting team. This hybrid role offers a blend of leadership duties and hands-on recruitment responsibilities, with built-in potential for rapid advancement. Starting in a temporary capacity, you'll focus primarily on traditional recruiting objectives as an individual contributor. Demonstrating exceptional recruiting skills and strategic thinking will potentially lead to a regular, full-time position with additional projects and leadership responsibilities. Exceptional performers may have the opportunity to assume increased responsibility for leading the Talent Acquisition function as our company continues to scale. Reporting to Elegen’s 'Head of People,' this role is based in the San Francisco Bay Area, with periodic onsite presence, typically not exceeding one day per week.

This is a compelling opportunity for individuals poised for the next level of leadership or someone with proven leadership experience who relishes the challenges of scaling the TA function at a uniquely innovative, rapidly moving, high impact start-up. The ideal candidate will possess a strategic mindset, excellent team management skills, and a proven track record in recruiting top talent. In addition to optimizing our in-house recruiting function, the successful candidate will look forward to helping us continue to build a strong culture of mutual respect, integrity, and collaboration while working alongside some of Silicon Valley’s best scientists and engineers. 

Essential Responsibilities:

In this role, you'll initially focus on recruiting; responsibilities in this area include:

• End-to-End Recruitment Management: Define position requirements and job descriptions with hiring managers. Guide our sourcing team to utilize diverse channels effectively. Screen candidates, conduct interviews, coordinate selections, and perform reference checks. Manage candidate experience from engagement to offer acceptance, ensuring a positive journey.

As you establish yourself at Elegen, you will rapidly be presented with additional scope in the areas of people management and strategic leadership. Potential responsibilities in these areas include:

• Process Optimization: Oversee and optimize the recruitment process, ensuring process efficiency by leveraging industry trends and best practices. Track metrics for continuous improvement. Manage relationships with external recruiters. Ensure processes result in compliance with relevant employment laws, internal policies and company values.
• Strategic Projects: Collaborate with the Head of People to define and execute strategies for scaling Talent Acquisition operations as the company grows. Drive strategic initiatives related to employer branding, and recruitment tools / technology. 
• People/Department Leadership: Assume people management duties as needed. Conduct team meetings, set goals, provide motivational and developmental coaching and feedback to achieve objectives and foster growth. Plan and manage operational spend.

Your initial KPIs will cover candidate and manager experience, hiring outcomes, time to fill, and cost per hire. Additional measures will be added as your role expands, and your requisition workload will adjust accordingly.

Essential Candidate Profile:

• Proven experience (5+ years) in talent acquisition
• Work experience or education in the biotech industry or related fields.

Preferred Candidate Qualifications:

• 2+ years in a team lead or people manager role. 
• Prior experience working in startup environments (<500 employees)
• Experience working with Greenhouse ATS
• Experience leading teams through change management and adoption of process improvements
• Demonstrated skill in collecting, organizing, analyzing and influencing recruiting performance data 
• Demonstrated track record of continuous learning and an aptitude for exploring new technologies
• Experience with developing and managing a team budget

Salary and Benefits:

The annual base salary compensation for this temporary role, if based in California, is: $130,000 - $150,000. Temporary positions do not include bonus, equity or benefits. Please speak with the hiring manager about the details associated with temporary employment, as well as how this compensation may differ from a future, regular status full-time position.

About The Company:

Founded and led by Dr. Matthew Hill and located in San Carlos, CA, Elegen is well-capitalized by top life science investors, including Andreessen Horowitz, 8VC, and KdT. The company is advised and staffed by leading biotechnology scientists and entrepreneurs, including Dr. Marc Unger, inventor of the Nanoflex™ valve, and former CSO of Fluidigm. Dr. Hill has a PhD from Stanford and a proven track record of advancing innovative technologies from invention to commercial success. Over eight years in his previous role as VP of R&D at a leading molecular diagnostics company, he co-invented and launched five precision molecular diagnostic products, including a best-in-class noninvasive prenatal test used by millions. These products earn more than $350 million per year in revenue and enabled an IPO.

Elegen is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Elegen provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic characteristics, or any other category protected by law. All applicants have rights under the following Federal Employment Laws: 

• Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) 
• Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) 
• Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA)