VP, People

About Plasmidsaurus

Plasmidsaurus is on a mission to accelerate new cures and promote a healthier planet by unlocking a new level of productivity for scientists. Our sequencing services are used daily by thousands of innovators, including Nobel laureates, Fortune 100 pharma, and over 70,000 scientists.

We began by revolutionizing plasmid sequencing, making it exponentially cheaper and faster, with innovative sequencing technologies and a global network of laboratories that turn samples into answers in hours, not weeks.

Now we are expanding that same disruptive model across all of genomics. With the launch of our new RNA-seq service, we are taking a bold step toward our vision to sequence everything, providing scientists everywhere with faster, simpler, and more affordable access to the data that powers discovery.

Every team member at Plasmidsaurus plays a crucial role in driving the future of biotech research. Together, we are building the world's most efficient sequencing engine that operates overnight, scales globally, and helps scientists make breakthroughs faster than ever before.

The Opportunity

The VP People at Plasmidsaurus will help lead a rapidly growing, category-defining life sciences company with exceptional product-market fit, real and significant growth opportunities. You will shape the people strategy behind innovative technology that allows researchers around the world to move faster on some of society's most important scientific challenges.

Reporting to the CEO and partnering directly with an ambitious founding team and company leadership, you will architect the organizational structure, develop the leadership bench, and build the people systems required to power a rapidly growing startup as we expand internationally, launch new products, enter new markets, and deepen strategic partnerships. We're looking for a leader who has seen similar growth stages with a founder-led business, who has successfully built international teams and operating structures, and who has implemented people programs that enable growth without sacrificing performance, compliance, or execution quality.

Great candidates will bring not just HR leadership, but also strong business judgment and strategic thinking. They will contribute meaningfully to discussions beyond traditional People topics. The strongest candidates will be as comfortable debating organizational strategy, growth plans, and business tradeoffs as they are leading people function.

The Role

Build the leadership, organizational, and management foundations that enable Plasmidsaurus to scale globally while remaining fast, accountable, and operationally excellent.

As we grow in complexity, geography, and headcount, the VP, People will ensure our leadership capability, organizational effectiveness, workforce governance, and global people infrastructure evolve to support the company's ambitions.

About the role

The will architect the people strategy that empowers the company to sequence everything and accelerate cures for a healthier planet. You will own the full people lifecycle, from organizational design and leadership succession to global workforce governance and compliance. You will partner directly with the CEO and founding team to scale a high-performance culture across international markets and new product lines. You will build the leadership bench and develop managers so the organization maintains execution quality while growing rapidly. You will serve as a strategic advisor on workforce decisions that impact business strategy and scientific impact. You will ensure that every people program supports speed, accountability, and operational excellence.

What you'll do

• Partner with the CEO and leadership team to design the organizational structure and leadership development pathways that support global scale.
• Own the end-to-end People strategy, including HR business partnering, performance management, compensation and benefits, employee relations, and compliance.
• Develop and implement succession planning and workforce strategies that align talent capabilities with business milestones.
• Build the systems, processes, and tools that enable a rapidly scaling life sciences company to operate with clarity and efficiency.
• Recruit, build, and lead a high-performing People team that can operate across geographies and support distributed scientists.
• Lead global workforce infrastructure, including international hiring, employment practices, compensation frameworks, and mobility programs.
• Evaluate and recommend investments in partners, systems, and operating models to support new product launches and market entries.
• Ensure strong governance around employment, compliance, and risk across all jurisdictions where the company operates.
• Partner with external legal, immigration, and compliance experts to implement responsible and scalable practices.
• Serve as a trusted advisor on organizational, leadership, and workforce decisions that intersect with business strategy and tradeoffs.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business, Psychology, or a related field; Master's degree preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive HR leadership experience, with at least 5 years in a people leadership role at a fast-growing, founder-led company.
• Demonstrated experience building organizational design, leadership development, and succession planning programs.
• Proven track record of scaling people operations, performance management, and compensation programs in high-growth environments.
• Extensive experience managing employee relations, investigations, and complex people situations with discretion and integrity.
• Strong knowledge of employment law and compliance across multiple jurisdictions, particularly in the United States and internationally.
• Experience with immigration and mobility programs supporting a global scientific workforce.
• Demonstrated ability to build and lead high-performing HR teams and collaborate effectively with executive leadership.
• Comfortable interpreting business strategy and translating it into people programs that enable execution and growth.
• Strong judgment and business acumen to contribute to discussions beyond traditional HR topics.

Nice to have

• Experience in life sciences, biotech, or genomics environments where rapid growth and scientific impact are priorities.
• Background working with sequencing, omics, or distributed research environments.
• Familiarity with startup cultures that prioritize speed, ownership, and operational excellence.

Practical notes

• This is a full-time position based in San Francisco.
• Travel may be required to support global teams and partners.
• Visa sponsorship may be considered for qualified candidates.
• The timeline for this role is aligned with company growth priorities; early impact is expected within the first three months.