Director, People Operations & Total Rewards

Formation Bio is a tech and AI‑driven pharma company focused on accelerating drug development. About The Position Formation Bio is looking for a Director of People Operations & Total Rewards to own the strategy and execution of our people infrastructure. Reporting to the SVP, Head of People, you will drive outcomes that advance company priorities by building compensation expertise in‑house, designing scalable people programs, and ensuring operational excellence across our systems and processes. This high‑impact role requires independent, complex decision‑making with a company‑wide perspective, evaluating trade‑offs in compensation strategy, benefits design, and program implementation while anticipating long‑term implications for our unique business model. You’ll also build an AI‑native people function that reflects Formation’s broader mission and culture. Responsibilities People Operations Excellence Drive AI‑native operations across the people function, identifying opportunities to leverage technology while maintaining the human elements of our work. Ensure compliance and evolve people processes to fit the business as it scales. Lead cross‑functional processes and partner with internal stakeholders including Legal, Finance, Tech Ops, and Quality Assurance. Serve as escalation point for complex operational issues, benefits decisions, and compensation situations. Manage external vendor relationships and consultant partnerships. Total Rewards Strategy & Execution Own compensation strategy and execution for Formation’s unique business model, including framework design, market positioning, and equity programs. Lead benefits strategy, vendor selection, and plan design; ensure our total rewards package is competitive and supports our culture and business needs. Own cyclical compensation reviews end‑to‑end. Partner on complex offer negotiations and provide market intelligence and competitive positioning recommendations. Program Design & Strategic Execution Elevate and own our annual performance, promotion and compensation review process to ensure quality, consistency, and scalability as we grow. Partner with Director, People Business Partner on program execution and continuous improvement. Anticipate program needs based on business growth and evolution. About You 8+ years of experience in people operations, total rewards, and/or HR leadership roles. Deep compensation expertise—designed frameworks, led market analysis, structured equity programs, and can think strategically about total rewards in complex or unique business models. Proven track record implementing AI and automation—concrete results in people operations and a strong vision for an AI‑native function. Strong operational background—owned people systems, benefits, compliance, and built scalable people operations infrastructure. Experience designing and scaling talent management programs—balance quality with operational efficiency. Ability to make independent, complex decisions—evaluate trade‑offs with a company‑wide perspective and anticipate long‑term implications. Strong ownership mentality and high accountability—full responsibility for outcomes and drive work to completion. People management experience—developed and elevated individuals and teams, caring deeply about career development. Strong cross‑functional partnership skills—build excellent relationships with internal teams and external vendors. Comfortable working in fast‑paced, high‑growth environments—strategic and hands‑on. Experience in biotech, pharma, or other technical/regulated industries is a plus but not required. Total Compensation Range $185,500 – $267,000 Compensation Individual compensation is determined by role scope, geographic location, and skills & experience. Your offer will reflect where you fall within the range based on these considerations. In addition to base salary, we offer equity, comprehensive benefits, and generous perks. Where We Hire Formation Bio is prioritizing hiring in key hubs, primarily the New York City and Boston metro areas, with a hybrid model requiring 3 days per week in office. Applicants from the Research Triangle (NC) and San Francisco Bay Area may also be considered. Please apply only if you reside in these locations or are willing to relocate. Equal Opportunity Formation Bio is committed to building a diverse and inclusive team. We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome candidates from all backgrounds. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. #J-18808-Ljbffr