HR Consultant - European expansion (Biotech)

Crinetics is a pharmaceutical company based in San Diego, California, with a European office in Zug, Switzerland, developing much-needed therapies for people with endocrine diseases and endocrine-related tumors. We were founded by a dedicated team of scientists with the simple belief that better therapies developed from rigorous innovation can lead to better lives. Our work continues to make a real difference in the lives of patients. We have a prolific discovery engine and a robust preclinical and clinical development pipeline. We are driven by science with a patient-centric and team-oriented culture. This is an exciting time to join Crinetics as we shape our organization into the world’s premier fully-integrated endocrine company from discovery to patients. Join our team as we transform the lives of others. Crinetics is known for its inclusive workplace culture. We are also a dog-friendly workplace.

Position Summary:

The purpose of this role is to support and enable the fast and efficient scale-up of the Company’s European operations, with a strong focus on setting up the key HR processes, tools and systems, as well as building high-performing teams across EU locations. The HR Consultant will work closely with U.S. leadership and the European senior management team to establish and scale the HR function, ensuring a smooth market entry in Europe.

This contract role is expected for a period of 6-9 months until a permanent HR Director Europe headcount is created in Q1 2026.

Essential Job Functions and Responsibilities:

These may include but are not limited to:

HR Infrastructure & Compliance

• Guide the company on employment laws, labor regulations, and HR best practices across key European markets (e.g., Germany, France, UK, Netherlands).
• Support the legal entity setup by advising on workforce structures, payroll, benefits, and compliance obligations.
• Develop HR policies, handbooks, and employment contracts tailored to European regulations.

Talent Acquisition & Onboarding

• Partner with U.S. leadership to design and execute a hiring strategy for European expansion.
• Support recruitment efforts, including sourcing, interviewing, and offer negotiation in collaboration with local hiring managers.
• Develop onboarding processes to ensure a seamless experience for new hires.

HR Operations & Employee Relations

• Establish payroll, benefits, and HRIS solutions suited for a European workforce.
• Advise on workplace culture, employee engagement, and retention strategies to align with both U.S. and European expectations.
• Act as a point of contact for employee relations matters, ensuring compliance with local employment laws.

Strategic HR Support

• Provide insights on market trends, compensation benchmarks, and talent landscape to support decision-making.
• Develop workforce planning strategies to support growth and operational scalability.
• Offer guidance on remote work policies, hybrid work models, and contractor vs. employee classifications.

Education and Experience:

• 12+ years of HR experience, with expertise in European employment regulations and cross-border HR operations.
• Prior experience supporting a U.S.-based company’s expansion into Europe, preferably in biotech, pharma, or life sciences.
• Strong knowledge of multi-country employment laws, talent acquisition, and HR compliance frameworks.
• Experience with HR systems, payroll providers, and benefits administration in Europe.
• Fluency in English (additional European languages a plus).
• Ability to work independently, collaborate across time zones, and navigate a fast-paced, evolving environment.

Travel:

You may be required to travel for up to 5% of your time.

Equal Opportunity Employer:

Crinetics is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and employment applicants without regard to unlawful considerations of sex, sexual orientation, gender (including gender identity and/or expression), pregnancy, race, color, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, religion or similar philosophical beliefs, disability, marital and civil union status, age, genetic information, veteran status or any personal attribute or characteristic that is protected by applicable local, state or federal laws.