People Advisor, Corporate Functions

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc (US); Boston (MA); Hybrid; USD 112,700 - 169,100; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

Paid time off

Student loan repayment

Commuting subsidy

401(k)

Job summary

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. is seeking a People Advisor to deliver high-impact HR advisory support to managers, partnering with Employee Relations, HR Partners and Centers of Excellence to optimize people decisions and organizational health.

The role focuses on proactive coaching, early intervention, talent planning, program enablement, and actionable people insights within Vertex's hybrid HR service model.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience
• 4+ years in HR advisory, HR business partnering, employee relations, HR operations, or related HR role
• Experience supporting manager-facing advisory work across performance, lifecycle, workforce planning, or talent program execution

Responsibilities

• Coach managers through day-to-day people challenges and performance concerns
• Advise on policy interpretation and practical application
• Support leave of absence and return-to-work planning
• Guide accommodation and workplace adjustment processes
• Assist with restructures, role changes, and workforce planning
• Analyze workforce trends and organizational health indicators

Skills

Coaching managers

HR policies

Analytical skills

Change enablement

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor's degree

4+ years HR advisory/employee relations

Job description

Job Description Overview At Vertex, the People Advisor delivers high-impact, manager-facing HR advisory support that helps leaders make effective people decisions, strengthen organizational health, and create a consistently positive employee experience. This role supports the Corporate Functions portfolio and will partner closely with managers through everyday people decisions, moments of change, and critical workforce cycles. Operating within Vertex's HR service-based model, the People Advisor focuses on proactive coaching, early intervention, talent planning, program enablement, and people insights while partnering with People Experience, Employee Relations, HR Business Partners, HR Operations, and Centers of Excellence to route transactional, programmatic, or formal investigative work to the teams best positioned to deliver it.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Manager Coaching, Advisory & Early Intervention
  Coach managers through day-to-day people challenges, performance concerns, conduct matters, and team effectiveness opportunities
  Advise on policy interpretation and practical application, helping managers make consistent, values-aligned decisions
  Support early intervention in difficult or sensitive employee situations by helping assess risk, clarify options, and prepare for appropriate next steps
  Engage Employee Relations when formal action, independent fact-finding, or investigation support is required
• Employee & Employment Life-Cycle Services
  Advise managers through complex employment moments, including workforce cycles, compensation cycles, performance, role changes, and promotion decisions
  Support leave of absence and return-to-work planning by helping managers navigate timelines, decision points, and stakeholder coordination
  Guide accommodation and workplace adjustment processes in partnership with the appropriate HR, Benefits, Employee Relations, and legal stakeholders
  Support sensitive employment transitions, including involuntary separations, reductions in force, and other complex exits
• Talent Strategy Activation & Enablement
  Support rollout, adoption, and consistent execution of enterprise talent programs, workforce cycles, and manager-facing HR initiatives
  Enable managers with clear guidance, practical tools, and timely communications that help translate programs into day-to-day action
  Reinforce consistent application of standard processes and ways of working across functions and teams
  Partner with Centers of Excellence and HR teams to standardize processes, support change adoption, and ensure scalable, business-relevant delivery
• Talent Planning & Consulting
  Advise managers on organization hygiene, role clarity, workforce planning, and headcount-related initiatives
  Assess people implications of business and operating model changes across Corporate Functions and provide practical recommendations
  Translate business needs into talent actions that balance near-term execution with longer-term workforce goals
  Support restructures, role changes, work shifts, and related stakeholder coordination across HR teams as needed
• People Intelligence & Organizational Health
  Analyze workforce trends and patterns to help leaders understand what is changing, why it is happening, and where action may be needed
  Monitor organizational health indicators, manager capability signals, and emerging workforce risks across the Corporate Functions portfolio
  Conduct targeted diagnostics, highlight themes and opportunities, and guide managers toward appropriate actions rather than simply providing reports

Knowledge and Skills

• Demonstrated ability to coach and influence managers through complex people decisions, early interventions, and sensitive employment situations
• Strong knowledge of HR policies, employment practices, and service-based HR operating models, with the ability to apply guidance consistently and practically across geographies
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret workforce trends, identify organizational health themes, and translate insights into action
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, navigate ambiguity, assess risk, and exercise sound judgment in a fast-paced, matrixed environment
• Strong consulting, communication, stakeholder management, and change enablement skills across business and HR partners

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience
• 4+ years of experience in HR advisory, HR business partnering, employee relations, HR operations, or a related HR role
• Experience supporting manager-facing advisory work across performance, employment lifecycle, workforce planning, organizational health, or talent program execution preferred
• Experience partnering with HR Business Partners, Employee Relations, People Experience, HR Operations, Legal, and Centers of Excellence preferred

#HYBRID #LI-MF1

Pay Range

$112,700 - $169,100

Benefits

From medical, dental and vision benefits to generous paid time off (including a week-long company shutdown in the Summer and the Winter), educational assistance programs including student loan repayment, a generous commuting subsidy, matching charitable donations, 401(k) and so much more.

Flex Designation

Hybrid-Eligible Or On-Site Eligible

Flex Eligibility Status

In this Hybrid-Eligible role, you can choose to be designated as: 1. Hybrid: work remotely up to two days per week; or select 2. On-Site: work five days per week on-site with ad hoc flexibility. Note: The Flex status for this position is subject to Vertex's Policy on Flex @ Vertex Program and may be changed at any time.

Company Information

Vertex is a global biotechnology company that invests in scientific innovation. Vertex is committed to equal employment opportunity and non-discrimination for all employees and qualified applicants without regard to a person's race, color, sex, gender identity or expression, age, religion, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, marital status, or any characteristic protected under applicable law. Vertex is an E-Verify Employer in the United States. Vertex will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with known disabilities, in accordance with applicable law. Any applicant requiring an accommodation in connection with the hiring process and/or to perform the essential functions of the position for which the applicant has applied should make a request to the recruiter or hiring manager, or contact Talent Acquisition at [e-mail].

Help Us Achieve Our Mission

Vertex is a global biotechnology company that invests in scientific innovation to create transformative medicines for people with serious diseases. The company has approved medicines that treat the underlying causes of multiple chronic, life-shortening genetic diseases — cystic fibrosis, sickle cell disease and transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia — and continues to advance clinical and research programs in these diseases. Vertex also has a robust clinical pipeline of investigational therapies across a range of modalities in other serious diseases where it has deep insight into causal human biology, including APOL1-mediated kidney disease, acute and neuropathic pain, type 1 diabetes, myotonic dystrophy type 1 and alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency . Founded in 1989 in Cambridge, Mass., Vertex's global headquarters is now located in Boston's Innovation District and its international headquarters is in London. Additionally, the company has research and development sites and commercial offices in North America, Europe, Australia, Latin America and the Middle East. Vertex is consistently recognized as one of the industry's top places to work, including 14 consecutive years on Science magazine's Top Employers list and one of Fortunes 100 Best Companies to Work For. For company updates and to learn more about Vertex's history of innovation, visit www.vrtx.com or follow us on Facebook, Twitter/X , LinkedIn, YouTube and Instagram. The diversity and authenticity of our people is part of what makes Vertex unique, and we recognize that each employee brings diverse perspectives and strengths. By embracing those strengths and celebrating differences, we are fostering an inclusive culture where each of us can bring our authentic selves to work, inspire innovation together, and change people’s lives. Our vision is clear: to be the place where an authentic, diverse mix of talent want to come, to stay, and do their best work.