Principal HR Business Partner

Menlo Ventures; Palo Alto (CA); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in the biotechnology field seeks a Principal People Partner to drive HR strategies that foster a thriving workplace culture aligned with their mission in cancer diagnostics. The position involves leadership development, employee engagement strategies, and strategic partnerships across business functions, aimed at enhancing innovation and patient outcomes.

Benefits

100% paid medical, dental, and vision premiums

4 months paid parental leave

Flexible time off

5 day winter break

Qualifications

• 8+ years of progressive HR experience.
• 3+ years in senior business partner roles.
• Strong knowledge of employment laws.

Responsibilities

• Partner with leaders to drive employee and organizational growth.
• Champion succession planning and leadership development.
• Create talent management systems linking individual contributions to outcomes.

Skills

Strategic Vision

Authentic Communication

Conflict Resolution Mastery

Data-Driven Decisions

Education

Bachelor's degree in Human Resources

Job description

About Us

DELFI Diagnostics, Inc. (DELFI Diagnostics) is developing next-generation, blood-based tests that are reliable, accessible and deliver a new way to help detect cancer. Employing advanced machine-learning methods to whole-genome sequencing data, the DELFI ("DNA EvaLuation of Fragments for early Interception") platform is built to address the highest-burden health challenges. DELFI Diagnostics prioritizes solutions that have the potential to save lives on a global scale, including for historically underserved populations. DELFI Diagnostics’ platform relies on fragmentomics – the discovery that cancer cells are more chaotic than normal cells and, when they die, leave behind tell-tale patterns and characteristics of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) fragments. FirstLook Lung, for individuals eligible for lung cancer screening, is DELFI Diagnostics’ first laboratory-developed screening test and can be part of routine blood work. FirstLook Lung uses millions of data points to reliably identify individuals who may have cancer detected through low-dose CT, including early stage disease with a negative predictive value of 99.8 percent. This test has not been cleared or approved by the FDA.

In our passionate pursuit to radically improve health outcomes, we serve humanity when we:

Lead with Science, Anchor in Pragmatism: We pioneer life-changing science by ensuring quality, transparency, and rigor at all times. We explore thoughtfully, experiment smartly, and deliver impact with conviction.

Build With & For All: We embrace diverse backgrounds to innovate and achieve together. We are not just building a product - we aim to disrupt the path of cancer for all - no matter geography or socioeconomic class

Put We over I: We are a home for high-performing people. Through teamwork, we build collective intelligence. Each of us wins when those we serve and those who serve with us--win. We show up with empathy, humility, and integrity at every step of the journey.

DELFI has 1-2 designated in-office working days each week for employees who live within within 50 miles of Palo Alto CA or Baltimore MD offices

About the Role

At DELFI Diagnostics, we're not just building a company—we're pioneering the future of cancer detection through breakthrough AI-powered diagnostics. Every day, our work brings us closer to a world where cancer is detected earlier, lives are saved, and families stay together longer. We're looking for a Principal People Partner (HRBP) who shares our passion for this mission and wants to help build an organization where exceptional people do their best work in service of patients.

Who You Are

You're a people champion who believes that behind every breakthrough is a team of passionate individuals working toward something bigger than themselves. You understand that in a mission-driven organization like ours, people strategy isn't just about HR—it's about creating the conditions where innovation thrives, where diverse perspectives drive better outcomes, and where every team member feels empowered to contribute to our life-saving work. You thrive in the dynamic intersection of science, technology, and human potential. You're energized by the opportunity to shape culture in a fast-growing company where your work directly impacts our ability to serve patients and advance the field of early cancer detection.

What You'll Do

• Strategic partnership that drives mission success
• Partner with leaders across our SG&A functions —not as a service provider, but as a true business partner
• Guide leaders through complex challenges, helping them make decisions that honor both business objectives and our commitment to putting patients first
• Serve as the trusted voice that helps navigate sensitive situations with wisdom, empathy, and business acumen
• Cultivating leadership & a culture that inspires
• Mentor and coach managers, helping them develop skills to lead with both technical excellence and behavioral understanding
• Support leaders at all levels—from first-time managers learning to inspire their teams to seasoned executives navigating organizational change
• Champion succession planning and leadership development that ensures DELFI's mission continues to thrive as we grow
• Create and optimize leadership development programs that produce measurable improvements in employee engagement, retention, and performance metrics
• Design and lead engagement strategies and programs that make DELFI a place where brilliant minds want to stay, grow, and do their most meaningful work
• Create inclusive experiences that engage and connect remote, hybrid, and onsite employees alike
• Communications that connect and inspire
• Craft and deliver messages that help teams understand not just what we're doing, but why it matters
• Lead clear company-wide communications during periods of growth and change, reinforcing our values and mission
• Responsible for content creation and management of company-wide communications, such as All Hands, intranet, newsletters, policy updates, change management announcements, etc.
• Celebrate breakthroughs, introduce new policies, and guide the organization through transitions with clarity and purpose, while ensuring all messaging supports our business objectives while reflecting our core values
• Programs that recognize excellence and drive growth
• Design and lead talent management systems that directly link individual contributions to business outcomes and patient impact
• Create recognition programs that reinforce behaviors aligned with our values while helping every team member grow in their role and impact
• Lead thoughtful performance management and talent review processes that identify and nurture future leaders
• Build development initiatives that create clear pathways for advancement while ensuring critical skills alignment with business strategy

What You'll Have Accomplished 12 Months From Now

• Built trusted relationships with leaders across your business functions - you attend department meetings, leaders come to you for advice on strategic employee and org matters, and you have your finger on the pulse of each group’s wins and struggles
• Translated the results from the annual engagement survey into actionable insights and next steps. Worked with each leader to create plans, drive accountability, and measure KPIs.
• Create, communicate, and implement new engagement strategies to bring onsite, hybrid, and remote employees together. You have communication strategies that meet each DELFIte where they are - geography, level, function, etc.

What You'll Bring to DELFI

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Psychology, or related field
• 8+ years of progressive People experience, with 3+ years in senior business partner roles
• Experience supporting multiple business functions in fast-paced, regulated environments
• Strong knowledge of employment laws and regulations
• Background in life sciences, diagnostics, or regulated healthcare industries (strongly preferred)
Your superpowers:
• Mission-Driven Mindset: You understand how people strategy drives scientific innovation and patient impact
• Strategic Vision: You see the big picture and know how to align people initiatives with business objectives that serve our mission
• Authentic Communication: You connect with people at all levels with warmth, clarity, and genuine care
• Conflict Resolution Mastery: You approach difficult conversations with empathy and find solutions that honor our values
• Program Leadership: You design and execute initiatives that create lasting positive change
• Data-Driven Decisions: You use analytics to measure what matters and continuously improve our people experience
• Adaptability: You thrive in our dynamic environment where priorities evolve as we pursue breakthrough science

What We Offer Full-Time Employees

• 100% paid medical, dental and vision premiums for employees and dependents
• 4 months paid parental leave
• Flexible time off
• 5 day winter break in December
• A meaningful mission and strong company culture

An equal opportunity employer

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not

discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.

This position is not eligible for agency partnership. Resumes and outreach from staffing representatives will be declined.