Vice President Human Resources

Connecticut Innovations; New Haven (CT); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 250,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual performance bonus

Employee stock option plan

Health coverage

Retirement benefit matching

Unlimited paid time off

Unlimited PTO

Job summary

A strategic venture firm is seeking a Vice President of Human Resources to lead the HR function during a period of rapid growth. The role involves partnering with executive leadership to design effective HR systems and ensure compliance while guiding the company's transition towards commercialization. The ideal candidate should have extensive HR leadership experience, especially in biotech or life sciences. Competitive compensation package offered, including base salary, performance bonuses, and comprehensive benefits.

Qualifications

• 10–15+ years of progressive HR leadership experience.
• Prior experience as the top HR leader in a biotech or life sciences company.
• Demonstrated experience in scaling organizations from early-stage to significant growth.
• Strong preference for candidates who have: helped build or scale a commercial organization
• Supported a public company transition or operated in a publicly traded biotech environment

Responsibilities

• Lead HR strategy aligned with business objectives.
• Oversee HR governance frameworks and compliance.
• Develop talent strategy supporting business growth.
• Design and implement HR systems strategy to ensure data governance and scalability
• Provide guidance on organizational design, talent acquisition, and performance management
• Establish HR metrics and reporting to inform business decisions

Skills

HR leadership experience

Biotech or life sciences experience

Organizational design

Talent acquisition frameworks

Public company experience

Education

Bachelor's degree in relevant field

Job description

Overview

Are you ready to join Connecticut Innovation’s vibrant community of innovators? Connecticut Innovations (“CI”) is Connecticut’s strategic venture capital arm, and we are passionate about serving our portfolio of 220+ companies across various industries, with strengths in life sciences, technology, and climate tech.

Come join First-in-Class Dermatology Drugs | Veradermics!

Veradermics is a dermatologist-founded, late clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing innovative therapeutics to address pervasive treatment challenges in highly prevalent aesthetic and dermatological conditions.

In October 2025, Veradermics announced the closing of an oversubscribed $150 million Series C financing with top-tier healthcare investors. The financing will enable Veradermics to advance the development of our lead candidate, VDPHL01, as an oral, non-hormonal treatment for men and women with pattern hair loss (PHL). We are currently conducting three Phase 3 clinical trials as we work to deliver potentially transformative solutions and aspire to redefine the standard of care in dermatology. Learn more here.

At Veradermics, we combine scientific rigor with a vision for impactful innovation to make a lasting difference in the lives of patients.

Why Work at Veradermics

• You Can Be Part of a Meaningful Mission - Veradermics aims to become a leader in medical dermatology by bringing pharmaceutical innovation to the treatment of common skin conditions to improve the lives of patients.
• Veradermics is Growing – Veradermics is a dynamic and growing company; we are advancing our VDPHL01 Phase 3 clinical trials and preparing for commercialization; PHL affects approximately 80 million people in the U.S. alone.
• The Veradermics Culture – we are an innovative, collaborative, hard-working and performance-driven company that values the contributions of our employees and keeps our focus on patients
• We have been featured in Forbes, Allure, Marie Claire, Bazaar, Dermatology Times, the Slate, The New York Post, The Hartford Courant, The Kansas City Star, and other multi-media platforms.

Position Overview

The Vice President, Human Resources will lead the Veradermics HR function and serve as a thought partner to executive leadership. This leader should have an understanding of key human resource functions and processes, with a focus on growth, business objectives and strategies. Credibility, business partnering, ability to execute and a collaborative approach are keys to success.

The Vice President, Human Resources will partner closely with key company stakeholders to directly shape the people infrastructure during a period of anticipated rapid growth. The leader will advise on and oversee Veradermics plans to transition to a commercial organization while maintaining operational rigor and long-term scalability.

The Vice President, Human Resources will focus on building and operating scalable and effective HR systems and procedures that enhance employee and company execution, accountability, and performance. This leader is expected to have the skills and experience necessary to build a strong, trusted HR team that is focused on adding value to the Veradermics business.

HR Strategy, Operations & Governance

• Lead the development and execution of HR strategy aligned with business objectives, including workforce planning, talent architecture, and organizational design
• Establish and oversee HR governance frameworks, policies, and internal controls that scale with company growth while maintaining compliance rigor
• Partner with Finance and executive leadership to design compensation philosophy, equity frameworks, and total rewards strategy; ensure competitive positioning and internal equity
• Oversee HR systems strategy, including selection, implementation, integration, and optimization of HRIS and related platforms; ensure data governance and system integrity
• Own compliance accountability across multi-state operations; partner with legal counsel on employment law strategy and risk mitigation
• Responsible for identifying the need for HR programs or strategies to support business objectives, as well as strategic direction
• Partners with key stakeholders to deliver services to the business in the areas of organizational development, performance management, employee relations, training and development and talent acquisition

Talent & Organizational Development

• Define and champion talent strategy, including workforce planning models, job architecture, and talent acquisition frameworks that support business growth
• Lead the design and evolution of hiring governance, interview standards, and offer approval processes; ensure quality and consistency across the company
• Partner with key stakeholders, including the Board of Directors, on organizational design, succession planning, and capability building to support strategic initiatives
• Establish HR metrics, analytics, and reporting that inform business decisions and demonstrate HR's impact on organizational performance

Employee Relations, Culture & Risk Management

• Set the tone and direction for employee relations strategy, ensuring consistent application of policies and sound judgment in complex matters
• Partner with legal counsel and executive leadership on material employee relations risks and sensitive investigations
• Drive HR compliance infrastructure, including training requirements, audit readiness, and documentation standards across the company
• Establish HR practices and culture initiatives that enhance high performance, engagement, and retention while protecting the company's interests and reputation

Candidate Profile | Who You Are

• 10–15+ years of progressive HR leadership experience
• Prior experience as the most senior HR leader in a scaling biotech or life sciences organization
• Demonstrated experience scaling from early-stage (~20–50 employees) through commercialization or significant growth
• Strong preference for candidates who have:
• Helped build or scale a commercial organization
• Supported public company transition or operated in a publicly traded biotech environment

Company Culture

Veradermics is a small, tight-knit, high-performing team that works with urgency, positivity, and a deep sense of ownership. We set an exceptionally high bar for ourselves and seek someone who is energized by playing an integral role in a fast-moving organization at a pivotal moment in our trajectory—bringing curiosity, clarity, and a drive to get things done at the highest level.

We value strong organization, thoughtful collaboration, and genuine investment in team success. Honest, direct communication is central to how we work and grow together. Accomplishing our collective goals will be fun but also complex.

Location and Travel

• Hybrid. New Haven, Connecticut- this is a hybrid role that requires 1-2 days per week in our New Haven office

Salary and Benefits

Veradermics provides a comprehensive compensation package that includes a base salary, annual performance bonus eligibility, and access to the employee stock option plan. Robust benefits package, including health coverage, retirement benefit matching, dependent care FSA, and unlimited paid time off.

Veradermics is an equal opportunity employer. All employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit, and business needs, without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or age.