Senior Employee Relations Manager

Role Summary

IDEAYA Biosciences is seeking a Senior Employee Relations Manager with deep expertise in employee relations and a passion for building high-performing, respectful workplace cultures. This role is based at our South San Francisco headquarters and requires onsite presence four days per week as we scale the HR function for a commercial-stage biotechnology organization. You will shape and strengthen our employee relations infrastructure—establishing consistent, fair, and scalable practices that support sustainable growth while reinforcing collaboration, accountability, and performance excellence. Reporting to the Senior Vice President, Head of Human Resources, you will advise employees and leaders, lead investigations, and partner cross-functionally to drive appropriate outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Employee Relations Consultation
  • Serve as a trusted advisor to employees, managers, and senior leaders on complex and sensitive employee relations matters such as managing concerns about declining performance, interpersonal conflicts, involuntary exits, organizational changes, and team dynamics challenges.
  • Lead thorough, fair, and timely workplace investigations, ensuring consistency, objectivity, and risk mitigation.
  • Establish and standardize scalable employee relations protocols, frameworks, and documentation practices.
  • Partner cross-functionally with HR Business Partners, Legal, Compliance, and leadership to drive optimal and appropriate outcomes.
  • Ensure appropriate documentation, coaching, and corrective actions are applied consistently and in alignment with company values and compliance requirements.
  • Support and help enhance the annual performance management process (goal setting, manager check-ins, year-end reviews).
• Policy, Compliance & Governance
  • Oversee and manage the ongoing enhancement of the employee handbook and HR policy framework.
  • Lead statutory reporting processes and annual workforce data submissions to government agencies.
  • Manage workplace accommodations through the interactive process in compliance with federal and California law.
  • Manage and ensure required compliance trainings are administered (e.g., sexual harassment prevention, workplace violence prevention).
• Culture & Insights
  • Conduct exit interviews and analyze turnover trends quarterly to identify root causes and recommend actionable retention strategies.
  • Design and deliver manager and employee training on key employee relations topics to strengthen leadership capability.
  • Champion practices that reinforce IDEAYA’s values, culture, and commitment to employee well-being.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of progressive HR experience with significant focus in employee relations
• Demonstrated expertise conducting complex workplace investigations
• Strong working knowledge of California employment law
• Experience in fast paced, agile, high-growth biotechnology organizations required; preferred to have worked across all functions in the drug development lifecycle (Research, Development, Medical Affairs, Commercial, Technical Operations, Business Development, G&A)
• Proven ability to influence senior leaders and navigate sensitive situations with integrity and courage
• Strong documentation, analytical, and stakeholder management skills