Director/Senior Director, People

Summary of Job (brief description)

Soleno Therapeutics is seeking a strategic and hands-on Director/ Senior Director, People to lead and scale core People functions as the company continues to grow globally. This individual will be a key partner to leaders across the organization and will play a critical role in driving talent strategy, building foundational programs, and expanding our presence in Europe. The ideal candidate brings strong business acumen, a global HR lens, and a passion for building inclusive, high-performing cultures.

Responsibilities

• Performance Management & Talent Development
• • Own and continuously evolve Soleno’s performance management program to ensure it remains effective, equitable, and aligned with business goals.
  • Guide and support leaders through annual goal-setting, performance evaluations, and feedback cycles.
  • Strengthen tools and practices that support employee development, talent reviews, and succession planning.
• Compensation & Rewards
• • Manage and enhance Soleno’s compensation programs, including salary structures, bonus planning, and equity.
  • Partner with Finance on annual compensation cycles, benchmarking, and pay transparency initiatives.
  • Ensure consistent and equitable application of compensation practices across the organization and geographies.
• Culture, Engagement & Employee Experience
• • Champion Soleno’s values and foster a culture of inclusion, collaboration, and accountability.
  • Drive employe engagement strategies, action planning, and initiatives that support retention and satisfaction.
• HR Operations & Compliance
• • Work with HR operations, ensuring strong execution across employee lifecycle events.
  • Ensure compliance with employment laws and regulations across all jurisdictions.
  • Work with Compliance to buildout and update Employee Handbook.
  • Manage all immigration needs working with employees and immigration attorneys.
• Organizational Design & Change Management
• • Work with SVP, People on organizational planning, team structures, and workforce strategies.
  • Support change management efforts related to growth, restructuring, and strategic shifts.
• Benefits Administration
• • Oversee the administration and continuous improvement of Soleno’s comprehensive benefits strategy, including health, welfare, retirement wellness, and voluntary/perks programs and ensure alignment with the overall business objectives and competitive benchmarks.
  • Ensure all benefits programs comply with federal, state, and local laws (e.g., ERISA, ACA, FMLA, ADA, HIPAA), managing required notices, annual renewals, audits, Form 5500 filings, and timely updates to policy documents.
  • Cultivate strategic relationships with insurance carriers and third-party administrators to drive continuous service quality and program stability.
  • Own the annual enrollment process: define communication timelines, articulate benefit options, leverage educational campaigns, and maximize participation through multi-channel engagement strategies.
  • Lead efforts to increase employee understanding and utilization of benefits, including crafting clear messaging, developing FAQs, manager toolkits, and decision.
• International Oversight
• • Lead the People function in building and scaling Soleno’s European presence, including onboarding local talent and ensuring compliance with regional employment laws and practices.
  • Act as a partner to European employees, ensuring alignment of talent strategy with business needs.
  • Main point of contact for vendor and consultant relationships supporting HR operations in Europe.

Qualifications

• BA/BS degree required with 10+ years of progressive HR experience, including time in a high-growth and biotech/life sciences environment. Advanced degree in a related field preferred.
• Strong understanding of compensation, performance management, and talent development.
• Experience growing and supporting global teams, with direct exposure to European HR practices strongly preferred.
• Proven ability to build and scale people programs from the ground up.
• Experience building out and supporting global organizations, specifically in Europe.
• Exceptional relationship-building, communication, and influencing skills.
• Comfortable operating at both strategic and tactical levels.
• Passion for Soleno’s mission to serve the pediatric rare disease community.
• Excellent communication skills including written and in-person presentation skills persuasively and appropriately.
• Ability to work successfully in a dynamic, fast-paced, team-oriented environment.

Salary Range: $225,000 - $275,000

(Actual salary at the time of hire may vary and may be above or below the range based on various factors, including, but not limited to, the candidate’s relevant qualifications, skills, and experience, as well as the location where this position may be filled.)