VP, Human Resources Business Partner

Position Summary:

The Vice President, Human Resources Business Partner (HRBP) will serve as a strategic advisor and thought partner to senior business leaders, driving the alignment of people strategy with enterprise goals. This leader will oversee the global HRBP organization, ensuring delivery of high-impact solutions across talent, leadership, organizational design, and employee engagement. The VP will also play a critical role in embedding Apellis’ culture and values as the company continues to grow and evolve.

This role requires a global, enterprise-oriented leader who can balance strategic foresight with operational excellence, while developing a high-performing HRBP team to elevate the function’s impact.  This leader is a direct report of the Chief People Officer and a member of the HR Leadership Team and Apellis’ Senior Leadership Team.

Key Responsibilities Include: 

• Strategic Partnership: Serve as a trusted advisor to senior executives, influencing decision-making and shaping people and organizational strategies that drive business performance.
• In addition to leading the global HR business partner team, this leader will be responsible for direct HRBP support of one of the functions at Apellis.
• Leadership & Team Development: Lead, coach, and develop the global HRBP team to ensure consistent excellence, agility, and strategic partnership across the enterprise.
• Enterprise Alignment: Collaborate closely with HR Centers of Excellence (Talent Management, Talent Acquisition, Total Rewards and People Operations) to deliver integrated solutions that advance Apellis’ business priorities and culture.
• Organizational Effectiveness: Drive organizational design, workforce planning, change management, and talent strategies to enable scaling with discipline and agility.
• Culture & Engagement: Champion Apellis’ values and ways of working, embedding our patient- and science-centered culture globally while addressing local needs.
• Talent Development & Succession: Partner with senior leaders to identify, develop, and retain critical talent, ensuring strong succession pipelines for key enterprise roles.
• Global Mindset: Shape HRBP practices across geographies to support Apellis’ growing international footprint and foster consistent, inclusive employee experiences worldwide.

Education, Registration & Certification:

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree in HR, Business, Law, or related field preferred.

Experience:

• 15+ years of progressive HR leadership experience, including leading HRBP teams in global, high-growth, science-driven organizations (biotech/pharma experience strongly preferred).
• Proven track record of building trusted relationships with senior executives and influencing at the enterprise level.
• Expertise in organizational design, talent strategy, workforce planning, and change management.
• Demonstrated success leading global HRBP organizations and building high-performing teams.
• Strong global and enterprise mindset; able to balance local nuance with enterprise consistency.
• Exceptional communication, leadership presence, and ability to navigate complex stakeholder environments.

Skills, Knowledge & Abilities:

• Ability to work in a fast-moving, nimble environment and willingness to roll-up sleeves
• Strong influencing and facilitation skills with aptitude to foster collaborative partnerships with senior leadership, peers and colleagues at all levels
• Highly organized, results driven, problem solver
• Operate independently and experienced to know when to escalate issues
• Superior written and oral communication skills and the ability to work across different levels of management 
• Demonstrated complex problem-solving ability and sound judgement ability
• Strong leadership, team building, organizational, communication and interpersonal skills

Travel Requirements:

• Ability to travel/work at the Company's headquarters 3 days a week 

Benefits and Perks:

Apellis offers a comprehensive benefits package, including a 401(k) plan with company match, inclusive family building benefits, flexible time off, summer and winter shutdowns, paid family leave, disability and life insurance, and more! Visit https://apellis.com/careers/benefits/ to learn more.

Company Background:

Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a global biopharmaceutical company that combines courageous science and compassion to develop life-changing therapies for some of the most challenging diseases patie