People Operations Manager

Reporting to the Senior Director, HRBP & People Operations, CARGO is seeking a People Operations Manager to join our team and elevate our HR infrastructure amid rapid company growth.
In this role, you will streamline HR processes, enhance the employee lifecycle from onboarding to offboarding, and manage our HR compliance program.
The ideal candidate is passionate about creating a best-in-class employee experience, has a knack for improving systems and processes, and thrives in a fast-paced environment.
They are eager to drive operational excellence and support every CARGO employee through their journey.
The role is based in San Carlos, CA.
WHAT YOU’LL DO AT CARGO THERAPEUTICS Lead the development and optimization of HR processes to support our rapidly growing team, ensuring a seamless experience for both onsite and remote employees Oversee the entire employee lifecycle, including sophisticated onboarding and offboarding processes for employees and contractors, enhancing engagement and retention Administer HR Information Systems (e.
g.
, BambooHR, Lattice, Jobvite) for all HR activities, including new hires, transfers, compensation adjustments, and terminations, ensuring data accuracy, integrity, and seamless information flow Conduct regular data audits within internal systems to maintain compliance, accuracy, and security of employee information Deliver on people projects spanning culture, compliance, diversity & inclusion, onboarding/offboarding, retention, training, and administration of compensation changes, benefits and leaves of absence Build strong cross-functional relationships with Payroll, Legal, IT, Facilities, HR Business Partners, and Total Rewards to streamline HR service delivery Administer and provide escalation support for benefit programs to cross-functional partners Support and refine the performance management process in partnership with the Senior Director, HRBP & People Operations, focusing on continuous improvement and employee development Drive the analysis of HR metrics to inform strategic decision-making and improve HR processes and employee satisfaction Foster a vibrant, inclusive, and collaborative company culture that reflects CARGO’s values and mission Ensure the confidentiality and discreet handling of sensitive information, upholding the highest standards of privacy and security Deliver exceptional employee support, addressing inquiries and issues promptly and effectively, enhancing the overall employee experience Engage in cross-training within the HR team to provide comprehensive support across all People/HR programs Champion CARGO policies and procedures, continuously seeking ways to improve HR service delivery and contribute to the team’s success Embrace additional responsibilities as needed, demonstrating flexibility and a commitment to evolving HR practices in line with organizational growth THE RIGHT STUFF: Required Experience & Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field, with 5+ years of experience in progressive HR Generalist or People Operations roles; prior experience in a high-growth startup or biotech environment preferred Demonstrated experience in developing and implementing scalable HR processes and systems, with a particular focus on onboarding and offboarding across a distributed workforce Exceptional organizational skills, with the ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects simultaneously, maintaining a high level of accuracy and attention to detail Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, Teams, Zoom, and HRIS and ATS platforms, with the capability to leverage technology for efficient HR operations Strong analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities, complemented by excellent written and verbal communication skills Experience handling sensitive and confidential information with discretion, upholding the highest standards of privacy and security Demonstrated ability to develop and enforce HR policies and processes, ensuring compliance with multi-state and federal regulations, with an emphasis on California employment law Proactive approach to identifying challenges and devising effective solutions, with a hands-on, results-oriented work ethic Experience supporting agile and remote workforces, fostering an inclusive and collaborative environment Ability to work autonomously and in a team, effectively collaborating with diverse colleagues and stakeholders Strong commitment to fostering and maintaining a positive company culture, with a passion for employee engagement and development PAY RANGE The combined pay range for this role is $120,000 - $165,000.
Title and salary will be based on our assessment of skills and experience relevant to our needs for the role.
ABOUT CARGO THERAPEUTICS CARGO Therapeutics, Inc.
is a clinical-stage biotechnology company positioned to advance next generation, potentially curative cell therapies for cancer patients.
CARGO’s programs, platform technologies, and manufacturing strategy are designed to directly address the limitations of approved cell therapies, including limited durability of effect, safety concerns and unreliable supply.
CARGO is currently evaluating its lead program, CRG-022, an autologous CD22 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy candidate, in a potentially pivotal Phase 2 clinical trial in patients with large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) whose disease relapsed or was refractory (R/R) to CD19 CAR T-cell therapy.
CARGO also plans to evaluate CRG-022 in patients at earlier stages of disease, including LBCL and other hematologic malignancies.
Beyond its lead program, CARGO is leveraging its proprietary cell engineering platform technologies to develop a pipeline of programs that incorporate multiple transgene therapeutic “cargo” designed to enhance CAR T-cell persistence and trafficking to tumor lesions, as well as to help safeguard against tumor resistance and T-cell exhaustion.
CARGO’s founders are pioneers and world-class experts in CAR T-cell therapy, and its team has significant experience and success developing, manufacturing, launching and commercializing oncology and cell therapy products.
For more information, please visit the CARGO Therapeutics website at https://cargo-tx.
com/.
Join us to help make a difference! EEO & EMPLOYMENT ELIGIBILITY CARGO Therapeutics, Inc.
is committed to building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive company.
We provide equal opportunity in the terms and conditions of employment for all employees and job applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, gender identity or gender expression, national origin, disability, or veteran status.
CARGO Therapeutics, Inc.
also complies with all applicable national, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment as well as work authorization and employment eligibility verification required of applicable law.
CARGO Therapeutics requires all new hires to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as of their start date.
This requirement is a condition of employment at CARGO Therapeutics, and it applies regardless of whether the position is located at a CARGO Therapeutics site or is fully remote.
If you are unable to receive the vaccine due to a disability or serious medical condition, or because it is prohibited because of your sincerely held religious beliefs, you will have an opportunity to request a reasonable accommodation.