People Manager

Role Summary 

• Salary: A starting salary of $83,000 - $85,000 per annum, depending on your previous experience 

• Benefits: Discretionary profit share bonuses paid twice per year, hybrid and flexible working options, generous vacation allowance, private medical and dental insurance, 401K plan with up to a 4% employer contribution, life insurance, full funding and study leave for external training and more 

• Role Type: Full-time, permanent role; applications for part-time working (a minimum of 24 hours per week) will be considered   

• Start Date: The role will ideally commence in Q1 2026, and you will be asked to state your availability in your application form. 

• Application Deadlines: The deadline for applications is 16th January with interviews taking place shortly after 

• Location: This role is available in our Boston office

About the Role  

We are seeking a proactive, enthusiastic and collaborative People Manager to join our team in Boston, MA.  

Awarded a spot in the US Top Places to Work in 2025 and with a US headcount of over 80 based in Boston and New York, our US team has grown rapidly since its establishment in 2020. This follows on from over 15 years operating across the UK and Asia. Our global expansion plans remain ambitious, with a small Canada office opening in Vancouver in 2026.  

Over recent years we have focused on establishing, growing and upscaling our People operations in the US, and we are now looking for a dedicated US People Manager who will enjoy managing US and Canada People operations in a fast-moving and high-growth setting.  

Collaborating closely with our global People team, who manage People operations across our other regions, you will be responsible for the successful implementation, localization and operation of HR processes and practices in Boston, New York, Vancouver and any other future locations in the Americas. Staying abreast of wider People trends in the industry and remaining passionate about high-quality delivery, you will act as a trusted adviser to colleagues across the business and should act with integrity and in a way that upholds trust and confidence in our People function.  

The responsibilities for the role are as follows: 

• Manages all US and Canada People processes to ensure they run successfully, compliantly and efficiently; including but not limited to new starters, leavers, promotions, employee engagement surveys, benefits processing and sickness/absence management  

• Manages a wide range of People projects for both the US/Canada and other global companies. Ensures that the Americas Director, Head of People and other key stakeholders remain informed about the progress of projects and can input where required  

• Provides tailored, robust and responsive advice and employee relations expertise to our US-based colleagues, covering topics such as performance management, career development, absence management, wellbeing and workplace conduct. Recognizes when to escalate issues to the Head of People and seek input from external counsel  

• Autonomously produces appropriately written letters on a wide range of HR matters, including conducting the research necessary to advise on the contents of such letters, ensuring they are aligned with statutory regulations and company policy, and responsibility for final sign-off 

• Leads process improvement initiatives to increase the efficiency with which HR administration can be completed, whilst maintaining a high-quality service. Focuses on utilization of technology and AI where applicable  

• Actively stays abreast of changes to the HR/wider employment landscape, including societal and political factors, and ensures this translates to the actions of the US and global People teams  

• Proactively feeds back trends and information to the Americas Director, Head of People, US Operations Manager and other members of the Executive Team where applicable, supporting the shaping of the overall people and company strategy  

• Maintains strong relationships with external stakeholders, such as our benefits broker and legal counsel  

• Supports the development of our Boston-based People Administrator, including providing line management in due course. Maintains responsibility for the team/their line report’s satisfaction and wellbeing, workload management and enhances their development through regular contact, the provision of ongoing constructive feedback and the conduct of performance reviews 

Our standard working week is 40 hours, Monday to Friday, however we can also consider applicants looking for part-time hours of 24+ hours per week. 

Hybrid Working Policy: We believe that having face-to-face time in the office holds many benefits and is central to ensuring that the community we have created, where people have a workplace they belong to and feel part of, is never lost. At the same time, we recognise that homeworking can improve work life balance, reduce commuting times and costs, and provide the opportunity to juggle personal commitments.  

Therefore, we offer flexible working arrangements that allow our colleagues to work from home for up to half of the time, measured across a 2-week rolling period.  

Career Profile 

We offer many opportunities for personal and professional development at Costello Medical. Please click below to read firsthand accounts from our colleagues about their time with the company: https://www.costellomedical.com/careers/working-at-costello-medical/  

About Costello Medical  

Costello Medical is a rapidly growing global healthcare agency specializing in medical communications, market access and health economic and outcomes research. We work with a wide range of clients, including the industry’s most successful pharmaceutical companies. We received B Corporation Accreditation in 2022. Please click here to learn more about us, our work and our mission: https://www.costellomedical.com/   

Requirements

We are looking for a candidate who is committed to high-quality, collaborative, and excited by the prospect of using their HR expertise to support with the successful functioning of a People team in a rapidly evolving company. The successful candidate should take pride in delivering an excellent service to colleagues.  

Essential requirements for the role are: 

• At least 2-3 years’ experience in a People/HR Manager role in the US 

• Bachelor’s degree and relevant HR qualifications, such as SHRM certification  

• Strong knowledge of US employment law and HR best practice; experience in Massachusetts or New York desirable  

• Extensive experience of managing a suite of HR processes across the entire employee lifecycle  

• Proven capability in employee relations, with a track record of delivering high-quality and accurate HR advice to colleagues at varying levels of seniority  

• Demonstrable experience of leading and managing HR projects, including mapping out project plans, timelines and resource, and successfully executing all steps through to completion. Exercises high levels of autonomy whilst recognising the need to collaborate at appropriate timepoints with key stakeholders 

• Collaborative style of working and highly communicative with key stakeholders and managers 

• Excellent written communication skills and numerical/financial literacy   

• Courage to challenge, speak up when necessary and influence others, always carefully considering how best to protect the needs of the company  

Benefits

Why Join Costello Medical as a People Manager  

• Significant scope to shape our future People operations in the region. Our US operations are relatively new and growing quickly, presenting unique opportunities for professional growth. We are onboarding multiple new hires across various roles every month, offering a dynamic and evolving work environment. This is the perfect time to join and contribute to shaping the future of our operations 

• Opportunity to gain international exposure to HR operations outside of the US 

What We Offer  

Alongside our award-winning company culture, where every team member is celebrated, respected, and has their voice heard, we are proud to offer a comprehensive benefits package which includes: 

• A starting salary of $83,000 - $85,000 per annum, depending on your previous experience, as well as a discretionary profit share bonus paid twice per year. Please note that we have established salary bands that ensures a fair and consistent approach for all applicants, eliminating the need for individual negotiations 

• 23 days’ vacation leave increasing by 1 day each year to a maximum of 27 days. 6 public holidays plus 1 floating vacation day to use on a holiday of your choosing  

• Flexible working hours and the chance to work from home for up to half of your working time 

• Private medical insurance with a company contribution, as well as dental and vision cover, and life insurance 

• Retirement savings via a 401k plan with up to a 5% employer match  

• Paid funding for external education, and study leave  

• Paid and unpaid sabbaticals based on length of service  

• Regular company-funded social activities  

Please click here to learn about our full reward package and the other benefits of working for Costello Medical: https://www.costellomedical.com/careers/benefits-package-in-the-uk/  

The Application Process 

You are required to submit your resume and a cover letter via our online application form by January 18, 2026. In your cover letter, you must explain why you think you would be suited to the role and why you would like to join Costello Medical, with examples to support both. Your resume should clearly state the dates of all qualifications and grades achieved where applicable. 

Then, our recruitment process includes an assessment and interview. Please note that the successful candidate may be required to undergo security/background checks, and any employment offer will be conditional on the results of these. Our standard recruitment process lasts around 1 month however, this can be adapted if necessary.  

As an equal opportunity employer, we are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workforce and, throughout the recruitment process, there are a number of reasonable adjustments we can provide. Please click here to learn more. 

Please note that, whilst we embrace AI to innovate and improve processes, your role may involve confidential data that cannot be uploaded to AI. Therefore, it is important for us to assess your own skills and abilities, so we recommend that you do not rely solely on this technology to generate any application materials. 

Visa Sponsorship 

We welcome applications from international candidates, but we cannot provide visa sponsorship for working visas. Therefore, you must have the right to work in the US independently from the company. However, we do consider those on a temporary visas.