Genentech spirit dead at Hillsboro - Anonymous employee Genentech Employee Review

1.0
Mar 16, 2015
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great-ish pay and benefits...that's about it.

Cons

1. If you are at Genentech Hillsboro or other remote site, don't expect to go anywhere. No vertical or horizontal mobility. Relocation has been removed so chances of moving to South San Francisco is zero to none. 2. Leadership Team detached from people in line functions. HR is non-existent in Hillsboro site. 3. Too much bureaucracy. Decisions take forever to be made. 4. Not a lot of promotion from within. External hires are given priority rather than growing talent from within.

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Pros

Great culture and work environment.

Cons

PhD is necessary oftentimes for advancement.

3.0
May 7, 2026
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Pros

Genentech's origin story and mission are genuinely inspiring — few companies can point to such a meaningful historical arc in medicine. Patient engagement is taken seriously and feels authentic, not performative. The campus is beautiful and the culture has real warmth.

Cons

DDA is operating with significant gaps. First, the foundational data infrastructure is not mature enough to support the ambitions being set for the team. Second, the measurement culture has gotten ahead of the methodology, and no one in a position of authority seems to be asking hard questions about whether the numbers actually mean what they're being presented as meaning. Third, some management feel disconnected from the work itself, lacking the knowledge, hands-on experience, or relevant credentials. Individually any one of these would be manageable. Together these create an environment where it's hard to do rigorous work, rather work is performative, and be recognized for it.

3
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