Financial Business Partner Lead

Bill & Melinda Gates Medical Research Institute•Cambridge, MA

3d•$173,100 - $259,700•Onsite

About The Position

The Gates Medical Research Institute (Gates MRI) is a non-profit biopharmaceutical development organization focused on creating impactful biopharmaceutical interventions for diseases affecting the world's poorest populations. Headquartered in Cambridge, MA, the Institute aims to advance novel drug, biologics, and vaccine candidates through late-stage development and registration. It comprises experienced biopharmaceutical development professionals and offers comprehensive operational support. The Institute operates based on five core values: Urgency, Collaboration, Innovation, Rigor, and Courage. As a subsidiary of the Gates Foundation, Gates MRI partners with the foundation to achieve global health equity. This role is primarily on-site with flexible arrangements for local candidates (50% on site) and includes a competitive relocation package. Remote arrangements are not available. This position is seeking a Financial Business Partner Lead to support strategic decision-making. The role will serve as a liaison between Finance and operational teams, providing financial insights, challenging assumptions, and driving performance improvement. Reporting to the Head of Business Planning & Analysis, the individual will lead the financial aspects of several programs and act as the finance business partner for the research & development (R&D) functions. The role involves translating development strategy into financial plans, ensuring alignment between functions and program strategy, and communicating financial data to non-financial stakeholders. The Financial Business Partner Lead will drive financial accountability, develop financial analytics, and partner on long-range planning, clinical trial cost estimates, new initiative evaluations, and external partnership deals. The role also includes contributing to process development and continuous improvement within the finance and accounting team.

Requirements

10-15+ years of experience in progressive finance roles in the pharmaceutical or biotech industry.
A bachelor’s degree in business, finance, accounting or related field required.
Strong financial acumen and experience in financial analysis, business case development, budgeting, forecasting and long-range planning.
Deep understanding of drug development; from preclinical through commercialization.
Team-first mentality with strong interpersonal, communication and influencing skills.
Ability to translate financial concepts to employees at all levels and across all functions.
Comfortable communicating with senior management.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to set priorities and meet stated deadlines.
The highest level of integrity and understanding risk and reputational issues impacting an enterprise.
Self-starter and results-oriented individual who is comfortable with the ambiguity related to working in a fast-paced, development-stage biotech environment.
Strong Microsoft Excel & PowerPoint skills.

Nice To Haves

Global Health experience is a plus.
An additional degree in the biological sciences or MBA is a preferred.
Experience with Adaptive Insights & ClearTrial experience a plus.

Responsibilities

Finance business partner and thought leader to Global Product Teams (GPTs), translating development strategy and timelines into financial plans and contributing to portfolio and organizational strategy.
Finance business partner to the R&D functions, providing strong financial leadership and ensuring alignment between the functions and program strategy.
Translate financial data into clear, actionable insights for non-financial stakeholders, ensuring operational performance connects to financials for better strategic decision-making.
Drive financial accountability across GPTs and functions through reporting, analytics, and educational initiatives.
Strategic partner to the Head of Business Planning & Analysis; developing and/or enhancing meaningful financial analytics for programs and functions.
Partner with Program Teams and Functions to plan and manage the financial aspects of the long-range planning process.
Prepare clinical trial cost estimates and timelines in collaboration with the Head of Business Planning & Analysis and Global Health Strategy Finance Teams.
Provide financial evaluation of new initiatives, investments, and business cases.
Work with the Head of Business Planning & Analysis and CFO on financial models and potential partnership and collaboration deals with external third parties.
Contribute to process development and continuous improvement within the finance and accounting team.