Position Summary:The Associate Director of R&D Portfolio Operations & Insights will drive the design, standardization, and continuous improvement of portfolio management processes across the R&D organization.
This role is responsible for enabling integrated planning, improving predictability, and driving portfolio transparency through scalable PMO frameworks, data infrastructure, analytics, and reporting - including robust financial modeling, budget governance, and investment performance tracking. This individual will serve as a strategic operations partner to R&D, Finance, and PMO Leadership, ensuring there is a single-source of truth to enable portfolio insights and decisions.
Key Responsibilities:Portfolio Governance & PMO Standardization- Design and implement standardized PMO processes, tools, and governance frameworks across R&D.
- Establish integrated planning processes that connect strategy, resource planning, timelines, and execution milestones.
- Drive adoption of best practices for stage-gate governance, risk management, and cross-functional alignment.
- Lead continuous improvement initiatives to enhance operational rigor, predictability, and accountability.
Budget Governance & Financial Modeling- Establish phase-appropriate budget frameworks for projects at each stage-gate, defining level of estimate rigor
- Define and maintain a standardized process for project budget creation, baseline-setting, and adjustment ensuring consistency in how budgets are structured and tracked across the portfolio
- Implement mechanisms to measure and report budget adherence at the project level, including variance analysis, earned value metrics, and escalation thresholds for material deviations
- Partners with Finance to align on capitalization and expense treatment, ensure accurate project cost coding and support close and accrual processes
- Support business case development by providing standardized templates NPV/ IRR modeling, and scenario analysis
Portfolio Management Systems & Data Infrastructure- Own and evolve the R&D portfolio management database, ensuring data accuracy, integrity, and usability.
- Define data standards, KPIs, and portfolio health metrics including financial KPIs such as cost-to-market, forecast accuracy, and budget accuracy.
- Lead vision for automated dashboards and trending analyses to provide real-time insights to leadership.
- Enable scalable reporting capabilities through tools and systems optimization.
Portfolio Insights, Prioritization & Reporting- Create portfolio views to support investment decisions, resource allocation, and strategic trade-offs.
- Work with PMO portfolio leads to develop executive-ready reporting packages (monthly/quarterly) highlighting progress, risks, financial performance and trends.
- Translate complex data into clear, actionable insights for senior stakeholders.
QUALIFICATIONS:- Bachelor's degree in Biology or equivalent. MS or PhD in Biological Sciences preferred.
- Minimum of 10 years of program management experience in biotech space and educational background in molecular biology or genetics testing.
- Experience as FP&A or Finance Manager supporting Engineering or Product organizations desirable.
- Certification or formal training in Program or Project Management and experience using resource management tools is a big plus.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:- Strong knowledge of creative workflows, project management tools and processes.
- Experience compiling GANTT charts and project plans.
- Experience with product development.
- Familiar with design control is a plus.
- Proficiency in financial modeling, budget management, and portfolio financial analysis; experience with NPV, cost-to-market, and forecast accuracy methodologies.
- Comfort working with large datasets and financial systems; experience with portfolio management platforms (e.g., Planisware, Smartsheet, Oracle, SAP) and BI tools (e.g. Tableau, Power BI) is a plus.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to establish and build productive relationships.
- Excellent communication within the project teams as well as with diverse stakeholders, including top level management.
- Excellent organization and time management/multi-tasking skills (comfortable in an ambiguous and fast-paced environment, operating at both strategic and tactical levels).
Compensation & Total Rewards This range reflects a good-faith estimate of the base pay we reasonably expect to offer at the time of hire. Final compensation will vary based on experience, qualifications, and internal equity considerations.
This position is also eligible for additional compensation and benefits through Natera's robust Total Rewards program, including:
- Annual performance incentive bonus
- Long-term equity awards
- Comprehensive health benefits (medical, dental, vision)
- 401(k) with company match
- Generous paid time off and company holidays
- Additional wellness and work-life benefits
Compensation Range
$155,700-$200,000 USD
