Your Role at Baxter
The Sr. Manager, R&D Planning & Operations is a key business partner to the Head of R&D, responsible for driving operational performance, portfolio governance, financial planning, and execution across the R&D organization. This role ensures strategic priorities are translated into actionable operating plans, investment decisions, resource allocation strategies, and measurable business outcomes.
Serving as the central point of coordination between R&D, Finance, Quality, Regulatory, Operations, and Commercial teams, this leader drives accountability, improves decision-making, and enables efficient portfolio execution in a complex, matrixed environment.
What You'll Be Doing
Portfolio & Business Operations
- Lead planning and execution of key R&D priorities, portfolio initiatives, and organizational objectives.
- Support portfolio governance, investment reviews, and prioritization decisions to optimize resources and business results.
- Develop executive-level analyses, dashboards, and recommendations to support leadership decision-making.
- Monitor portfolio performance, identify risks and resource gaps, and drive corrective actions.
Financial Planning & Resource Management
- Partner with Finance and R&D leaders to manage budgets, headcount planning, forecasting, and investment allocation.
- Analyze financial, operational, and portfolio data to support resource and investment decisions.
- Develop business cases and scenario analyses to support strategic planning and prioritization.
- Drive financial discipline and transparency across the R&D organization.
Operational Excellence
- Establish and improve operating processes, governance frameworks, KPIs, and reporting mechanisms.
- Lead initiatives focused on improving productivity, resource utilization, decision quality, and delivery performance.
- Implement scalable tools and management routines that improve organizational effectiveness.
- Support organizational change initiatives and adoption of new operating models.
Leadership & Cross-Functional Support
- Manage the R&D leadership team's operating cadence, including business reviews, governance meetings, action tracking, and executive communications.
- Partner across Finance, Regulatory, Quality, Operations, HR, and Commercial teams to ensure alignment on priorities and execution.
- Facilitate cross-functional decision-making, issue resolution, and accountability for key deliverables.
- Prepare leadership communications, presentations, and business updates for senior executives.
What You'll Bring
- Experience leading complex business operations, portfolio management, finance, PMO, strategy, or transformation initiatives.
- Strong financial and business acumen with the ability to connect investments, resources, risks, and business outcomes.
- Proven ability to influence senior leaders and drive execution across matrixed organizations.
- Strong analytical skills with experience synthesizing operational and financial data into actionable recommendations.
- Experience establishing governance processes, performance metrics, and operating rhythms.
- Exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills.
Education & Experience
- Bachelor's degree in Finance, Business, Engineering, Management, or related field required.
- MBA or advanced degree preferred.
- 10+ years of experience in Finance, Strategy, PMO, Operations, Business Operations, Portfolio Management, Product Development, or related functions.
- 15+ years of experience may be considered for an Associate Director level role.
Baxter is committed to supporting the needs for flexibility in the workplace. We do so through our flexible workplace policy which includes a required minimum number of days a week onsite. This policy provides the benefits of connecting and collaborating in-person in support of our Mission. The flexible workplace policy is subject to local laws and legal requirements. At its discretion, Baxter may decide to adjust, suspend, or discontinue as business needs change.
We understand compensation is an important factor as you consider the next step in your career. At Baxter, we are committed to equitable pay for all employees, and we strive to be more transparent with our pay practices. The estimated base salary for this position is $152,000 to $209,000 annually. The estimated range is meant to reflect an anticipated salary range for the position. We may pay more or less than of the anticipated range based upon market data and other factors, all of which are subject to change. Individual pay is based on upon location, skills and expertise, experience, and other relevant factors. This position may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses. For questions about this, our pay philosophy, and available benefits, please speak to the recruiter if you decide to apply and are selected for an interview.
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US Benefits at Baxter (except for Puerto Rico)
This is where your well-being matters. Baxter offers comprehensive compensation and benefits packages for eligible roles. Our health and well-being benefits include medical and dental coverage that start on day one, as well as insurance coverage for basic life, accident, short-term and long-term disability, and business travel accident insurance. Financial and retirement benefits include the Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP), with the ability to purchase company stock at a discount, and the 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan (RSP), with options for employee contributions and company matching. We also offer Flexible Spending Accounts, educational assistance programs, and time-off benefits such as paid holidays, paid time off ranging from 20 to 35 days based on length of service, family and medical leaves of absence, and paid parental leave. Additional benefits include commuting benefits, the Employee Discount Program, the Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and childcare benefits. Join us and enjoy the competitive compensation and benefits we offer to our employees. For additional information regarding Baxter US Benefits, please speak with your recruiter or visit our Benefits site:
