Location: Remote - Thousand Oaks, CA (PST preferred)

Employment Type: Contingent Worker (Contract, W2)

Contract Length: 23 months (possible extension)

Compensation: $58/$65 per hour (based on experience)

Summary of the Role

Join a fast-paced R&D Business Operations team at a large biotech pharmaceutical leader, supporting budget planning and operational execution across several functional teams. This remote role is highly cross-functional, partnering with business, finance, and operations leads to ensure budget alignment and effective resource utilization. You will drive analytics, support annual budget planning, and provide solutions to business challenges in a dynamic environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and facilitate annual budget planning and execution for multiple R&D functions
• Analyze spending trends and resource utilization, providing actionable insights
• Partner with Strategic Planning and Operations Leads to prioritize and implement the annual budget plan
• Liaise with finance for quarterly, year-end, and ad-hoc reporting deliverables
• Guide contract management on escalated procure-to-pay issues
• Support analytics for functional and cross-functional initiatives
• Contribute to the transition of budget management processes to a global harmonized solution
• Develop and deliver clear communications to enable organizational change

Required Experience & Skills

• Proven experience in project management, business operations, or budget coordination (not limited to finance-centric roles)
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; executive presence
• Ability to work independently, self-driven, and proactive
• Demonstrated proficiency with data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau)
• Advanced skills in Excel and MS Office suite
• Experience working cross-functionally and managing multiple priorities

Preferred Qualifications

• Biotech or pharmaceutical industry experience
• Experience with financial reporting and forecasting
• General familiarity with the drug development process and R&D functions
• Proficiency in Smartsheet, MS Teams, SAP, Ariba, and Anaplan
• Strong attention to detail
• Ability to collaborate in a complex, matrixed organization and influence at all levels
• Proven ability to deliver communications that drive organizational change
• Fast learner who demonstrates initiative

Top 3 Must Have Skills

1. Demonstrated proficiency with data visualization tools

2. Executive presence with strong communication and interpersonal skills

3. Ability to work autonomously and manage projects or budgets

Day-to-Day Responsibilities

• Drive budget planning and execution activities for R&D functional areas
• Conduct analytics on spending and resource allocation
• Collaborate with business and finance partners to ensure timely and accurate deliverables
• Resolve escalated contract and procure-to-pay issues
• Support the transition to new budget planning solutions and processes

Basic Qualifications

• Master’s degree and 3 years of biotech/pharma-related business operations/financial analytics experience
• Bachelor’s degree and 5 years of biotech/pharma-related business operations/financial analytics experience

This posting is for Contingent Worker, not an FTE