Senior Director, Strategic Finance & Analysis

ABOUT US:

Scripps Research is a nonprofit biomedical institute ranked as one of the most influential in the world for its impact on innovation. We celebrated our 100-year legacy in 2024. This significant milestone marks a century of seminal discoveries in immunology, infectious diseases (such as COVID-19, flu, HIV), neuroscience, heart disease, cancer, and more. Located in La Jolla, California, the institute houses six research departments, multiple Nobel laureates, a top-ranked graduate school and a leading postdoctoral training program. Scripps Research encompasses two elite and highly innovative institutes, the Calibr-Skaggs Institute for Innovative Medicines and Scripps Research Translational Institute, which merge foundational studies in biology, chemistry and computer science with translational science to produce pioneering drugs and advances in digital and precision medicine. Together, we cultivate new scientific leaders and expand the frontiers of knowledge to deliver medical breakthroughs impacting human health around the globe. If you have a passion for making a difference, this could be your opportunity to join our transformative team.

POSITION TITLE: Senior Director, Strategic Finance & Analysis

POSITION SUMMARY:

As the Senior Director, Strategic Finance & Analysis, you will drive the financial planning, reporting, and analysis to support the mission of Scripps Research and support the development of financial strategies. This role requires an in-depth FP&A background with a demonstrated track record of building a holistic picture of financial health and providing deep insights and forecasts to inform strategic decision making for large, complex organizations.

This individual will serve as a partner to executive-level management across the Institute to enable data-driven decision-making around investments of time and resources while ensuring alignment with the Institute's strategy. The successful candidate will have the ability to build effective teams who form strong partnerships across the organization to influence both strategic decision making and tactical execution.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:

• Partners closely with the executive team and serve as a thought leader in meeting short-term financial goals, while also maintaining the foundation for long-term strategy to ensure Scripps Research's financial commitments are met - internally and externally.
• Drives annual budgeting and forecasting, and long-range financial planning for the institute, including creating comprehensive documents for both leadership and the board.
• Supports Scripps Research's leadership by maximizing opportunities in new initiatives /strategic investments, evaluating processes to drive efficiencies, and measuring outcomes.
• Identifies process gaps and implement solutions to increase transparency, speed, and automation to enable best-in-class forecasting, measurement tools and processes.
• Is responsible for all financial analyses and management reporting, forecasting and post-close
• Details of established essential functions for this position will be addressed/discussed during the interview process.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor's degree in finance or similar field
• Ten or more years of experience, preferably in the life sciences or academic / research institutions, with strong analytic skills and a track record of growing and managing organizations in fast-paced, fluid environments.
• Understanding of nonprofit accounting principles preferred; experience contributing to or developing 5+ year strategic institutional plans is highly desirable.
• Grant/research accounting experience preferred.
• Ability to understand complex business drivers, develop insights utilizing a data-driven approach and communicate succinctly to a range of different audiences (department heads to executives and the Board of Directors).
• Adept in ambiguous situations, flexible and comfortable making decisions using available data points that can be limited and/or imperfect.
• Adaptable to changing priorities while effectively managing multiple commitments, at times on tight deadlines.
• Strategic mindset coupled with the ability and willingness to roll up sleeves where necessary and desire to constantly improve the status quo.
• Experience building and managing highly collaborative and effective FP&A teams supporting multiple organizations / business units.
• Knowledge spearheading organizational and/or process transformation.
• Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills with proven experience in cultivating cross-collaborative working relationships across an organization and ability to influence at all levels.
• Prior experience building and developing high performing, diverse teams, with a commitment to a culture of collaboration, performance, transparency and integrity.
• While subject to change based on business needs, this is an on-campus position requiring a minimum of 4 days per week working onsite from our La Jolla campus, with flexibility to work 1 day per week remotely from home.

COMPENSATION:

The expected hiring range for this position is $210,000 to $230,000/annually, commensurate with experience. Consideration will be given to experience that exceeds the listed requirements.

COMPREHENSIVE BENEFITS INCLUDE:

• Employer Contributed Retirement Plan - Depending on eligibility, employees receive an employer contributed retirement plan (no employee contribution required) and the option to contribute to a 403(b) (which is similar to a 401(k) using your own pre or post-tax dollars)
• Full Suite of Health and Welfare plans including three medical plan options (including an HSA available option), dental, vision, life insurance, disability, EAP and more
• Access to Flexible Spending Accounts (Medical/Dependent Care)
• Competitive vacation and sick leave policies
• Free, on-site parking

The above statements describe the level of work performed and expected in general terms. The statements are not intended to list all the responsibilities, duties and/or skills required of employees so classified, and the content herein is subject to change due to the business needs of Scripps Research, with or without notice. Furthermore, nothing in this job description shall be interpreted to be in conflict with or to eliminate or modify in any way the employment-at-will status of Scripps Research staff.

EEO Statement:

The Scripps Research Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We promote diversity of thought, culture, and background in the fields of science. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristic or status.