Principal Business Manager, Early Clinical Development (ECD)

Genentech; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 136,000 - 253,000; Full time

Job summary

Genentech is seeking an experienced Early Clinical Development Business Manager to advise the Leadership Team, lead strategic planning, and oversee budgets for gRED ECD. This on-site role requires 3–4 days on campus per week, with travel as needed.

The position partners with senior leaders to align priorities, drive enterprise strategy, and manage complex programs, balancing innovation with operational guardrails.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• 5–10 years in business management, cross-functional initiatives, or operations programs (clinical development experience preferred).
• Core competencies: strategic planning, project management, business process improvement, and team facilitation.

Responsibilities

• Lead short- and long-term business planning, strategy formulation, and resource allocation.
• Oversee budget oversight, forecasting, and annual planning across the department.
• Coordinate cross-functional initiatives with executive leadership and external partners.
• Structure leadership meetings with clear agendas and rigorous follow-up on actions.
• Drive talent development, engagement programs, and recognition initiatives.
• Provide strategic partnership to executives and drive enterprise priorities.

Skills

Strategic planning

Project management

Team facilitation

Communication

Change leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

The Position

We advance science so that we all have more time with the people we love.

The Early Clinical Development (ECD) Business Manager acts as a key strategic advisor to the assigned Leadership Team and Senior Leaders within gRED ECD. Reporting directly to the ECD Chief of Staff, this role leads short- and long-term business planning, strategy formulation, resource allocation, budget oversight, and execution across the department. This position requires SSF on-campus presence between 3 to 4 times a week based on business demands.

The Opportunity:

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Fosters team alignment and builds networks across functions, enterprise teams, and external partners to achieve key milestones.
• Talent & Team Engagement: Drives talent development, engagement programs, departmental workshops, and recognition initiatives to foster professional growth.
• Strategic Leadership Partnership: Serves as a thought partner to executive leadership, advising on priorities, providing constructive challenge, and driving short- and long-term enterprise strategy.
• Meeting Facilitation & Action Tracking: Structures leadership meetings with clear agendas, concise documentation, and rigorous follow-up on action items.
• Business & Financial Planning: Oversees annual planning, resource forecasting, budget allocation, and goal setting.
• Operational Strategy & Innovation: Balances innovation with guardrails, recommending operational strategies to address evolving enterprise needs.
• Complex Problem Solving: Resolves complex business challenges by mobilizing stakeholders and aligning functional goals with broader organizational priorities.
• Working Hours: Ability to work over 8 hours/day or 40 hours/week, including early morning or late-night calls, to meet business demands.
• Rapid Responsiveness: Capacity to respond promptly to emails and phone calls as business needs arise.
• Physical Capability: Ability sitting or standing for extended periods during back-to-back meetings.
• Onsite Mobility: Ability to carry up to 10 lbs of materials and travel between campus buildings for meetings and offsites.
• Travel: Ability to travel domestically and internationally as needed.

Who You Are:

• Education & Certifications: Bachelor’s degree required; project management or process improvement certifications (PMP, Six Sigma, Agile, Change Management) preferred.
• Experience: 5–10 years in business management, cross-functional initiatives, or operations programs (clinical development experience preferred).
• Core Competencies: Expertise in strategic planning, project management, business process improvement, and team facilitation.
• Problem Solving & Innovation: Proactive problem solver skilled at challenging standard processes, proposing creative solutions, and adapting to fast-changing demands.
• Communication & Relationships: Strong written, oral, and presentation skills with a proven ability to build transparent, productive cross-functional relationships.
• Change Leadership: Demonstrated ability to develop and execute change management and communication strategies across the enterprise.

Onsite presence on our South San Francisco campus is expected for at least 3 days a week.

Relocation benefits are not available for this job posting.

The expected salary range for this position based on the primary location of California is $136,100 - $252,700. Actual pay will be determined based on experience, qualifications, geographic location, and other job-related factors permitted by law. A discretionary annual bonus may be available based on individual and Company performance. This position also qualifies for the benefits detailed at the link provided below.

Benefits

#ECD

Genentech is an equal opportunity employer. It is our policy and practice to employ, promote, and otherwise treat any and all employees and applicants on the basis of merit, qualifications, and competence. The company's policy prohibits unlawful discrimination, including but not limited to, discrimination on the basis of Protected Veteran status, individuals with disabilities status, and consistent with all federal, state, or local laws.

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