R&D Portfolio & Operations Lead

Baxter; Skaneateles Falls (NY); On-site; USD 152,000 - 209,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health and dental coverage

401(k) with company match

Employee stock purchase plan (ESPP)

Job summary

Baxter is seeking a Sr. Manager, R&D Planning & Operations to drive operational performance, portfolio governance, financial planning, and execution across the R&D organization.

This role coordinates between R&D, Finance, Quality, Regulatory, Operations, and Commercial teams to translate priorities into actionable operating plans and measurable outcomes. You’ll lead planning of R&D priorities, governance, budgeting, and resource allocation, while developing executive analyses

Qualifications

• 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.
• Experience leading complex business operations, portfolio management, finance, PMO, strategy, or transformation initiatives.

Responsibilities

• 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.
• 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.
• Establish and improve operating processes, governance frameworks, KPIs, and reporting mechanisms.
• Lead initiatives focused on improving productivity, resource utilization, decision quality, and delivery performance.

Skills

Leadership

Portfolio management

Finance acumen

Influence senior leaders

Analytical skills

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Finance, Business, Engineering, Management, or related field

MBA or advanced degree preferred

Job description

Baxter is seeking a Sr. Manager, R&D Planning & Operations to drive operational performance, portfolio governance, financial planning, and execution across the R&D organization.

This role coordinates between R&D, Finance, Quality, Regulatory, Operations, and Commercial teams to translate priorities into actionable operating plans and measurable outcomes. You’ll lead planning of R&D priorities, governance, budgeting, and resource allocation, while developing executive analyses