Senior Director, Finance, ITP Upstream

Baxter Healthcare; Deerfield (IL); Hybrid; USD 200,000 - 275,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discretionary bonuses

401(k) Retirement Savings Plan

Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)

Flexible workplace policy

Job summary

Baxter Healthcare is seeking a senior finance leader to drive upstream financial leadership across Marketing, Business Development, R&D, and Supply Chain within the Infusion Therapies & Platforms global upstream leadership team. You will partner across the value stream to drive growth, margin expansion, and free cash flow conversion, influencing major investment decisions.

The role requires 15+ years of global finance experience, strong leadership, and ability to manage complex portfolios and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting/finance/economics or related field.
• MBA, CPA, or equivalent preferred.
• 15+ years of progressive finance experience in global, matrixed organizations.

Responsibilities

• Partner with four Global VPs to drive portfolio strategy, growth, and margin expansion.
• Provide financial leadership across upstream value stream and investment decisions.
• Lead financial evaluation of portfolio strategies and ROI.
• Oversee business development financial analyses and inorganic growth opportunities.
• Govern R&D spending and prioritization and evaluate program performance.
• Lead integrated supply chain finance, capacity investments, and capital allocation decisions.
• Drive planning, forecasting, performance management, and executive reporting.
• Direct a team of 4–5 and develop leadership capabilities.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Financial leadership

Strategic planning

GAAP knowledge

Executive communication

Decision support

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance/Economics/Business Administration

MBA or CPA preferred

Tools

ERP systems

Job description

This is whereyour work makes a difference.

At Baxter, we believe every person—regardless of who they are or where they are from—deserves a chance to live a healthy life. It was our founding belief in 1931 and continues to be our guiding principle. We are redefining healthcare delivery to make a greater impact today, tomorrow, and beyond.

Our Baxter colleagues are united by our Mission to Save and Sustain Lives. Together, our community is driven by a culture of courage, trust, and collaboration. Every individual is empowered to take ownership and make a meaningful impact. We strive for efficient and effective operations, and we hold each other accountable for delivering exceptional results.

Here, you will find more than just a job—you will find purpose and pride.

Summary:

Provides overall financial leadership to the upstream finance function of an externally reported approximately $7,000,000,000 global division within Baxter's Medical Products & Therapies (MPT) segment. As a member of the Infusion Therapies & Platforms (ITP) Global Upstream Leadership Team, responsible for partnering across the value stream to drive organic and inorganic growth, profit improvement, and free cash flow conversion.

Serves as the principal finance leader supporting upstream business activities across Marketing, Business Development and Research & Development and Supply Chain. Provides financial leadership and decision support across portfolio strategy, innovation investments, new product development, business development activities, capital allocation, strategic planning, and long-term value creation. Influences decisions involving significant resource deployment across R&D, capital investments, headcount, portfolio priorities, capacity expansion, and growth initiatives impacting the long-term performance of a globally operated, externally reported business.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Strategic Business Partnership & Financial Leadership

• Partner with four Global Vice Presidents and the upstream leadership teams in Marketing, Business Development and Research & Development to drive global portfolio strategy, growth, and margin expansion. Influence strategic decisions regarding portfolio investments, resource allocation, innovation priorities, commercialization plans, and competitive positioning in support of sustainable profitable growth and long-term value creation.
• Provide financial leadership and decision support across the upstream value stream, balancing growth objectives, profitability, cash flow generation, investment requirements, and risk considerations to support achievement of divisional strategic objectives.
• Lead financial evaluation of portfolio strategies, assessing market opportunities, competitive dynamics, product lifecycle considerations, investment returns, and strategic trade-offs to optimize growth, profitability, and long-term value creation across a diverse global product portfolio.

Innovation and New Product Development

• Lead the financial evaluation of global new product launches and post-completion reviews, including the development, governance, and maintenance of new product development business cases.
• Partner with business and R&D leaders throughout the innovation lifecycle to evaluate investment requirements, commercial assumptions, market opportunities, profitability expectations, and return-on-investment outcomes associated with product development initiatives.
• Provide financial oversight and challenge to investment decisions, helping ensure resources are directed toward programs aligned with strategic growth objectives, expected financial returns, and portfolio priorities.
• Conduct post-launch performance assessments to evaluate achievement of business case assumptions and identify opportunities for improved investment outcomes and portfolio management.

Business Development & Inorganic Growth

• Finance owner of all Business Development activities related to the division; support evaluation and execution of inorganic growth opportunities, including licensing and partnership activities – evaluates for strategic fit, investment requirements, risk, and expected returns.
• Lead financial analyses associated with business development opportunities, including valuation assessments, financial modeling, scenario analysis, investment return evaluation, risk assessment, and strategic decision support.
• Partner with business leaders to evaluate strategic partnerships, licensing opportunities, and other growth initiatives, providing independent financial assessment of risks, opportunities, resource requirements, and expected value creation.
• Lead transaction evaluation and execution activities through development of robust financial business cases and recommendations for executive decision‑making.

Research and Development

• Partner with the Research & Development team to align investment priorities, evaluate resource requirements, and drive rigorous program execution, cost management, and timeline delivery across the innovation portfolio.
• Lead financial governance of R&D spending and investment prioritization, balancing innovation objectives, market opportunities, strategic alignment, resource constraints, and expected returns.
• Lead evaluation of program progress, funding requirements, development risks, and potential financial impacts throughout the innovation portfolio.

Integrated Supply Chain and Operations

• Work closely with Integrated Supply Chain on global demand planning, procurement and allocation decisions, and strategic capacity investment decisions to optimize service, profitability, working capital, and capital investment outcomes.
• Provide financial leadership and drive decisions related to manufacturing capacity expansion, supply planning, sourcing decisions, inventory strategies, allocation priorities, and operational investment opportunities, evaluating trade‑offs impacting growth, profitability, customer service, and capital efficiency.
• Evaluate financial implications of supply chain decisions and strategic investments to ensure alignment with growth objectives, operating performance targets, and capital efficiency goals.

Capital Allocation and Investment Governance

• Recommend capital allocations and investment decisions ranging from Capex, headcount, R&D spend, and other key allocations to ensure profitable growth of the business.
• Evaluate competing investment opportunities across commercial, innovation, operational, and organizational initiatives, balancing strategic priorities, expected returns, resource constraints, and risk considerations to optimize resource allocation and maximize long‑term shareholder value.
• Assess investment alternatives through rigorous financial analysis, risk evaluation, scenario modeling, and return‑on‑investment considerations to support executive decision‑making.

Planning, Forecasting and Performance Management

• Lead development of annual operating plans and long-range plans (LRP), aligned to divisional strategy and reflecting growth opportunities, competitive dynamics, innovation priorities, business development initiatives, and marketplace changes.
• Drive integrated business planning processes across multiple functions to ensure alignment between strategic objectives, resource requirements, financial commitments, and performance expectations.
• Provide executive leadership with forward‑looking analysis of business performance, investment requirements, risks, and strategic alternatives to support decision‑making and achievement of divisional objectives.

Financial Reporting and Business Performance Analysis

• Drive performance improvement through identification of opportunities, analysis of performance gaps, and development of corrective action recommendations where necessary.

People Leadership

• Manage a team of 4-5 individuals and provide proactive leadership regarding employee development, succession planning, coaching, mentorship, and capability building.
• Foster a high‑performance culture focused on accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement, business partnership, and talent development.
• Lead through influence across cross‑functional and matrixed teams to drive alignment, decision‑making, and execution of key strategic initiatives beyond direct reporting relationships.

Qualifications:

Key Finance Capabilities

• Strong business acumen and judgment, with deep understanding of relevant business environments, market dynamics, competitive positioning, and value creation drivers.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively influence and drive consensus among diverse senior stakeholders while managing multiple competing priorities in a highly matrixed global organization.
• Strong negotiation, interpersonal communication, collaboration, executive presentation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Demonstrated ability to translate complex financial analyses into actionable business recommendations supporting strategic and operational decision‑making.
• Knowledge of GAAP accounting principles, tax considerations, financial governance, and legal accounting requirements.
• Skilled at assembling and managing both ongoing staff as well as cross‑functional teams as required.
• Decisive leadership with ability to generate ideas, develop alternatives, rapidly determine the best course of action, and drive implementation and accountability.
• Demonstrated capability evaluating significant strategic investments, business development activities, innovation portfolios, and resource allocation decisions.

Key Finance Competencies

• Business Performance Management
• Financial Analysis and Decision Support
• Business Process and Data Management
• Risk Management
• Strategic Planning and Resource Allocation
• Portfolio Investment Analysis
• Capital Allocation and Investment Evaluation
• Business Development Finance Support
• Executive Influence and Business Partnership

Education and/or Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics, Business Administration, or related field (or country equivalent).
• MBA, CPA, or equivalent advanced business or finance qualification preferred.
• Demonstrated mastery of key finance competencies and qualifications.
• 15+ years of progressive finance experience, including leadership responsibilities within complex, global, and matrixed organizations.
• Experience supporting strategic planning, business development, innovation investments, portfolio management, capital allocation, and executive decision‑making processes preferred.

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 $200,000 - $275,000 annually. The estimated range is meant to reflect an anticipated salary range for the position. We may pay more or less than the anticipated range based upon market data and other factors, all of which are subject to change. Individual pay is based on location, skills and expertise, experience, and other relevant factors. This position may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses, commission, and/or long‑term incentive.

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.

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: Benefits | Baxter

Equal Employment Opportunity

Baxter is an equal opportunity employer. Baxter evaluates qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, protected veteran status, disability/handicap status or any other legally protected characteristic.

Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal

Reasonable Accommodations Baxter is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities globally. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or interview process, please click on the link here and let us know the nature of your request along with your contact information.