Director, Clinical Business Operations

Nuvation Bio is a biopharmaceutical company tackling some of the greatest unmet needs in oncology by developing differentiated and novel therapeutic candidates. Our vision is to significantly change the practice of oncology by developing medicines that provide truly meaningful improvements in quality of life and survival for people with cancer.

The Director of Clinical Business Operations is responsible for the strategic and operational oversight of all financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and contract management activities across clinical development programs. This role ensures financial discipline, compliance, and efficiency in the execution of clinical trials while partnering closely with Clinical Operations, Legal, Procurement, and external vendors (e.g., CROs, SMOs, and investigative sites).

The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in clinical trial financial management, contract negotiation, and cross-functional leadership within a biotech or pharmaceutical environment.

Clinical Financial Planning & Management

• Lead the development, management, and oversight of clinical trial budgets across all phases of development.
• Partner with Clinical Operations to build accurate study-level and program-level forecasts.
• Monitor actual spend vs. budget; identify variances and provide actionable insights to leadership.
• Establish financial tracking tools and dashboards for clinical programs.
• Support long-range planning, portfolio modeling, and scenario analyses.

Contracts & Vendor Management

• Oversee the end-to-end lifecycle of clinical contracts, including MSAs, work orders, change orders, and site agreements.
• Lead negotiations with CROs, vendors, and clinical sites to ensure cost efficiency and favorable terms.
• Ensure alignment between financial assumptions and contractual obligations.
• Collaborate with Legal and Procurement to streamline contract processes and templates.
• Manage contract amendments and ensure proper documentation and audit readiness.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Act as a key business partner to Clinical Operations, Finance, Legal, and Procurement teams.
• Provide financial guidance to study teams during planning and execution phases.
• Support governance meetings, including budget reviews and investment decisions.
• Align clinical financial strategies with corporate financial goals.

Process Improvement & Systems

• Develop and implement scalable processes, SOPs, and best practices for clinical finance and contracts.
• Evaluate and optimize financial and contract management systems (e.g., CTMS, ERP, contract lifecycle tools).
• Drive automation and standardization to improve efficiency and reduce cycle times.

Compliance & Risk Management

• Ensure compliance with internal policies, financial controls, and regulatory requirements.
• Support audits (internal and external) related to clinical financials and contracts.
• Identify financial and contractual risks and implement mitigation strategies.

Leadership & Team Development

• Build, lead, and mentor a high-performing clinical finance and contracts team.
• Foster a culture of accountability, transparency, and continuous improvement.
• Provide training and guidance on financial and contract-related processes

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree with 10+ years of experience in clinical finance, clinical outsourcing, or contract management within biotech/pharma.
• A commiserate combination of education and experience may be considered.
• 5+ years of leadership or people management experience.
• Strong understanding of clinical trial processes and cost drivers across phases (Phase I–IV).

Skills & Competencies

• Deep expertise in clinical budgeting, forecasting, and financial modeling.
• Proven experience negotiating complex clinical contracts (CROs, vendors, sites).
• Strong knowledge of industry benchmarks and cost structures.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management abilities.
• High level of organization and attention to detail.

Technical Proficiency

• Experience with financial systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, NetSuite).
• Familiarity with clinical systems (e.g., CTMS, EDC platforms).
• Advanced Excel and financial modeling skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in a small-to-mid-size biotech or fast-growing environment.
• Background supporting global clinical trials.
• Experience implementing or optimizing clinical finance/contract systems.

• Problem-Solver - As an action-oriented self-starter, you’re eager to apply your expertise in diagnosing inefficiencies, determining root causes, and recommending solutions to complex challenges.
• Personable - You establish and nurture highly effective relationships with colleagues and key stakeholders that support and advance project goals and objectives.
• Credible - Thorough understanding of clinical methodologies and providing sound analytical support, you quickly establish credibility as a reliable resource.
• Emotional intelligence, curiosity, and a knack to figure out a way to build something better
• Communication - Effectively listens, conveys, and receives ideas. Maintains a consistent flow of information. A strong presenter and effective communicator with the ability to influence stakeholders.
• Accountability - Acts with a clear sense of ownership - whether the task is in their role description. Holds yourself and others accountable to execute all tasks at hand through seen and unforeseen circumstances with high quality and integrity.
• Adaptability - Can manage in an environment of ambiguity. Embraces the change of a new system, process, technology, or idea in the organization. You could reassess priorities, alter goals and take risks.

• Competitive Base Salary, Bonus, and Equity Plans
• Unlimited Vacation and 10 Sick Days Annually
• Excellent Medical, Dental, and Vision Coverage
• 401K with Company Matching
• and much more!

The base pay offered will take into account internal equity and also may vary depending on the candidate’s job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and location among other factors. Our full-time regular positions also include an annual performance-based bonus and long-term incentive units (equity) provided as part of our compensation package, in addition to a full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, depending on the level and position offered.

Disclaimer

Nuvation Bio, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer, and, in accordance with applicable federal, state, and/or local law, all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by the law.

This job description reflects the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job. Nothing restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

Note to all external Recruiters & Staffing Agencies
All of our open positions are managed by our Talent Acquisition department. Any resumes submitted through the website or directly by recruiters or staffing agencies in advance of an executed agreement with Nuvation Bio, Inc., will be considered unsolicited and the company will not be responsible for any related fees. Resumes sent directly to employees or hiring managers will also not be accepted as referrals.