Sr. R&D Investment Planning Manager

Job Description:

Role Overview

We are seeking an Sr. R&D Investment Planning Manager to drive financial strategy, planning, and execution across a multi-product R&D organization. This role will be closely partnered with Product Management, Engineering, Program Management, FP&A, and Sourcing to ensure disciplined investment, accurate forecasting, and clear visibility into R&D spend and ROI.

Reporting to the Sr. Manager of R&D Operations, this individual will play a critical role in shaping how R&D investments are planned, tracked, and optimized across the portfolio.

Key Responsibilities

R&D Financial Planning & Forecasting

• Partner with Product Management, Program Management, and Engineering teams to develop bottom-up spend forecasts for new and ongoing R&D programs 

• Translate technical roadmaps into financial plans, including both labor and non-labor investments 

• Maintain rolling forecasts and identify financial risks and opportunities across the R&D portfolio 

Spend Management & Cross-Functional Coordination

• Collaborate with FP&A and Sourcing to manage and track non-labor R&D spend (materials, vendors, prototyping, tooling, etc.) 

• Ensure alignment between financial plans, procurement activities, and actual spend 

• Drive accountability with program managers to track forecast vs. actuals 

R&D Investment Strategy & ROI

• Work with Product Management to develop clear “R&D investment stories” by linking program spend to expected business outcomes and ROI 

• Support prioritization decisions by providing financial insights across competing programs 

• Help leadership evaluate trade-offs across product lines and investment options 

Portfolio-Level Budget Management

• Monitor total R&D spend and proactively balance under- and over-spend across programs 

• Provide visibility into total R&D budget performance and recommend reallocation strategies 

• Support annual planning and long-range financial planning for R&D 

Process, Systems & Analytics

• Build and scale sustainable processes for R&D financial planning and tracking 

• Develop dashboards and reporting tools that provide real-time visibility into key metrics (forecast accuracy, burn rates, ROI, etc.) 

• Establish KPIs and standard reporting cadences for R&D leadership 

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Accounting, Engineering, or related field. (MBA preferred but not required)

• 10-15+ years of experience in R&D or product development with a background in launching mechanical and electrical hardware products. 

• 5+ Experience in Finance, FP&A, business operations, or program finance (preferably in a hardware or engineering-heavy environment) 

• Strong financial modeling, estimating, and forecasting skills 

• Proven ability to manage complex, multi-project budgets 

• Experience building dashboards and working with financial/analytics tools (e.g., Excel, SQL, BI tools)  

• Strong communication skills with the ability to translate between technical and financial stakeholders  

What Success Looks Like 

• Accurate and trusted R&D forecasts across all programs  

• Clear visibility into where every dollar is being spent and why  

• Strong alignment between engineering plans and financial plans  

• Leadership equipped with actionable insights for investment decisions  

• Scalable processes and systems that support a growing R&D organization 

Nextpower offers a comprehensive benefits package. We provide health care coverage, dental and vision, 401(K) participation including company matching, company paid holidays with unlimited paid time off, generous discretionary company bonuses, life and disability protection and more. Employees in certain positions may be eligible for stock compensation. All plans are in accordance with relevant plan documents. For more information on Nextpower’s benefits please view our company website at www.Nextpower.com

Pay is based on market location and may vary based on factors including experience, skills, education and other job-related reasons. The annual salary range for this position is 170,000.00 to 185,000.00 plus a commission structure based on commission calculation, such as percentage of sales or specific metrics. (Applicable to California)

At Nextpower, we are driving the global energy transition with an integrated clean energy technology platform that combines intelligent structural, electrical, and digital solutions for utility-scale power plants. Our comprehensive portfolio enables faster project delivery, higher performance, and greater reliability, helping our customers capture the full value of solar power. Our talented worldwide teams are redefining how solar power plants are designed, built, and operated every day with smart technology, data-driven insights, and advanced automation. Together, we’re building the foundation for the world’s next generation of clean energy infrastructure.

Nextpower is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.