[Hiring] Director, Clinical Business Operations @Nuvation Bio

Role Description

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).

You will be responsible for…

• 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.

Qualifications

• 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).

Requirements

• 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.

Benefits

• 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!