VP, Financial Planning & Analysis

The Vice President, Financial Planning & Analysis is responsible for leading and managing the Company's financial planning and analysis and procurement and outsourcing functions.

Provides partnership and support to the various functions across the organization, engaging directly with senior management to understand the drivers of the business and use that information to drive critical strategic decisions.

Essential duties and Responsibilities

• Leads the annual budgeting process.
• Manages and oversees the company forecast model.
• Oversees quarterly and monthly management reporting, including financial packages used internally and for the Board.
• Oversees detailed key models including clinical trials, manufacturing, staffing and commercialization.
• Performs or oversees the financial analysis of potential financing, partnering and other business transactions to facilitate decision making and execution.
• Leads the FP&A team to partner with stakeholders to promote analytical excellence and financial rigor.
• Informs leadership of any observations and provides insightful suggestions for improvement proactively.
• Identifies and evaluates key issues and contributes to strategy for major functional areas.
• Leads strategic initiatives to identify, evaluate, and realize operational efficiencies and performance improvements.
• Approves cash transfers and disbursements.

Procurement, Outsourcing and Vendor Management

• Leads negotiation of significant CRO and CMO contractual terms with business partners.
• Develop and own the sourcing and contracting process for Nektar’s R&D operations, including legal review, vendor financial management and invoice review.
• Identifies, selects, engages and manages third-party vendors with SME’s.
• Facilitates cross-functional requirement gathering to define scope of outsourced services and SME contract review, ensuring contracts align with internal expectations for CRO and CMO agreements.
• Project manages the procurement and contracting process for certain other functions, including IT.
• Participates in vendor governance committees.
• Owns the company’s standard operating procedure (SOP) for reviewing, drafting, approval, signing and administration of contracts together with the Legal Department.
• Ensures process, systems and documentation is compliant with Nektar’s policies and procedures.
• Oversees clinical site contracting activities.

Leadership & Team Development

• Builds and leads a high‑performing FP&A and procurement organization.
• Mentors and develops team members, currently in a remote structure.
• Fosters a culture of data‑driven decision making.
• Collaborates effectively across finance, R&D, operations, procurement, executive leadership teams and eventually sales and marketing.
• Provides guidance to senior managers in various areas, groups, and/or operations.
• Develops and executes division and/or organizational policies and oversees their implementation.
• Ensures a positive work environment focused on continuous improvement to meet the growing demands of the complex, global pipeline of clinical and other development activities and eventually commercialization.
• Bachelor’s degree in a finance related discipline is required. MBA is highly preferred. Equivalent experience may be accepted.
• A minimum of 15 years previous experience, including experience in a clinical‑stage biotech or pharmaceutical industry, is required; experience with commercialization is a plus.
• Thorough understanding of financial systems and infrastructure.
• Demonstrated understanding of financial statement analysis techniques, which may include financial ratio analysis, industry benchmarks, company comparisons, etc.
• Exceptional financial modeling and analytical skills.
• Expertise in budgeting and forecasting.
• Tackles challenging finance issues to help craft business strategy.
• Leads by example and models collaborative behavior by soliciting opinions and is also willing to make key decisions and is effective in getting the team behind the decisions.
• Must have a demonstrated ability to solve problems with innovative solutions along with strong organizational skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills are required.
• Must have extensive experience working with senior management.
• Experience conducting formal presentations to senior management and key opinion leaders is required.
• Must be a demonstrated self‑starter and team player with strong interpersonal skills.
• Successful track record of hiring, training, exceptional people and motivating teams to the highest level of performance is required.

Additional Information

Nektar currently anticipates the base salary for the Vice President, Financial Planning and Analysis to range from $300,000 to $375,000 for candidates in the Bay Area and will depend, in part, on successful candidate's location and qualifications for the role, including education and experience. This position will also be eligible for an annual performance bonus in accordance with the terms of the applicable plan (depending, in part, on company and individual performance and at the Company’s discretion on an individual basis.) The compensation described above is subject to change and could be higher or lower than the range described based on the market survey data.

Qualifying employees are eligible to participate in benefit programs such as:

• Health Insurance (Medical/Dental/Vision)
• Disability Insurance
• Holiday Pay
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• 401(k) Match
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan
• Wellness Programs
• Parental Leave Benefits (in accordance with the terms of applicable plans)

For general information on company benefits, please go to

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against applicants due to race, ethnicity, gender, veteran status, or on the basis of disability or any other federal, state or local protected class. Nektar Therapeutics will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in the manner proscribed by the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance.