Director, Financial Planning & Analysis

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Who We Are

The Gladstone Institutes is a leading independent, not-for-profit research organization dedicated to improving human health through groundbreaking biomedical research and education. Our work spans neuroscience, cardiovascular biology, immunology, and stem cell biology, with a strong emphasis on understanding and treating disease. With approximately 600 team members, including world-renowned scientists and biomedical leaders, Gladstone fosters a collaborative and innovative environment. Located at the Mission Bay Campus in a state-of-the-art facility, we offer competitive salaries, comprehensive benefits, and the resources to empower individuals to maximize their potential and make a meaningful impact on global health.

About The Role

Gladstone is seeking a Director of Financial Planning & Analysis to serve as a senior financial leader and strategic thought partner to the Head of Finance and institute leadership. This role is central to Gladstone’s ability to plan sustainably, invest strategically, and support world-class scientific research.

The Director of FP&A operates with a high degree of enthusiasm, independence and influence, functioning as the primary architect of Gladstone’s financial forecasts, models, and long-range planning. This role focuses on strategic financial planning, modeling, and analysis that support executive decision-making and long-term sustainability. The position plays a central role in integrating financial insights across research funding, institutional investments, and long-term scientific initiatives.

The Director will also leverage modern analytical tools, including AI-assisted financial modeling and data analysis, to enhance forecasting accuracy, identify emerging financial patterns, and improve the speed and quality of financial insights available to leadership.

This is an ideal opportunity for an energetic, highly analytical, relationship oriented, proactive professional who enjoys anticipating leadership needs, improving how organizations understand their financial future, working and partnering across the administration, leveraging advanced analytical technologies, and shaping strategy in a mission-driven research environment.

What You Will Do

Strategic Financial Leadership

• Serve as the primary strategic finance partner to the Vice President, Finance and institute leadership, provide insight, judgment, and make data-driven recommendations that inform institutional strategy and decision-making.

• Lead annual budgeting, rolling forecasts, and multi-year financial planning, including scenario modeling and sensitivity analyses.

• Develop and maintain institution-wide financial models to support strategic decision-making and long-term sustainability planning.

• Explore and implement AI-enabled financial modeling, forecasting, and scenario analysis tools to strengthen institutional planning and decision support.

Analysis, Modeling, and Decision Support

• Analyze financial performance, trends, and variances; translate complex data into clear narratives and actionable recommendations for senior leadership.

• Proactively identify financial risks, structural challenges, cost-containment opportunities, and efficiency improvements, bringing ideas forward independently.

• Support institutional planning related to staffing, compensation, grant portfolios, space planning, and major scientific initiatives.

• Partner with leadership on trade-off analyses, growth scenarios, and long-term financial implications of strategic choices.

• Leverage AI-assisted data exploration and predictive analytics to identify emerging trends, improve forecasting accuracy, and accelerate financial insight generation.

Institutional Partnership & Communication

• Prepare and present high-quality financial materials for executive leadership, committees, and other stakeholders.

• Build trusted relationships with scientific and administrative leaders, serving as a credible, approachable advisor on financial matters.

• Partner closely with the Controller and broader finance team to ensure alignment between financial planning, reporting, and institutional policies.

• Partner closely with the Sponsored Programs and Research Compliance team to support financial planning related to grant funding, indirect cost recovery, compliance requirements, and the financial implications of evolving research funding strategies.

Systems & Continuous Improvement

• Drive continuous improvement of financial models, assumptions, dashboards, and internal planning processes, including the adoption of modern analytics tools that improve forecasting accuracy and decision support.

• Identify opportunities to improve data quality, transparency, and usability for decision-makers.

• Mentor and support junior finance staff as appropriate, modeling analytical rigor, curiosity, and collaborative problem-solving.

What You Will Need

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or a related field; advanced degree or CPA strongly preferred.

• 8+ years of progressive experience in financial analysis, FP&A, budgeting, or strategic finance; experience in a research, academic, healthcare, or nonprofit environment strongly preferred.

• Demonstrated ability to lead complex financial modeling, forecasting, and scenario analysis for senior decision-makers.

• Advanced Excel skills and experience working with financial systems; Workday or similar ERP experience a plus.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain financial concepts to non-financial audiences.

• Proven ability to operate independently, exercise sound judgment, and influence without formal authority.

Who You Are

• Strategic partner: You see finance not simply as reporting, but as a core partner in shaping institutional strategy and enabling thoughtful leadership decisions.

• Enthusiastic and engaged: You bring energy to your work and are genuinely interested in how financial insight can strengthen the organization.

• Highly proactive: You anticipate questions, identify issues early, and bring well-reasoned solutions forward.

• Strategic and forward-looking: You think in multi-year horizons and understand how financial decisions connect to mission, sustainability, and impact.

• Analytically rigorous: You enjoy building models, testing assumptions, and strengthening the quality of decision-making through data and analysis.

• Technology-curious: You actively explore new analytical tools—including AI-enabled approaches—to improve insight generation and organizational planning.

• Trusted and credible: You build confidence quickly and are comfortable advising senior leaders.

• Collaborative and approachable: You value strong partnerships across disciplines and functions.

• Detail-oriented yet adaptable: You manage complexity well while adjusting to evolving priorities.

***Please include CV and Cover Letter (required)

Salary Range:

$180K-$240K

Gladstone Perks & Benefits

• People–work with talented, committed, and supportive teammates within an organization that values each member of its community.

• A meaningful place to grow and learn–whether it’s your professional skills or scientific knowledge, we have the resources and environment to advance either so you can better support Gladstone’s mission to drive a new era of discovery in disease-oriented science and to mentor tomorrow’s leaders in an inspiring and excellent environment.

• Healthy work/life balance–you are highly engaged and productive at work because you can have time to recharge and enjoy a vibrant life outside of work.

• Compensation–competitive salary. Title and salary will be commensurate with education and experience.

• Excellent benefits–generous medical, dental, vision, retirement plan, paid vacation, commuter benefits, access to free shuttle transportation.

​Gladstone is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, medical condition, physical or mental disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other non-job related characteristic. We make all employment decisions so as to further this principle of equal employment.