Job Details

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, CARB-X (REMOTE - WORLDWIDE)

Position Number: 6577219
Location: Boston, MA
Position Type: Business and Financial Management

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, CARB-X (REMOTE - WORLDWIDE)

Job Description
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, CARB-X (REMOTE - WORLDWIDE)

Category
Charles River Campus --> Professional
Job Location
BOSTON, MA, United States
Tracking Code
25500624120917
Posted Date
9/17/2025
Salary Grade
Grade 52
Position Type
Full-Time/Regular

CARB-X has an exciting opportunity for a talented individual to join our team in the role of Chief Financial Officer. Our organization is restoring the global R&D pipeline for antibacterials, preventatives, and diagnostics, so that no one should die from a bacterial infection. Six G7 governments and three premier foundations support our global work, committing approximately $500M over the next 7 years. Since inception, we have supported over 100 programs, across more than a dozen countries.

Strategic thinking, communication, and collaboration are key requirements for this CFO role. The strategy for financial health and sustainability will be most important, but the CFO should also comfortably collaborate on strategy setting with colleagues across the organization. The CFO must communicate in a clear, compelling way to senior stakeholders inside and outside the organization about our financial status and strategy. The role may sometimes require effective negotiations.

The CFO will be a member of the CARB-X Executive Team, along with the Executive Director, the Chief of R&D, the COO, and the Chief of External Affairs. The position is virtual and need not be in Boston but requires the ability to work in US and European time zones.

The CFO will oversee a team that manages the operational aspects of finances and grant administration. They will ensure that all aspects of CARB-X finances and grant award management are managed according to sponsor and BU guidelines.

The following are the essential functions for this role.

Financial strategy, budget development and resource management:

Create dynamic medium-term (2-year) and long-term (5-year) financial resource plans with portfolio modeling to contribute to well-informed investment decisions by the CARB-X Executive Team and CARB-X funders.
Provide related financial background and analysis for the CARB-X Investment Committee decision process.
Lead the real-time analysis of available sources and uses of funds compared to actual and potential commitments (headroom) over time.
Design and implement analytical tools for financial investment scenarios, based on available funds over time.
Develop and manage the annual budget, including Core budget, leading effective processes to monitor and report on actuals and forecasts.
Drive the development of financial audit plans for the organization as mandated by CARB-X sponsors and manage the required activities related to these plans.
Identify financial risks and propose mitigation opportunities.
Lead strategic communication about finances to all internal and external stakeholders, putting resources in the context of the mission and objective of CARB-X.
Prepare reports and presentations for the Executive Team, including presentations to Joint Oversight Board meetings and the Monthly Funders Report, aligned with strategic objectives and KPIs.
Ensure financial and program reporting and compliance obligations to the funding agencies are met.
Collaborate with Executive Team colleagues on communications.
Oversee strategic development and prioritization of business systems for the FRA (Finance & Research Admin) team, including developing new functionalities and/or systems for financial use cases and enforcing standardized business processes within existing systems.

Strategic collaboration within CARB-X:

Closely collaborate with the Executive Director, the Chief of R&D, and the Chief of External Affairs to develop and modify financial strategy and models.
Oversee the financial aspects of new funding and grant continuation processes, working with the Chief of External Affairs and BU Sponsored Programs.
Collaborate with the COO to ensure seamless internal operations and effective engagement with Boston University; ensuring CARB-X Core activities are in line with the budget and with BU central financial plans, including the BU P&L for CARB-X and the internal BU-funded activities.
Contribute to organizational strategic planning and the successful achievement of objectives as a member of the CARB-X executive team.
Promote a collaborative culture across the executive team, ensuring that strategic decisions are informed by cross-functional input and that teams are equipped with the guidance, structure and tools needed to executive effectively.
Prioritize executive-level coordination, fostering cohesion and shared accountability, to drive organizational alignment, reduce silos, and enhance the overall impact of CARB-Xs mission.

Financial monitoring, oversight, and adjustments:

Determine the allocation strategy to optimize the pooled available funding, working with the Chief of External Affairs to maximize the sustainability of our finances.
Oversee funding commitments, spending and cash flow related to each Product Developers spending plan, and process adjustments to awards as determined with the Senior Associate Directors in Finance & Research Administration, and the R&D team.
Prepare and present the periodic financial reports for each sponsor, addressing any spend-down or obligation issues; present options for consideration to optimize award management.
Work with the CARB-X Finance & Research Administration team to execute and resolve any open issues for all subrecipient actions.
Work closely with BU LAW finance staff, as appropriate.
Work with the COO on implementation and maintenance of all portfolios, financial and compliance management tools.

Research administration:

Advocate for CARB-X with BU Sponsored Programs to ensure our unique requirements are accounted for.
Lead the financial and research administration aspects of the funding cycle process (i.e. review of applicant budget proposals and financial capacity, budget justifications, Clinical Research Organization (CRO) plans, etc.) to ensure compliance with BU, Sponsor(s) and Federal regulations.
Oversee all CARB-X subrecipient actions (portfolio acceleration tools, accelerators & product developers) to ensure proper compliance with BU, Federal and other Sponsors rules and regulations.
Communicate, facilitate, prioritize and problem-solve complex issues with management, staff, subrecipients, and others to ensure quality, efficient and cost-effective support services and compliance.
Oversee financial due diligence of subrecipients.
Communicate information as needed to all necessary parties.
Track any outstanding conditional items with the FRA team and problem solve to meet requirements.

Staff development and supervision:

Provide leadership to the Finance & Research Administration team, including providing guidance on finance and research administration issues and interpretation of governing regulations and requirements and university policies.
Define team member roles and responsibilities, set individual and team-wide goals and objectives, develop and implement team-building strategies, and assess and track workload volume and complexity.
Recruit and hire team members, as needed, as well as manage staff performance and professional development.
Oversee FRA staff activities such as reviewing and paying invoices, verifying expense compliance, monitoring budgets, and ensuring cost share obligations are appropriately managed.
Cultivate a work environment which fosters a commitment to the CARB-X values of excellence, integrity, humility, and collaboration.

Required Skills

Education and Experience: Bachelor's degree in a related field or equivalent/relevant experience. Master's degree preferred or equivalent/relevant experience. 8+ years of senior-level financial management in the non-profit setting required.
The position requires a strategic thinker with a strong background in financial modeling and analysis.
The ideal candidate will have experience integrating entrepreneurial thinking into a large institutional setting.
Sufficient business acumen to interpret data into business insights and to provide strategic guidance.
Familiarity with research administration is essential. Additional Capabilities and Proficiencies: Outstanding communication skills in written documents and oral communication are required. Experience in leading/managing a team and collaborating effectively with leadership.

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, natural or protective hairstyle, religion, sex, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military service, pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition, or because of marital, parental, or veteran status. We are a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.

Required Skills

Job Location: BOSTON, MA
Position Type: Full-Time/Regular
Salary Grade: Grade 52

To apply, visit https://jobs.silkroad.com/BU/External/jobs/315913