What are the responsibilities and job description for the Associate Director, Tech Ops Business Operations position at Crinetics Pharmaceuticals?
Crinetics is a pharmaceutical company based in San Diego, California, developing much-needed therapies for people with endocrine diseases and endocrine-related tumors. We were founded by a dedicated team of scientists with the simple belief that better therapies developed from rigorous innovation can lead to better lives. Our work continues to make a real difference in the lives of patients. We have a prolific discovery engine and a robust preclinical and clinical development pipeline. We are driven by science with a patient-centric and team-oriented culture. Crinetics is known for its inclusive workplace culture. We are also a dog-friendly workplace. This is an exciting time to join Crinetics as we shape our organization into the world’s premier fully integrated endocrine company from discovery to patients. Join our team as we transform the lives of others.
Position Summary
The Associate Director, Technical Operations Business Operations, is a strategic operations and finance leader responsible for end-to-end ownership of the Technical Operations budget planning, forecasting, and reporting processes. This role partners closely with Technical Operations leadership, Finance, and cross-functional stakeholders to ensure accurate financial planning, disciplined spend management, and transparent reporting across all Tech Ops functions. In addition to financial stewardship, this role leads Technical Operations headcount (HC) and resource planning, ensuring alignment with operational priorities, capacity needs, and long-range plans. The Associate Director plays a critical role in enabling data-driven decision-making and ensuring financial rigor as programs scale.
Essential Job Functions And Responsibilities
These may include but are not limited to:
Technical Operations Budget Ownership
Education and Experience:
Physical Activities: On a continuous basis, sit at desk for a long period of time; intermittently answer telephone and write or use a keyboard to communicate through written means. Some walking and lifting up to 25 lbs. may be required. The noise level in the work environment is typically low to moderate. The physical demands described above are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions and responsibilities of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions and responsibilities.
Laboratory Activities (if applicable): Biology and chemical laboratory environment experience needed. Environmental health and safety requirements also apply.
Travel
You may be required to travel for up to 5% of your time.
Equal Opportunity Employer
Crinetics is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and employment applicants without regard to unlawful considerations of sex, sexual orientation, gender (including gender identity and/or expression), pregnancy, race, color, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, religion or similar philosophical beliefs, disability, marital and civil union status, age, genetic information, veteran status or any personal attribute or characteristic that is protected by applicable local, state or federal laws.
Total Compensation
The final salary offered to a successful candidate will be dependent on several factors that may include but are not limited to the type and length of experience and education. Crinetics Pharmaceuticals is a multi-state employer, and this salary range may not reflect positions that work in other states. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range during the hiring process.
Salary Range
The salary range for this position is: $154,000 - $192,000.
In addition to your base pay, our total rewards program consists of a discretionary annual target bonus, stock options, ESPP, and 401k match. We also provide top-notch health insurance plans for employees (and their families) to include medical, dental, vision and basic life insurance, 20 days of PTO, 10 paid holidays, and a winter company shutdown.
Position Summary
The Associate Director, Technical Operations Business Operations, is a strategic operations and finance leader responsible for end-to-end ownership of the Technical Operations budget planning, forecasting, and reporting processes. This role partners closely with Technical Operations leadership, Finance, and cross-functional stakeholders to ensure accurate financial planning, disciplined spend management, and transparent reporting across all Tech Ops functions. In addition to financial stewardship, this role leads Technical Operations headcount (HC) and resource planning, ensuring alignment with operational priorities, capacity needs, and long-range plans. The Associate Director plays a critical role in enabling data-driven decision-making and ensuring financial rigor as programs scale.
Essential Job Functions And Responsibilities
These may include but are not limited to:
Technical Operations Budget Ownership
- Own the end-to-end Technical Operations annual budget planning process, including operating expenses (OpEx), capital expenditures (CapEx), program-specific budgets, and travel expenses.
- Develop and manage rolling forecasts and long-range financial plans in partnership with Tech Ops and Finance leadership.
- Establish and maintain budget models to support scenario planning and strategic decision-making.
- Serve as the primary point of contact for all Tech Ops financial planning and reporting activities.
- Track actuals vs. budget and forecast, identifying trends, risks, and opportunities.
- Perform variance analysis and provide clear, concise explanations to leadership.
- Own oversight of CMO and external vendor spend.
- Prepare and deliver monthly, quarterly, and ad hoc financial reports and dashboards for Technical Operations leadership.
- Support monthly accrual processes.
- Partner with Finance to ensure compliance with corporate financial policies and timelines.
- Own Technical Operations headcount planning, tracking, and forecasting across functions and sites.
- Partner with functional leaders to align HC plans with operational demand, capacity, and strategic priorities.
- Monitor HC spend vs. plan, including FTEs, contractors, and consultants.
- Support workforce planning scenarios for growth, restructuring, or program changes.
- Act as a trusted business partner to Technical Operations leaders, providing financial insights to support decision-making.
- Drive continuous improvement of budget planning, forecasting, and reporting processes.
- Implement tools, templates, and best practices to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and transparency.
- Support special projects, audits, and leadership requests related to Technical Operations business operations.
- Other duties as assigned.
Education and Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business, Engineering, or a related field.
- 12 years of experience in finance, business operations, or financial planning & analysis (FP&A) within pharmaceutical, biotech, or life sciences.
- Demonstrated experience owning budgets, forecasts, and financial reporting processes.
- Strong understanding of accrual accounting, variance analysis, and financial controls.
- Experience with headcount and resource planning in a matrixed organization.
- Advanced proficiency in Excel; experience with financial planning systems.
- MBA or advanced degree.
- Experience supporting Technical Operations, Manufacturing, CMC, or Supply Chain organizations.
- Strong executive communication and presentation skills.
- Proven ability to manage complexity and influence without authority.
Physical Activities: On a continuous basis, sit at desk for a long period of time; intermittently answer telephone and write or use a keyboard to communicate through written means. Some walking and lifting up to 25 lbs. may be required. The noise level in the work environment is typically low to moderate. The physical demands described above are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions and responsibilities of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions and responsibilities.
Laboratory Activities (if applicable): Biology and chemical laboratory environment experience needed. Environmental health and safety requirements also apply.
Travel
You may be required to travel for up to 5% of your time.
Equal Opportunity Employer
Crinetics is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and employment applicants without regard to unlawful considerations of sex, sexual orientation, gender (including gender identity and/or expression), pregnancy, race, color, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, religion or similar philosophical beliefs, disability, marital and civil union status, age, genetic information, veteran status or any personal attribute or characteristic that is protected by applicable local, state or federal laws.
Total Compensation
The final salary offered to a successful candidate will be dependent on several factors that may include but are not limited to the type and length of experience and education. Crinetics Pharmaceuticals is a multi-state employer, and this salary range may not reflect positions that work in other states. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range during the hiring process.
Salary Range
The salary range for this position is: $154,000 - $192,000.
In addition to your base pay, our total rewards program consists of a discretionary annual target bonus, stock options, ESPP, and 401k match. We also provide top-notch health insurance plans for employees (and their families) to include medical, dental, vision and basic life insurance, 20 days of PTO, 10 paid holidays, and a winter company shutdown.
Salary : $154,000 - $192,000