Consulting - business transformation - life sciences

Location: Anywhere in Country

At EY, we’re all in to shape your future with confidence.

We’ll help you succeed in a globally connected powerhouse of diverse teams and take your career wherever you want it to go. Join EY and help to build a better working world.

Consulting - Business Transformation - Life Sciences R&D - Manager

Our clients operate in a world where achieving and sustaining performance is more difficult than ever. EY’s Life Sciences Consulting Services team assists clients in finding the right balance between protecting the business and driving measurable value.

The opportunity

EY has a robust, purpose-driven life sciences research and development (R&D) practice which aims to inspire and enable our clients to accelerate patient impact. Our practice helps clients shape strategic innovation priorities, improve operational efficiency, and embed compliance across the R&D value chain including discovery, pre-clinical, clinical, translational, and post-market surveillance / real-world evidence in life sciences and healthcare settings. This manager role within our Consulting practice will have the opportunity to lead and manage client engagements, build solutions, and innovate in the market. Our practice works with large pharma, biotechnology, academic medical centers, health systems, cancer centers, children’s hospitals, and more. You will be an integral member of our life sciences consulting team and spend most of your time focused on providing client services in the following areas: strategic planning, business transformation, organizational structure and operating model optimization, clinical trial acceleration, complex data analytics, research compliance and regulatory affairs and technology implementation support.

Your Key Responsibilities

A majority of your time will be spent managing and supporting client engagement teams and working with a wide variety of clients to deliver professional services in the life sciences domain.

Skills And Attributes For Success

• Comprehensive understanding of R&D processes, terminology, and challenges across areas such as preclinical research, clinical development, regulatory affairs and quality and safety functions
• Strong organizational and project management skills and high attention to detail to oversee complex projects including multiple tasks, workstreams, and deadlines, while maintaining high-quality outputs
• Demonstrated leadership skills with the ability to inspire and motivate teams, fostering a collaborative and high-performing culture
• Strong intellectual curiosity and proactive approach to continuously deepen knowledge of evolving scientific, technological, and business trends in R&D to better serve client needs
• Advanced quantitative and qualitative problem-solving skills to dissect challenges, interpret data, and deliver evidence-based insights
• Exceptional ability to communicate clearly and persuasively in written and verbal formats, tailoring messages for diverse audiences including senior executives
• Confident and professional demeanor that builds trust and credibility with client and internal teams, including senior leadership
• Proactively understands client needs, adapts to evolving priorities, and consistently delivers value through collaboration and responsiveness
• Strong organizational skills to manage multiple tasks, workstreams, and deadlines while maintaining high-quality outputs
• Works well within diverse teams, fosters knowledge sharing, and supports junior colleagues through coaching and mentorship
• Comfortable navigating ambiguity, shifting priorities, and fast-paced environments typical of consulting engagements
  
  

To qualify for the role, you must have

• Bachelor’s degree in business, life sciences, health, or a related field
• 5-7 years of relevant experience in life sciences and/or health in an R&D setting (e.g., pharma, biotech, CRO, academic medical center, cancer centers, etc.), including prior experience in a management consulting role
• Comprehensive understanding of key R&D functions, including preclinical research, clinical trial execution / clinical development, regulatory affairs, and quality or safety functions
• Prior experience managing complex projects or initiatives and overseeing teams of at least 3-5 individuals
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with experience applying structured consulting methods to complex business challenges
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to synthesize complex issues into actionable insights
• Proficiency in core business tools, including Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint
• Demonstrated executive presence and professionalism in client-facing settings, including the ability to engage with senior stakeholders (e.g., C-Suite, VPs, functional heads)
• Willingness to travel based on project requirements and client needs
  
  

Ideally, you’ll also have

• Advanced degree (e.g., MBA, MS, PhD) in life sciences, business, public health, or a related discipline
• Experience supporting R&D transformations, operating model design, or process optimization initiatives
• Working knowledge of regulatory frameworks (e.g., GxP, ICH, FDA) and compliance requirements in R&D environments
• Familiarity with tools and platforms commonly used in R&D functions, such as clinical trial management systems (CTMS)
  
  

What We Look For

We’re interested in motivated professionals with a passion for life sciences and R&D, who bring strong analytical thinking, clear communication, and a client-focused mindset. Successful candidates thrive in dynamic, team-oriented environments, demonstrate executive presence, and are eager to solve complex challenges to help clients advance innovation and improve performance across the R&D lifecycle.

What We Offer You

At EY, we’ll develop you with future-focused skills and equip you with world-class experiences. We’ll empower you in a flexible environment, and fuel you and your extraordinary talents in a diverse and inclusive culture of globally connected teams. Learn more.

• We offer a comprehensive compensation and benefits package where you’ll be rewarded based on your performance and recognized for the value you bring to the business. The base salary range for this job in all geographic locations in the US is $128,400 to $235,300. The base salary range for New York City Metro Area, Washington State and California (excluding Sacramento) is $154,000 to $267,400. Individual salaries within those ranges are determined through a wide variety of factors including but not limited to education, experience, knowledge, skills and geography. In addition, our Total Rewards package includes medical and dental coverage, pension and 401(k) plans, and a wide range of paid time off options.
• Join us in our team-led and leader-enabled hybrid model. Our expectation is for most people in external, client serving roles to work together in person 40-60% of the time over the course of an engagement, project or year.
• Under our flexible vacation policy, you’ll decide how much vacation time you need based on your own personal circumstances. You’ll also be granted time off for designated EY Paid Holidays, Winter/Summer breaks, Personal/Family Care, and other leaves of absence when needed to support your physical, financial, and emotional well-being.
  
  

Are you ready to shape your future with confidence? Apply today.

EY accepts applications for this position on an on-going basis.

For those living in California, please click here for additional information.

EY focuses on high-ethical standards and integrity among its employees and expects all candidates to demonstrate these qualities.

EY | Building a better working world

EY is building a better working world by creating new value for clients, people, society and the planet, while building trust in capital markets.

Enabled by data, AI and advanced technology, EY teams help clients shape the future with confidence and develop answers for the most pressing issues of today and tomorrow.

EY teams work across a full spectrum of services in assurance, consulting, tax, strategy and transactions. Fueled by sector insights, a globally connected, multi-disciplinary network and diverse ecosystem partners, EY teams can provide services in more than 150 countries and territories.

EY provides equal employment opportunities to applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, pregnancy, genetic information, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, or any other legally protected basis, including arrest and conviction records, in accordance with applicable law. 

EY is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities including veterans with disabilities. If you have a disability and either need assistance applying online or need to request an accommodation during any part of the application process, please call 1-800-EY-HELP3, select Option 2 for candidate related inquiries, then select Option 1 for candidate queries and finally select Option 2 for candidates with an inquiry which will route you to EY’s Talent Shared Services Team (TSS) or email the TSS at [email protected].