Life Sciences R&D Strategy Manager

Accenture PLC; Redmond; On-site; AUD 125,000 - 360,000; Full time

Job summary

Accenture is seeking a Manager to lead R&D reinvention initiatives across the biopharma value chain, blending strategy, digital innovation, and enterprise transformation. You will guide end-to-end engagements with R&D leaders and contribute to practice growth.

You will own strategy workstreams, support business development, and mentor teams while collaborating with Data & AI, Technology Strategy & Advisory, and Talent & Organization to deliver AI-enabled outcomes at scale.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in Life Sciences R&D with strategy/transformation experience.
• Proven track record leading strategy work with biopharma clients.
• Experience communicating with C-suite and senior R&D stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead R&D strategy workstreams from framing to delivery with measurable impact.
• Advise on R&D transformation priorities and operating model.
• Develop strategic recommendations and roadmaps for senior leaders.
• Build client relationships across biopharma R&D functions.
• Collaborate with Data & AI, Technology Strategy, and Talent teams.
• Support business development and pipeline growth in Life Sciences R&D.

Skills

Biopharma R&D

Strategy consulting

AI in life sciences

Client relationship mgmt

Thought leadership

Education

Bachelor's Degree

MBA / PhD preferred

Job description

About the role:

We are seeking a Manager or to play a critical role within our growing R&D strategy team to focus on R&D reinvention across the value chain: helping clients move beyond incremental improvement to AI-enabled transformation of how they discover, develop, and deliver medicines. This high-impact role sits at the intersection of biopharma R&D, digital innovation, and enterprise transformation — advising R&D leaders at the world's leading pharmaceutical and biotech companies.

You will own end-to-end strategy workstreams and engagements, engage with clients across R&D functions, support business development, and contribute to practice growth through thought leadership and capability building.

We Are:

Accenture helps the world’s leading enterprises reinvent by building their digital core and unleashing the power of AI to create value at speed for organizations across industries. Our strategy is to be the reinvention partner of choice for our clients and lead in the safe, widespread adoption of AI, and to be the most client-focused, AI-enabled, great place to work in the world. We bring together the talent of our approximately 799,000 people with proprietary assets and platforms, deep process and industry expertise, and leading ecosystem relationships to deliver end-to-end solutions and measurable outcomes at scale. Through our Reinvention Services, we offer broad expertise across Cybersecurity, Digital Core, Finance, Industry and Enterprise, Song, Supply Chain and Engineering, and Talent, with advanced capabilities in AI and Data, Industry and Process, and Technology. We serve approximately 9,000 clients and generated approximately $70 billion in FY25 revenue. Visit us at www.accenture.com .

Accenture's Life Sciences R&D practice helps biopharma organizations transform discovery, early development, and development operations through scientific strategy, data and AI integration, and operational reinvention. We work with R&D leaders — Chief Scientific and Medical Officers, Heads of R&D Functions, SVP and VP-level capability owners — to shape R&D strategy, accelerate pipeline decisions, and build the capabilities needed to compete in the age of AI-driven drug discovery and development.

This is a growth-focused practice with strong momentum and a clear path to Managing Director for high performers.

You Are:

An R&D expert with proven work experience in the Life Sciences R&D industry. You are a strategic problem solver with extensive consulting and industry experience. You are a clear and effective communicator, and you have an open, relatable manner with clients and colleagues. You perform well in an agile, fast-paced working environment. You know how to balance being a leader with contributing to the collective efforts of the team. You have supported business development to provide transformative programs and targeted consulting engagements.

You have energy and drive in abundance, along with personal resilience, a passion for serving clients, and a love of continual learning. You have a flair for breaking down challenges and processes into logical parts and constructing crystal-clear reasoning and analyses—an aptitude you use to decimate problems.

The Work (Role Responsibility)

• Lead complex R&D strategy workstreams and small engagements from problem framing through delivery, ensuring measurable client impact.
• Advise clients on R&D transformation priorities including strategy, pipeline portfolio management, scientific data and AI integration, R&D operational excellence, R&D operating model, etc.
• Develop and present strategic recommendations, transformation roadmaps, and reinvention narratives to Heads of R&D functions, and other senior stakeholders.
• Serve as a guiding presence throughout the workstream lifecycle — shaping critical deliverables, driving quality assurance, and ensuring delivery excellence.
• Buildand grow client relationships across biopharma R&D functions.
• Partner with the broader Accenture team to bring the tailored expertise needed for an individual R&D engagement in support of our clients (e.g., Data & AI, Technology Strategy & Advisory, Talent & Organization)
• Support originate and shape new opportunities, support proposals and commercial pursuits, and contribute to Accenture's pipeline growth in the Life Sciences R&D space.
• Identify adjacent opportunities and expand existing client relationships across the R&D value chain.
• Contribute to thought leadership on R&D transformation and scientific innovation — supporting the development of assets that establish Accenture's differentiated perspective in the market.
• Support the build of reusable offerings, frameworks, and assets that accelerate future client engagements.
• Mentor and develop junior colleagues; actively contribute to performance management and recruiting.
• Partner with Accenture’s global industry leads, capability leads, and cross-functional teams to evolve the R&D Strategy practice and go-to-market strategy.

Here’s What You Need (Basic Qualifications)

Candidates must have at least 5 years of combined experience in the following areas:

• Deep expertise in Life Sciences R&D with experience at a top-tier strategy consulting firm or a leading biopharma company in an R&D strategy or transformation function.
• A proven track record leading strategy work with measurable outcomes for biopharma clients.
• Experience supporting the development of strategic recommendations and transformation roadmaps to C-suite, SVP, and VP-level R&D stakeholders.
• Strong understanding of how AI, data, digital technologies, and scientific informatics are reshaping biopharma R&D — and the ability to translate that understanding into client strategy.
• Demonstrated success in supporting business development: identifying opportunities, shaping solutions, and building client relationships.
• Experience teams and managing junior professionals.
• Willingness and ability to travel domestically and internationally as client and business needs require.

Bachelor's Degree

Bonus Points (Preferred Skills)

• MBA, advanced scientific degree (PhD, PharmD, MD), or equivalent combination of education and experience in a relevant discipline.
• Experience building a new strategy offering, or capability from the ground up.
• Track record supporting the development of thought leadership — whitepapers, conference presentations, or published perspectives — in the life sciences or R&D space.
• Experience operating across multiple biopharma sub-sectors (large pharma, emerging biotech, CROs, or medtech) and geographies

Compensation at Accenture varies depending on a wide array of factors, which may include but are not limited to the specific office location, role, skill set, and level of experience. As required by local law, Accenture provides a reasonable range of compensation for roles that may be hired as set forth below.

We anticipate this job posting will be posted until 10/07/2026.

Accenture offers a market competitive suite of benefits including medical, dental, vision, life, and long-term disability coverage, a 401(k) plan, bonus opportunities, paid holidays, and paid time off. See more information on our benefits here: U.S. Employee Benefits | Accenture (https://www.accenture.com/us-en/careers/local/benefits)

Role Location Annual Salary Range

California $87,400 to $253,000

Colorado $87,400 to $253,000

Connecticut $87,400 to $253,000

District of Columbia $87,400 to $253,000

Illinois $87,400 to $253,000

Maine $87,400 to $253,000

Maryland $87,400 to $253,000

Massachusetts $87,400 to $253,000

Minnesota $87,400 to $253,000

New York $87,400 to $253,000

New Jersey $87,400 to $253,000

Ohio $87,400 to $253,000

Virginia $87,400 to $253,000

Washington $87,400 to $253,000

Requesting an Accommodation

Accenture is committed to providing equal employment opportunities for persons with disabilities or religious observances, including reasonable accommodation when needed. If you are hired by Accenture and require accommodation to perform the essential functions of your role, you will be asked to participate in our reasonable accommodation process. Accommodations made to facilitate the recruiting process are not a guarantee of future or continued accommodations once hired.

If you would like to be considered for employment opportunities with Accenture and have accommodation needs such as for a disability or religious observance, please call us toll free at 1 [phone] or send us an email or speak with your recruiter.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

We believe that no one should be discriminated against because of their differences.All employment decisions shall be made without regard to age, race, creed, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, disability status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, citizenship status or any other basis as protected by federal, state, or local law.Our rich diversity makes us more innovative, more competitive, and more creative, which helps us better serve our clients and our communities.

For details, view a copy of theAccenture Equal Opportunity Statement (https://www.accenture.com/content/dam/accenture/final/accenture-com/document-4/Accenture-Equal-Opportunity-Statement.pdf#zoom=50)

Accenture is an EEO and Affiritive Action Employer of Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities.

Accenture is committed to providing veteran employment opportunities to our service men and women.

Other Employment Statements

Applicants for employment in the US must have work authorization that does not now or in the future require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the United States.

Candidates who are currently employed by a client of Accenture or an affiliated Accenture business may not be eligible for consideration.

Job candidates will not be obligated to disclose sealed or expunged records of conviction or arrest as part of the hiring process. Further, at Accenture a criminal conviction history is not an absolute bar to employment.

The Company will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. Additionally, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the Company's legal duty to furnish information.

California requires additional notifications for applicants and employees. If you are a California resident, live in or plan to work from Los Angeles County upon being hired for this position, please click here for additional important information.

Please read Accenture’s Recruiting and Hiring Statement for more information on how we process your data during the Recruiting and Hiring process.