Senior Manager – Competitive Intelligence Pharma analytics and insights

C5i; Bengaluru; On-site; INR 1,500,000 - 2,100,000; Full time

Job summary

C5i in Bengaluru seeks a Senior Manager to lead strategic Competitive Intelligence engagements for pharma and life sciences clients. You will manage client relationships, ensure delivery quality, and guide project teams to deliver clear insights and actionable recommendations.

The role demands translating business priorities into KITs/KIQs, guiding CI efforts, and contributing to capability development, AI-enabled delivery, and business development initiatives.

Qualifications

• 10-15 years of pharma/life sciences CI experience, preferably in consulting or research.
• Proven ability to lead complex CI engagements and manage senior client stakeholders.
• Ability to translate inquiries into KITs/KIQs and strategic recommendations.
• Strong communication, presentation, and executive-level client interaction skills.
• Experience with AI-enabled research methods and automation tools.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage multiple complex CI engagements with strategic oversight.
• Serve as principal client contact, managing expectations, risks, and priorities.
• Translate business inquiries into KITs, KIQs, and analytical approaches.
• Guide comprehensive competitive assessments across clinical, regulatory, commercial, and market topics.
• Synthesize intelligence into actionable insights, implications, scenarios, and strategic recommendations.
• Oversee conference intelligence, launches, and business development opportunities.
• Review outputs for analytical depth, accuracy, and executive readiness.
• Support delivery frameworks, methodologies, and quality standards.
• Mentor Managers and junior team members.

Skills

Competitive intelligence

Stakeholder management

Strategic thinking

Leadership

Communication

Presentation

Problem solving

Business acumen

AI-enabled research

Team leadership

Tools

PowerPoint

Excel

Job description

POSITION SUMMARY

The Senior Manager will lead strategic Competitive Intelligence engagements for pharmaceutical and life sciences clients, with responsibility for client relationships, delivery quality, people leadership, and account growth.The role requires the ability to independently engage senior client stakeholders, translate business priorities into intelligence needs, provide strategic direction to project teams, and ensure outputs deliver clear insights, implications, and recommendations. The Senior Manager will also contribute to capability development, innovation, AI-enabled delivery, and business development.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Lead and manage multiple complex CI engagements, ensuring strategic oversight and alignment across client accounts.Serve as a principal client contact, effectively managing expectations, priorities, risks, and evolving business needs.Translate business inquiries into clear Key Intelligence Topics (KITs), Key Intelligence Questions (KIQs), and appropriate analytical approaches.Guide comprehensive competitive assessments encompassing clinical, regulatory, commercial, and market developments.Synthesize intelligence into actionable insights, implications, scenarios, and strategic recommendations.Oversee engagements related to competitor monitoring, market assessments, launch readiness, business development opportunities, lifecycle planning, and conference intelligence.Manage conference programs including planning, prioritization, reporting, synthesis, and client debriefs.Review and challenge team outputs to ensure analytical depth, accuracy, storyline coherence, and executive-ready communication.Oversee project scope, timelines, resource allocation, utilization, quality, budgets, and delivery risks.Proactively identify and resolve client, project, and team-related risks.Coach and mentor Managers, Associate Managers, and junior team members, supporting their performance management and capability development.Drive the development of delivery frameworks, methodologies, quality standards, and best practices.Support workforce planning, hiring, and onboarding initiatives.Promote the adoption of AI, automation, and emerging research methodologies to enhance delivery efficiency and quality.Identify opportunities for account expansion and contribute to proposals, pitches, solution design, and business development efforts.Represent the CI function in senior client presentations, workshops, and internal leadership discussions.The position may require up to 20-30% travel.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

10-15 years of relevant pharmaceutical/life sciences competitive intelligence experience, preferably within consulting, research, or intelligence-led organizationsStrong understanding of clinical, regulatory, commercial, launch, and lifecycle strategiesProven experience in leading complex CI engagements and managing senior client stakeholdersExpertise across 2-3 therapy areas; oncology preferredStrong knowledge of CI methodologies, secondary research, primary research, and conference intelligenceAbility to translate complex information into strategic insights, implications, and actionable recommendationsStrong analytical thinking, business acumen, and problem-solving skillsProven people leadership experience with a track record of developing Managers and high-performing teamsAbility to manage multiple clients, projects, resources, and competing priorities effectivelyStrong executive presence, communication, and presentation skillsAdvanced PowerPoint and Excel skills; proficiency with key pharma information sourcesExperience in business development, proposals, and account growthAbility to influence stakeholders and manage conflicts effectivelyFamiliarity with AI-enabled research and automation toolsUS/European pharmaceutical client experience preferred