Associate Director, ExploR&D Consultation Agreements

Scorpion Therapeutics; Indiana (PA); On-site; USD 132,000 - 194,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) plan

Pension

Job summary

Scorpion Therapeutics is seeking an Associate Director, ExploR&D Consultation Agreements to lead negotiation and execution of consultation agreements between Lilly ExploR&D and external biotech partners on preclinical and development matters.

You will coordinate with ExploR&D leadership, translate scientific scope into commercial terms, and drive end-to-end deals, with potential to extend into alliance management over time. Travel up to 10% is expected.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in any field.
• 7+ years in business development, contracting, or R&D consulting.
• Authorization to work in the U.S. (Lilly does not sponsor visas).
• PhD/PharmD/MS (life sciences/biomedical/STEM).
• Experience negotiating biotech/pharma/life sciences agreements.
• Direct experience drafting/redlining/executing contracts.
• Alliance management experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end negotiation of consultation agreements (from term discussions through executed contract).
• Move a high volume of agreements through negotiation to signature efficiently (speed with rigor).
• Serve as primary interface for biotechs via the consultation pathway; translate scientific scope into commercial terms.
• Partner with ExploR&D leadership and subject-matter experts to structure aligned consultations.
• Draft, redline, and finalize agreements with Legal; ensure commercial terms/scope/deliverables reflect scientific risk.
• Translate technical scope into precise, bounded work plans with Lilly scientists.
• Negotiate change orders and amendments as scope/timelines/deliverables evolve.
• Communicate contract structure/timelines clearly with biotech counterparts.
• Maintain deal tracking, pipeline visibility, and cycle-time discipline.
• Drive process improvements to reduce friction and shorten time-to-signature.
• Partner with Finance, Legal, and Compliance to meet governance, risk, and approval standards.
• Potential to extend into alliance management over time.

Skills

Negotiation

Contracting

R&D consulting

Written/verbal communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree

PhD

MS

PharmD

Job description

Job Summary

The Associate Director, ExploR&D Consultation Agreements leads negotiation and execution of consultation agreements between Lilly ExploR&D and external biotech partners across preclinical and development matters.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end negotiation of consultation agreements (from term discussions through executed contract).
• Move a high volume of agreements through negotiation to signature efficiently (speed with rigor).
• Serve as primary interface for biotechs via the consultation pathway; translate scientific scope into commercial terms.
• Partner with ExploR&D leadership and subject-matter experts to structure aligned consultations.
• Draft, redline, and finalize agreements with Legal; ensure commercial terms/scope/deliverables reflect scientific risk.
• Translate technical scope into precise, bounded work plans with Lilly scientists.
• Negotiate change orders and amendments as scope/timelines/deliverables evolve.
• Communicate contract structure/timelines clearly with biotech counterparts.
• Maintain deal tracking, pipeline visibility, and cycle-time discipline.
• Drive process improvements to reduce friction and shorten time-to-signature.
• Partner with Finance, Legal, and Compliance to meet governance, risk, and approval standards.
• Potential to extend into alliance management over time.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in any field.
• 7+ years in business development, contracting, or R&D consulting.
• Authorization to work in the U.S. (Lilly does not sponsor visas).

Additional Skills/Preferences

• PhD/PharmD/MS (life sciences/biomedical/STEM).
• R&D fluency in drug discovery and/or development; credibility with biotech scientific leaders.
• Experience negotiating biotech/pharma/life sciences agreements.
• Direct experience drafting/redlining/executing contracts.
• Manage multiple concurrent contracts; strong attention to detail.
• Early-stage biotech ecosystem experience.
• Alliance management experience.
• Strong written/verbal communication; distill complex scientific/contract terms.
• Comfortable with ambiguity; builds repeatable processes.
• Cross-functional collaboration (Legal, Finance, R&D).

Additional Information

• Travel up to 10% (US and/or OUS).

Compensation & Benefits (as stated)

• Anticipated base pay: $132,000–$193,600.
• Potential company bonus.
• Comprehensive benefits including 401(k), pension, vacation; medical/dental/vision/prescription; flexible benefits; life insurance; time off/leave; well-being benefits.