Associate Director, ExploR&D Consultation Agreements

Scorpion Therapeutics; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Lilly ExploR&D is seeking an Associate Director, ExploR&D Consultation Agreements to lead the negotiation and execution of consultation agreements with external biotech partners across preclinical and development matters.

The role centers on drafting, redlining, and moving a large volume of agreements through negotiation to signature, with close collaboration with Legal, Finance, and R&D to ensure terms and risk are clearly defined.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; 7+ years in BD, contracting, or R&D consulting.
• Authorized to work in the United States full-time; no visa sponsorship.
• Experience negotiating biotech/pharma/life sciences agreements.
• Track record managing multiple concurrent contracts.
• Early-stage biotech ecosystem/external innovation experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end negotiation of consultation agreements (initial term discussions through executed contract).
• Move a high volume of agreements to signature efficiently, balancing speed with rigor.
• Serve as primary interface for biotechs via the consultation pathway; translate scientific scope into commercial terms.
• Partner with ExploR&D leadership/SMEs to structure consultations aligned with Lilly R&D capabilities.
• Draft, redline, and finalize agreements with Legal; ensure terms, scope, deliverables, and risk allocation are captured.
• Partner with scientists to translate technical scope into precise, bounded work plans.
• Negotiate change orders/amendments as scope/timelines/deliverables evolve.
• Communicate contract structure, timelines, and engagement model with clarity.
• Maintain deal tracking, portfolio visibility, and cycle-time discipline.
• Identify process improvements to reduce friction, standardize terms, and shorten time-to-signature.
• Partner with Finance, Legal, and Compliance to meet governance, risk, and approval standards.
• Potential to extend into alliance management responsibilities.

Skills

Business development

Contracting

R&D consulting

Negotiation

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Job Summary

The Associate Director, ExploR&D Consultation Agreements is responsible for leading the negotiation and execution of consultation agreements between Lilly ExploR&D and external biotech partners across preclinical and development matters. Hands‑on, high‑throughput contracting focused on drafting, redlining, and moving a large volume of agreements through negotiation to signature.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end negotiation of consultation agreements (initial term discussions through executed contract)
• Move a high volume of agreements to signature efficiently, balancing speed with rigor
• Serve as primary interface for biotechs via the consultation pathway; translate scientific scope into commercial terms
• Partner with ExploR&D leadership/SMEs to structure consultations aligned with Lilly R&D capabilities
• Draft, redline, and finalize agreements with Legal; ensure commercial terms, scope, deliverables, and risk allocation are captured
• Partner with scientists to translate technical scope into precise, bounded work plans
• Negotiate change orders/amendments as scope/timelines/deliverables evolve
• Communicate contract structure, timelines, and engagement model with clarity
• Maintain deal tracking, portfolio visibility, and cycle‑time discipline
• Identify process improvements to reduce friction, standardize terms, and shorten time‑to‑signature
• Partner with Finance, Legal, and Compliance to meet governance, risk, and approval standards
• Potential to extend into alliance management responsibilities

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in any field
• 7+ years in business development, contracting, or R&D consulting
• Authorized to work in the United States full‑time; Lilly does not sponsor work authorization/visas

Additional Skills/Preferences

• PhD/PharmD/MS in life sciences/biomedical/STEM
• Deep R&D fluency in drug discovery and/or development; credible peer to biotech scientific leaders
• Experience negotiating biotech/pharma/life sciences agreements; drafting/redlining/executing contracts
• Track record managing multiple concurrent contracts
• Early‑stage biotech ecosystem/external innovation experience
• Alliance management experience
• Strong written/verbal communication; ability to simplify complex scientific/contract terms
• Comfortable with ambiguity; build repeatable processes
• Cross‑functional collaboration across Legal, Finance, and R&D

Additional Information

• Travel up to 10% (US and/or OUS)