Life Sciences R&D Strategy Manager

Accenture; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); On-site; USD 150,000 - 253,000; Full time

Job summary

Accenture in the United States is seeking a Manager-level leader to advance R&D reinvention for biopharma clients, spanning discovery, development, and delivery using AI-enabled approaches. You will own end-to-end strategy workstreams, engage with C-suite stakeholders, and help grow the Life Sciences R&D practice through thought leadership.

Role requires deep Life Sciences R&D experience, strong communication, and a track record of translating science into strategic roadmaps.

Qualifications

• 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.
• 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.

Responsibilities

• 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.
• Build and grow client relationships across biopharma R&D functions.

Skills

R&D strategy

Biopharma

AI & Data

Leadership

Business development

Client engagement

Travel flexibility

Education

Bachelor's Degree

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 09/19/2026.

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

Role Location Annual Salary Range
California $87,400 to $253,000
Cleveland $87,400 to $253,000
Colorado $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
Virginia $87,400 to $253,000
Washington $87,400 to $253,000

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