Principal Scientist, External Innovation – Infectious Disease & Vaccines.

Scorpion Therapeutics; Indianapolis (IN); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation packages

Shutdowns

Parental leave

Employee Resource Groups

Annual bonus

Flexible work arrangements

401K matching

Job summary

Elanco is seeking a Senior Advisor, External Innovation to identify and evaluate external assets and technologies across infectious diseases and novel vaccine platforms for both companion and farm animals. You will lead opportunity landscaping and coordinate technical assessments with R&D, Marketing, Legal, and global strategy.

You will establish and manage relationships with biotech, academic, and pharmaceutical partners to build the external innovation pipeline and craft funding proposals with

Qualifications

• PhD or DVM in life sciences required.
• 7+ years in external innovation, technology scouting, or alliance management with R&D leadership experience.
• Deep expertise in infectious diseases, vaccines, or related immunology/virology; ability to guide cross-functional evaluations.

Responsibilities

• Identify and evaluate external assets and technologies focused on infectious diseases, novel vaccine platforms, and future solutions for both pet and farm animals.
• Lead landscaping of opportunities and coordinate deep technical assessments with internal teams (R&D, Marketing, Legal, and global strategy) to ensure timely evaluation.
• Establish and manage key relationships with biotechnology, academic, and pharmaceutical partners to build the external innovation pipeline.
• Create proposals for funding and governance, including scientific de-risking strategies and high-level business plans aligned with target product profiles.
• Provide strategic go/no-go recommendations and timely updates on external innovation efforts and project progress.

Skills

External Innovation

Technology Scouting

Alliance Management

R&D Project Leadership

Infectious Diseases

Vaccine Platforms

Immunology/Virology

Biotech landscape visualization

RNA technology awareness

Education

PhD or DVM in life sciences

Tools

Biotech landscape visualization tools

RNA technology knowledge

Job description

Your Role: Senior Advisor, External Innovation

Responsibilities:

• Identify and evaluate external assets and technologies focused on infectious diseases, novel vaccine platforms, and future solutions for both pet and farm animals.
• Lead landscaping of opportunities and coordinate deep technical assessments with internal teams (R&D, Marketing, Legal, and global strategy) to ensure timely evaluation.
• Establish and manage key relationships with biotechnology, academic, and pharmaceutical partners to build the external innovation pipeline.
• Create proposals for funding and governance, including scientific de-risking strategies and high-level business plans aligned with target product profiles.
• Provide strategic go/no-go recommendations and timely updates on external innovation efforts and project progress.

What You Need to Succeed (minimum qualifications):

• Education: Advanced degree in life sciences (PhD or DVM).
• Experience: 7+ years in external innovation, technology scouting, or alliance management; R&D project leadership in animal health (animal health/pharma/biotech).
• Expertise: Deep scientific expertise in infectious diseases, vaccines, or related immunology/virology; ability to guide cross-functional evaluations from identification to strategic recommendation.

What will set you apart (preferred qualifications):

• Competitive intelligence/therapeutic-area landscape building using biotech, pharma, and consulting tools (incl. visualization).
• Experience with RNA technology, novel expression platforms for vaccines/biologics, and/or nucleic acid targeted delivery.
• Existing network in academia/biotech/pharma.
• Direct experience in Farm Animal health industry.

Additional Information:

• Travel: 20–30%
• Location: Global Elanco Headquarters – Indianapolis, IN (On-site)

Elanco Benefits and Perks (highlights):

• Multiple relocation packages; two weeklong shutdowns; 8-week parental leave; 9 Employee Resource Groups; annual bonus offering; flexible work arrangements; up to 6% 401K matching.