R&D Project Manager

Elanco; Indianapolis (IN); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Travel up to 10%

Hybrid work environment

Job summary

Elanco in Indianapolis is seeking an experienced R&D Project Manager to lead complex, global development programs from concept to delivery. You will partner with Regulatory, Manufacturing, R&D, and Marketing to design proactive plans, manage risk, and ensure robust milestones across disciplines.

The role requires advanced PM knowledge (PMBOK), capability to influence across teams, and a scientific background with 8–10 years of relevant experience. PMP/CAPM are a plus.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's in a scientific field with 8–10 years of PM experience.
• Understanding of veterinary drug development including regulatory submissions and quality principles (GCP/GLP/GMP).
• Mastery of PM fundamentals per PMBOK and proficiency with office software; familiarity with AI tools is a plus.
• Ability to influence cross-functionally and coach diverse teams.
• Proactive problem-solving with strong adaptability.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex, high-impact development programs from concept to completion.
• Partner with Regulatory, Manufacturing, R&D, and Marketing to create realistic milestones.
• Develop proactive project plans, manage schedules, costs, and risks.
• Facilitate scenario planning and maintain alignment with strategic goals.
• Improve processes and share learnings to maximize business value.

Skills

Strategic PM

Cross-functional leadership

Regulatory understanding

PMBOK/PM processes

Data-driven decision making

AI/tools familiarity

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in a scientific field

Tools

PM software

Microsoft Office

Job description

At Elanco (NYSE: ELAN) – it all starts with animals!
As a global leader in animal health, we are dedicated to innovation and delivering products and services to prevent and treat disease in farm animals and pets. At Elanco, we are driven by our vision of Food and Companionship Enriching Life and our purpose – all to Go Beyond for Animals, Customers, Society and Our People.
At Elanco, we pride ourselves on fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment. We believe that diversity is the driving force behind innovation, creativity, and overall business success. Here, you’ll be part of a company that values and champions new ways of thinking, work with dynamic individuals, and acquire new skills and experiences that will propel your career to new heights.
Making animals’ lives better makes life better – join our team today!
Your Role: R&D Project Manager
As an R&D Project Manager, you will serve as a strategic partner to project leaders, responsible for guiding complex Global R&D projects from concept to completion. You will work at the intersection of science and project execution, interfacing with global teams in Regulatory, Manufacturing, R&D, and Marketing. Your role is critical in ensuring robust, proactive project plans are designed and implemented, helping to manage risk and successfully deliver Elanco's R&D portfolio. This is a role for a strategic thinker who can provide macro-level planning while also managing micro-level details to drive novel scientific developments forward.
Your Responsibilities:

• Strategic Project & Scope Management: Act as a strategic partner to project leaders by independently managing all project management activities for complex, high-impact development programs. You will guide the execution of deliverables by managing schedules, costs, and performance risks, facilitating scenario planning to develop realistic milestones, and maintaining all scope documentation to ensure alignment with strategic goals.
• Timeline & Performance Oversight: Take full ownership of the project plan, which includes developing and maintaining up-to-date timelines and process maps. You will identify, manage, and communicate the critical path and leading indicators of progress, monitor performance-to-plan, and proactively guide team action to keep the project on track, ensuring data completeness and quality across all systems.
• Budget & Financial Partnership: Partner with Finance, functional areas, and geographies to manage the team's overall development budget. This includes consulting with the development team to understand and report on variances, driving re-forecasts, updating budget data in the appropriate tools, and providing the team with a clear understanding of the cost of different development options.
• Proactive Risk & Contingency Planning: Guide the comprehensive assessment of development risks, establishing robust mitigation and contingency plans with clear ownership. You will proactively identify and communicate risks that may affect the critical path and independently trigger the implementation of contingency plans to avoid or mitigate those risks.
• Process Improvement & Shared Learning: Advocate for a culture of quality and continuous improvement by generating ideas for new processes and sharing learnings with the team and function. You will identify methods to streamline effectiveness, decrease development cycle times, and ensure the consistent application of PM tools and concepts to ultimately maximize business value.
  

What You Need to Succeed (minimum qualifications):

• Education & Experience: A Bachelor's or Master's degree in a scientific or related field with 8-10 years of relevant experience in project management or a related scientific role.
• Comprehensive Scientific & Regulatory Expertise: A deep understanding of the veterinary drug development process, including the interdependencies of various tasks that require coordination among global teams, functional groups, and third parties. This includes demonstrated experience with regulatory submission processes/requirements and a strong grasp of GCP, GLP, and GMP quality principles.
• Advanced Project Management & Technical Proficiency: Demonstrated mastery of core project management fundamentals and processes as defined by the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK). Strong technical proficiency with project management software, the Microsoft Office Suite, and emerging AI platforms is essential.
• Cross-Functional Influence & Team Leadership: Proven ability to influence without direct authority and guide global, cross-functional teams through complex and ambiguous situations. Possesses strong interpersonal and team-building skills, with a demonstrated ability to develop effective teams with diverse interpersonal styles and deliver effective coaching and feedback.
• Proactive Problem-Solving & Adaptability: A proactive and anticipatory approach to problem-solving, with the proven ability to anticipate and recognize systemic problems, diagnose root causes, and take corrective action to prevent recurrence. Must be able to demonstrate high flexibility and adjust quickly and effectively to frequent change and altered priorities.
  

What will give you an advantage (preferred qualifications):

• PMP or CAPM certification, demonstrating a strong foundation in project management principles.
• Direct experience in the Animal Health industry.
• A growth mindset and curiosity, with an eagerness to ask questions and learn rapidly.
• Proven ability to work effectively both on your own and as a highly collaborative team member.
  

Additional Information:

• Travel: Up to 10% annually.
• Location: Global Elanco Headquarters - Indianapolis, IN - Hybrid Work Environment
  

Dont meet every single requirement? Studies have shown underrecognized groups are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At Elanco we are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive work environment. If you think you might be a good fit for a role but don\'t necessarily meet every requirement, we encourage you to apply. You may be the right candidate for this role or other roles!