R&D Project Manager

Elanco Tiergesundheit AG; Indianapolis (IN); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation packages

Annual bonus

Flexible work arrangements

401K matching

Job summary

Elanco Animal Health in Indianapolis, IN, is seeking an experienced R&D Project Manager to guide global development programs from concept through delivery. You will bridge science and execution, coordinating with Regulatory, Manufacturing, R&D, and Marketing to deliver robust project plans and proactive risk management.

The role targets a strategic thinker who can design macro-level plans while detailing micro-level tasks to advance novel scientific developments, maintain timelines, and ensure

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a scientific field with 8–10 years of PM experience.
• Strong regulatory understanding across veterinary drug development (GCP/GLP/GMP).
• Proven mastery of PMBOK fundamentals and MS Office; AI tools experience.

Responsibilities

• Independently manage complex, high-impact development programs and schedules.
• Develop and maintain timelines, milestones, and critical-path indicators.
• Partner with Finance and teams to manage development budgets and forecasts.
• Identify risks, plan contingencies, and communicate mitigation actions.
• Champion quality and continuous improvement across PM processes.

Skills

Strategic PM

Cross-functional leadership

Regulatory knowledge

PMBOK processes

AI tools

Education

Bachelor's or Master’s in science

Tools

Project management software

Microsoft Office

AI platforms

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

Elanco Benefits and Perks:

• Multiple relocation packages
• Two weeklong shutdowns (mid-summer and year-end) in the US (in addition to PTO)
• 8-week parental leave
• 9 Employee Resource Groups
• Annual bonus offering
• Flexible work arrangements
• Up to 6% 401K matching

Elanco is an EEO/Affirmative Action Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, protected veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status

Elanco may use automated tools, including AI, to support parts of our recruitment process, such as reviewing applications against job‑related criteria and/or transferrable skills. These tools help ensure a consistent, structured evaluation, but they do not make hiring decisions. All decisions involve a human reviewer. For more information on how we handle personal data, please see our Elanco Workforce Privacy Notice.

Elanco Animal Health Incorporated (NYSE: ELAN) is a global leader in animal health dedicated to innovating and delivering products and services to prevent and treat disease in farm animals and pets, creating value for farmers, pet owners, veterinarians, stakeholders, and society as a whole. With nearly 70 years of animal health heritage, we are committed to helping our customers improve the health of animals in their care, while also making a meaningful impact on our local and global communities. At Elanco, we are driven by our vision of Food and Companionship Enriching life and our Elanco Healthy Purpose CSR framework – all to advance the health of animals, people and the planet. Learn more at www.elanco.com.