Senior Director, R&D Data Strategy, Operations & Analytics

Elanco; Indianapolis (IN); Hybrid; USD 230,000 - 290,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation packages

Shutdown weeks in US

Parental leave

Employee Resource Groups

Annual bonus offering

Flexible work arrangements

401K matching

Job summary

Elanco is seeking a Sr Director, R&D Data Operations & Analytics to lead the global execution engine that turns R&D data into a competitive advantage. You will define the R&D data governance framework, establish metadata standards, and guide a team of specialized Data Stewards to enable a Data-as-a-Product mindset.

You will translate complex data ecosystems into clear, executive-ready insights that support strategic decisions and ensure scalable, robust data operations aligned with Elanco’s AI

Qualifications

• Master’s degree or higher in a relevant field.
• 10+ years in data-centric roles with at least 3 years of direct people management experience.
• Proven track record of translating analytics into actionable business insights for senior leadership.
• Strong ability to communicate complex data concepts in business terms.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a cross-functional team for data strategy, data science and Data Stewards.
• Partner with AI Strategy Leader to align data operations with AI/ML objectives and model performance goals.
• Oversee the R&D data strategy and ensure scalable, enterprise-wide processes.
• Translate complex R&D data into executive-ready narratives to inform investment decisions.
• Oversee the dashboard roadmap and deliver intuitive analytics tools with real-time visibility into R&D pipelines.
• Serve as escalation point for data operational issues and ensure lifecycle is compliant with global standards.

Skills

People leadership

Analytics leadership

Strategic communication

Data strategy

Education

Master's degree in Business Analytics, Data Science, Information Management, or related field

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: Sr Director, R&D Data Operations & Analytics

As the Sr Director, R&D Data Operations & Analytics, you will lead the global execution engine that transforms R&D data into a competitive advantage. You are responsible for leading the effort to define the R&D data governance framework, establish metadata standards, and lead the transition toward a “Data-as-a-Product” mindset; operationalizing the R&D data strategy by leading a high‑performing team of specialized Data Stewards and driving the end‑to‑end dashboard and analytics ecosystem. You will translate complex data ecosystems into clear, actionable insights that empower R&D leaders to make informed strategic decisions. In this capacity, you will ensure that all data operations and pipelines are robust, scalable, and purpose‑built to achieve Elanco’s long‑term AI and digital transformation goals.

Your Responsibilities:

• People Leadership: Lead and develop a cross‑functional team for data strategy, data science and Data Stewards (Clinical, Lab, Regulatory).

• AI Goal Alignment: Partner closely with the AI Strategy Leader to ensure that data operations, ingestion pipelines, and storage architectures are optimized to achieve Elanco’s AI/ML objectives and model performance goals.

• Scalability & Strategy Alignment: Oversight of the R&D data strategy to ensure the strategic roadmap is translated into scalable operational processes that can support global growth and increasing data volumes while aligned with Enterprise goals.

• Strategic Insights: Translate complex R&D data sets into executive‑ready narratives, using data visualization to influence strategic R&D investment and operational decisions.

• Analytics & Dashboard Delivery: Oversee the R&D dashboard roadmap, ensuring the delivery of intuitive, high‑impact analytics tools that provide real‑time visibility into the R&D pipeline.

• Operational Excellence: Serve as the primary point of escalation for data operational issues, ensuring that the R&D data lifecycle is efficient, reliable, and compliant with global standards.

What You Need to Succeed (minimum qualifications):

• Education: Master’s degree in Business Analytics, Data Science, Information Management, or a related scientific field.

• Experience: 10+ years in data‑centric roles, with at least 3 years of direct people management experience in a complex, matrixed environment.

• Analytical Leadership: Proven track record of leading analytics teams to deliver actionable insights to senior executives.

• Strategic Communication: Exceptional ability to synthesize technical data into clear, compelling "business stories" for non‑technical leadership.

What will give you a competitive edge (preferred qualifications):

• Industry Expertise: Extensive experience in pharmaceutical R&D, clinical operations, or animal health regulated environments.

• AI/ML Familiarity: Strong understanding of data analytics, AI/ML workflows and how data quality, governance, and pipeline health influence AI model performance, reliability, and lifecycle management.

• Change Management: Demonstrated success leading large‑scale digital or data transformation initiatives across cross‑functional global teams.

Additional Information:

• Location: Global Elanco Headquarters - Indianapolis, IN

• Work Model: Hybrid - This position is based in Indianapolis and requires a blend of on‑site and remote work.

• Travel: Less than 10%

Don't 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!

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.