Healthcare & Life Sciences Practice Manager; Pharma R&D Strategy

Job Description

As a Manager within Kearney’s Healthcare & Life Sciences Practice, you will play an important role in supporting the growth and development of our Pharma R&D Strategy offering. You will work closely with clients and internal teams to develop strategic insights and deliver high-impact outcomes across complex pharmaceutical R&D and clinical development challenges.

We are seeking experienced consultants with expertise across Pharma R&D, particularly those with a traditional consulting background advising biopharma clients on clinical development, drug development strategy, operating models, and R&D transformation initiatives. This role is focused on strategic advisory work rather than operational program execution. Ideal candidates will bring strong hypothesis-driven problem solving, executive communication skills, and experience managing complex strategy engagements within pharmaceutical R&D organizations.

• Support and manage strategy engagements for pharmaceutical and biopharma clients across R&D and clinical development functions
• Advise clients on topics including clinical development strategy, drug development strategy, clinical operations, regulatory affairs, pharmacovigilance, clinical trial feasibility, and R&D operating models
• Support digital strategy and transformation initiatives across Pharma R&D organizations
• Drive strategic problem solving from analysis through executive recommendation development
• Manage engagement work streams and collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver high-impact client outcomes
• Contribute to proposal development, business development activities, and growth of Kearney’s Pharma R&D Strategy capabilities
• Mentor junior consultants and support a collaborative, high-performing team environment

After nearly 100 years, we know this business is fundamentally about making connections—between facts, figures, insights, strategies, tools, technologies, and above all, people. That’s why we look for collaborative, insightful, and inquisitive problem-solvers who don’t accept the first thing in front of them and who are always unapologetically themselves.

• MBA preferred and 8+ years of professional experience
• Relevant management consulting experience with exposure to strategy engagements within Pharma R&D and clinical development
• A strong consulting background with experience supporting strategic advisory engagements within pharmaceutical and biopharma organizations
• Experience advising clients across one or more of the following areas:
  • Clinical development
  • Drug development
  • Clinical operations
  • Regulatory affairs
  • Pharmacovigilance / drug safety
  • Clinical trial feasibility
  • Clinical development program strategy
  • R&D operating models
  • Digital strategy and transformation within R&D organizations
• Deep pharmaceutical industry expertise; candidates focused primarily on medtech or consumer health are less aligned for this role
• Demonstrated ability to support strategic advisory engagements versus operational execution-focused delivery work
• Strong communication skills and executive presence
• Experience supporting proposal development, client pitches, and business development activities
• Proven ability to independently manage multiple complex work streams
• Exceptional analytical, problem solving, and leadership skills
• Willingness to travel as required

Manager base salary – $212,000-$235,000. It is important to note that at Kearney, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at the top of the range for their role. Individual salaries within each range are determined through a wide variety of factors including but not limited to education, experience, knowledge and skills. Kearney reviews compensation regularly and may adjust base salaries to reflect market competitiveness.

In addition to salary, individuals may be eligible for a discretionary performance bonus. Our full suite of benefits includes paid time off, 401(k) match and profit sharing, medical, dental and vision coverage, healthcare concierge, backup child/adult care, annual employer HSA contribution, home office stipend, subsidized Gympass and annual wellness…