Kearney 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. Key responsibilities:

• 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 workstreams 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

Who you are: 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. We want to hear from you if you have:

• 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 workstreams
• Exceptional analytical, problem solving, and leadership skills
• Willingness to travel as required

What we can offer you: Every day, our people work to be the difference for our clients, our communities, and our colleagues. Helping them make an impact, they are sustained by a competitive remuneration package plus comprehensive benefits and perks, including but not limited to:

• Generous retirement/pension savings contributions
• Comprehensive medical insurance for employees and immediate family
• Gym membership discounts
• Non-partner equity-based awards (for consulting managers and above)
• Structured and on-the-job learning and development opportunities
• Personalized opportunities including talent mobility, flexible work programs, and externships to help you chart a unique career journey to pursue your own personal and professional goals