Kearney Healthcare & Life Sciences Practice Principal (Pharma R&D Strategy)

Full-timeAmericasAtlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, New York, San Francisco, Washington DC

Job Description

As a Principal within Kearney’s Healthcare & Life Sciences Practice, you will play a key role in driving the growth and development of our Pharma R&D Strategy offering. You will work closely with senior 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 strategy consultants with deep 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 leading enterprise-level strategy engagements within pharmaceutical R&D organizations. 

Key responsibilities: 

Client Leadership & Delivery 

  • Lead large, complex strategy engagements for pharmaceutical and biopharma clients across R&D and clinical development functions  

  • Advise senior executives on strategic topics including:  

    • Clinical development strategy  

    • Drug development strategy  

    • Clinical trial strategy and operating models  

    • Clinical operations transformation  

    • Regulatory affairs strategy  

    • Pharmacovigilance and drug safety strategy  

    • Clinical trial feasibility and development planning  

    • Digital strategy and transformation across R&D organizations  

  • Support clients in designing and optimizing R&D operating models and organizational effectiveness  

  • Drive strategic problem solving from issue identification through analysis, synthesis, and executive recommendation development  

  • Translate complex analyses into clear, actionable insights for C-suite stakeholders  

  • Lead cross-functional teams and independently manage high-impact engagement workstreams  

  • Serve as a trusted advisor to senior client leadership across pharmaceutical and biopharma organizations  

  • Provide thought leadership on evolving trends across Pharma R&D, clinical development, and digital transformation 

Business Development & Practice Growth 

  • Originate and expand client relationships across Pharma and Life Sciences accounts  

  • Support growth of Kearney’s Pharma R&D Strategy capabilities within the practice  

  • Lead proposal development and contribute to senior-level client pitches  

  • Identify opportunities to expand strategic advisory relationships within existing and new clients  

  • Contribute to the development of intellectual capital and differentiated market offerings across Pharma R&D and clinical development 

Program Leadership & Team Development 

  • Mentor and develop junior consultants and engagement teams  

  • Foster a collaborative, high-performing team environment  

  • Provide coaching and oversight across multiple engagements to ensure quality and impact  

  • Help build and strengthen Kearney’s Pharma R&D Strategy presence within Life Sciences 

Who You Are 

After nearly 100 years, we know this business is fundamentally about making connections—between facts, figures, insights, strategies, 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 10+ years of professional experience  

  • Significant management consulting experience at the Principal level or equivalent  

  • A strong traditional consulting background with experience leading strategy engagements within Pharma R&D and clinical development  

  • Experience advising pharmaceutical and biopharma 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 lead strategic advisory engagements versus operational execution-focused delivery work  

  • Strong executive presence and ability to influence senior stakeholders  

  • Experience managing proposal development, client pitches, and business development efforts  

  • Proven ability to independently lead multiple complex workstreams and client relationships  

  • Exceptional communication, analytical, 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  

 

Principal base salary – $245,000-$270,000. 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 program, and leaves of absence when needed to support employees’ physical, mental, and emotional well-being. 

Equal Employment Opportunity and Non-Discrimination

Kearney prides itself on providing a culture that allows employees to bring their best selves to work every day. Our people can feel comfortable, confident, and joyful to do great things for our firm, our colleagues, and our clients. Kearney aims to build diverse capabilities to help our clients solve their most mission critical problems.

Kearney is committed to building a diverse, unbiased and inclusive workforce. Kearney is an equal opportunity employer; we recruit, hire, train, promote, develop, and provide other conditions of employment without regard to a person’s gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, race, religion, age, national origin, disability, marital status, pregnancy status, veteran status, genetic information or any other differences consistent with applicable laws. This includes providing reasonable accommodation for disabilities, or religious beliefs and practices. Members of communities historically underrepresented in consulting are encouraged to apply. #LI-KH1