Associate Director, ExploR&D Consultation Agreements
Eli Lilly and Company
August 21, 2026
Remote friendly (Indiana, United States)
United States
Corporate Functions
Job Summary
The Associate Director, ExploR&D Consultation Agreements leads negotiation and execution of consultation agreements between Lilly ExploR&D and external biotech partners across preclinical and development matters.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead end-to-end negotiation of consultation agreements (from term discussions through executed contract).
- Move a high volume of agreements through negotiation to signature efficiently (speed with rigor).
- Serve as primary interface for biotechs via the consultation pathway; translate scientific scope into commercial terms.
- Partner with ExploR&D leadership and subject-matter experts to structure aligned consultations.
- Draft, redline, and finalize agreements with Legal; ensure commercial terms/scope/deliverables reflect scientific risk.
- Translate technical scope into precise, bounded work plans with Lilly scientists.
- Negotiate change orders and amendments as scope/timelines/deliverables evolve.
- Communicate contract structure/timelines clearly with biotech counterparts.
- Maintain deal tracking, pipeline visibility, and cycle-time discipline.
- Drive process improvements to reduce friction and shorten time-to-signature.
- Partner with Finance, Legal, and Compliance to meet governance, risk, and approval standards.
- Potential to extend into alliance management over time.
Minimum Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in any field.
- 7+ years in business development, contracting, or R&D consulting.
- Authorization to work in the U.S. (Lilly does not sponsor visas).
Additional Skills/Preferences
- PhD/PharmD/MS (life sciences/biomedical/STEM).
- R&D fluency in drug discovery and/or development; credibility with biotech scientific leaders.
- Experience negotiating biotech/pharma/life sciences agreements.
- Direct experience drafting/redlining/executing contracts.
- Manage multiple concurrent contracts; strong attention to detail.
- Early-stage biotech ecosystem experience.
- Alliance management experience.
- Strong written/verbal communication; distill complex scientific/contract terms.
- Comfortable with ambiguity; builds repeatable processes.
- Cross-functional collaboration (Legal, Finance, R&D).
Additional Information
- Travel up to 10% (US and/or OUS).
Compensation & Benefits (as stated)
- Anticipated base pay: $132,000–$193,600.
- Potential company bonus.
- Comprehensive benefits including 401(k), pension, vacation; medical/dental/vision/prescription; flexible benefits; life insurance; time off/leave; well-being benefits.
The Associate Director, ExploR&D Consultation Agreements leads negotiation and execution of consultation agreements between Lilly ExploR&D and external biotech partners across preclinical and development matters.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead end-to-end negotiation of consultation agreements (from term discussions through executed contract).
- Move a high volume of agreements through negotiation to signature efficiently (speed with rigor).
- Serve as primary interface for biotechs via the consultation pathway; translate scientific scope into commercial terms.
- Partner with ExploR&D leadership and subject-matter experts to structure aligned consultations.
- Draft, redline, and finalize agreements with Legal; ensure commercial terms/scope/deliverables reflect scientific risk.
- Translate technical scope into precise, bounded work plans with Lilly scientists.
- Negotiate change orders and amendments as scope/timelines/deliverables evolve.
- Communicate contract structure/timelines clearly with biotech counterparts.
- Maintain deal tracking, pipeline visibility, and cycle-time discipline.
- Drive process improvements to reduce friction and shorten time-to-signature.
- Partner with Finance, Legal, and Compliance to meet governance, risk, and approval standards.
- Potential to extend into alliance management over time.
Minimum Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in any field.
- 7+ years in business development, contracting, or R&D consulting.
- Authorization to work in the U.S. (Lilly does not sponsor visas).
Additional Skills/Preferences
- PhD/PharmD/MS (life sciences/biomedical/STEM).
- R&D fluency in drug discovery and/or development; credibility with biotech scientific leaders.
- Experience negotiating biotech/pharma/life sciences agreements.
- Direct experience drafting/redlining/executing contracts.
- Manage multiple concurrent contracts; strong attention to detail.
- Early-stage biotech ecosystem experience.
- Alliance management experience.
- Strong written/verbal communication; distill complex scientific/contract terms.
- Comfortable with ambiguity; builds repeatable processes.
- Cross-functional collaboration (Legal, Finance, R&D).
Additional Information
- Travel up to 10% (US and/or OUS).
Compensation & Benefits (as stated)
- Anticipated base pay: $132,000–$193,600.
- Potential company bonus.
- Comprehensive benefits including 401(k), pension, vacation; medical/dental/vision/prescription; flexible benefits; life insurance; time off/leave; well-being benefits.