Associate Director, ExploR&D Consultation Agreements
Eli Lilly and Company
August 21, 2026
Remote friendly (San Francisco, CA)
United States
Corporate Functions
Job Summary
The Associate Director, ExploR&D Consultation Agreements is responsible for leading the negotiation and execution of consultation agreements between Lilly ExploR&D and external biotech partners across preclinical and development matters. Hands-on, high-throughput contracting focused on drafting, redlining, and moving a large volume of agreements through negotiation to signature.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead end-to-end negotiation of consultation agreements (initial term discussions through executed contract)
- Move a high volume of agreements to signature efficiently, balancing speed with rigor
- Serve as primary interface for biotechs via the consultation pathway; translate scientific scope into commercial terms
- Partner with ExploR&D leadership/SMEs to structure consultations aligned with Lilly R&D capabilities
- Draft, redline, and finalize agreements with Legal; ensure commercial terms, scope, deliverables, and risk allocation are captured
- Partner with scientists to translate technical scope into precise, bounded work plans
- Negotiate change orders/amendments as scope/timelines/deliverables evolve
- Communicate contract structure, timelines, and engagement model with clarity
- Maintain deal tracking, portfolio visibility, and cycle-time discipline
- Identify process improvements to reduce friction, standardize terms, and shorten time-to-signature
- Partner with Finance, Legal, and Compliance to meet governance, risk, and approval standards
- Potential to extend into alliance management responsibilities
Minimum Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in any field
- 7+ years in business development, contracting, or R&D consulting
- Authorized to work in the United States full-time; Lilly does not sponsor work authorization/visas
Additional Skills/Preferences
- PhD/PharmD/MS in life sciences/biomedical/STEM
- Deep R&D fluency in drug discovery and/or development; credible peer to biotech scientific leaders
- Experience negotiating biotech/pharma/life sciences agreements; drafting/redlining/executing contracts
- Track record managing multiple concurrent contracts
- Early-stage biotech ecosystem/external innovation experience
- Alliance management experience
- Strong written/verbal communication; ability to simplify complex scientific/contract terms
- Comfortable with ambiguity; build repeatable processes
- Cross-functional collaboration across Legal, Finance, and R&D
Additional Information
- Travel up to 10% (US and/or OUS)
Application Instructions
- If you require accommodation to submit a resume, complete the workplace accommodation request form: https://careers.lilly.com/us/en/workplace-accommodation
The Associate Director, ExploR&D Consultation Agreements is responsible for leading the negotiation and execution of consultation agreements between Lilly ExploR&D and external biotech partners across preclinical and development matters. Hands-on, high-throughput contracting focused on drafting, redlining, and moving a large volume of agreements through negotiation to signature.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead end-to-end negotiation of consultation agreements (initial term discussions through executed contract)
- Move a high volume of agreements to signature efficiently, balancing speed with rigor
- Serve as primary interface for biotechs via the consultation pathway; translate scientific scope into commercial terms
- Partner with ExploR&D leadership/SMEs to structure consultations aligned with Lilly R&D capabilities
- Draft, redline, and finalize agreements with Legal; ensure commercial terms, scope, deliverables, and risk allocation are captured
- Partner with scientists to translate technical scope into precise, bounded work plans
- Negotiate change orders/amendments as scope/timelines/deliverables evolve
- Communicate contract structure, timelines, and engagement model with clarity
- Maintain deal tracking, portfolio visibility, and cycle-time discipline
- Identify process improvements to reduce friction, standardize terms, and shorten time-to-signature
- Partner with Finance, Legal, and Compliance to meet governance, risk, and approval standards
- Potential to extend into alliance management responsibilities
Minimum Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in any field
- 7+ years in business development, contracting, or R&D consulting
- Authorized to work in the United States full-time; Lilly does not sponsor work authorization/visas
Additional Skills/Preferences
- PhD/PharmD/MS in life sciences/biomedical/STEM
- Deep R&D fluency in drug discovery and/or development; credible peer to biotech scientific leaders
- Experience negotiating biotech/pharma/life sciences agreements; drafting/redlining/executing contracts
- Track record managing multiple concurrent contracts
- Early-stage biotech ecosystem/external innovation experience
- Alliance management experience
- Strong written/verbal communication; ability to simplify complex scientific/contract terms
- Comfortable with ambiguity; build repeatable processes
- Cross-functional collaboration across Legal, Finance, and R&D
Additional Information
- Travel up to 10% (US and/or OUS)
Application Instructions
- If you require accommodation to submit a resume, complete the workplace accommodation request form: https://careers.lilly.com/us/en/workplace-accommodation