Consulting - Business Transformation - Life Sciences R&D - Staff

Consulting - Business Transformation - Life Sciences R&D - Staff 2

Our clients operate in a world where achieving and sustaining performance is more difficult than ever. EY’s Life Sciences Consulting Services team assists clients in finding the right balance between protecting the business and driving measurable value. 

The opportunity

EY has a robust, purpose-driven life sciences research and development (R&D) practice which aims to inspire and enable our clients to accelerate patient impact. ​Our practice helps clients shape strategic innovation priorities, improve operational efficiency, and embed compliance across the R&D value chain including discovery, pre-clinical, clinical, translational, and post-market surveillance / real-world evidence in life sciences and healthcare settings. This staff role within our Consulting practice will have the opportunity to support client engagements and innovate in the market. Our practice works with large pharma, biotechnology, academic medical centers, health systems, cancer centers, children’s hospitals, and more. You will be an integral member of our life sciences consulting team and spend most of your time focused on providing client services in the following areas: strategic planning, business transformation, organizational structure and operating model optimization, clinical trial acceleration, complex data analytics, research compliance and regulatory affairs and technology implementation support.

Your key responsibilities

A majority of your time will be spent supporting client engagement teams and working with a wide variety of clients to deliver professional services in life sciences and health domain. 

Skills and attributes for success

• Basic understanding of R&D processes, terminology, and challenges across areas such as preclinical research, clinical development, regulatory affairs and quality and safety functions
• Ability to work collaboratively within teams, contributing to a positive and productive team environment
• Strong intellectual curiosity and proactive approach to continuously deepen knowledge of evolving scientific, technological, and business trends in R&D to better serve client needs
• Strong quantitative and qualitative problem-solving skills to dissect challenges, interpret data, and deliver evidence-based insights
• Effective communication skills, with the ability to convey information clearly in written and verbal formats
• Confident and professional demeanor that builds trust and credibility with client and internal teams
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail to manage multiple tasks and deadlines while maintaining high-quality outputs
• Comfortable navigating ambiguity, shifting priorities, and fast-paced environments typical of consulting engagements

To qualify for the role, you must have

• Bachelor’s degree in business, life sciences, health, or a related field
• 1-2 years of relevant experience in life sciences and/or health  (e.g., pharma, biotech, CRO, academic medical center, cancer centers, etc.), preferably in an R&D setting

• Basic knowledge of key R&D functions, including preclinical research, clinical trial execution / clinical development, regulatory affairs, and quality or safety functions

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to synthesize complex issues into actionable insights
• Proficiency in core business tools, including Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint
• Willingness to travel based on project requirements and client needs

Ideally, you’ll also have

• Advanced coursework, certifications, or degree (e.g., MBA, MS, PhD) in life sciences, business, public health, or a related discipline
• Prior R&D / clinical trials / clinical development consulting experience
• Familiarity with regulatory frameworks (e.g., GxP, ICH, FDA) and compliance requirements in R&D environments
• Exposure to tools and platforms commonly used in R&D and clinical development functions, such as clinical trial management systems (CTMS)

What we look for

We’re interested in motivated professionals with a passion for life sciences, healthcare and R&D, who bring strong analytical thinking, clear communication, and a client-focused mindset. Successful candidates thrive in dynamic, team-oriented environments, demonstrate executive presence, and are eager to solve complex challenges to help clients advance innovation and improve performance across the R&D lifecycle across health and life sciences.