R&D Pharma Life Sciences – Clinical Operations, Senior Associate

Industry/Sector

Pharma and Life Sciences

Specialism

Operations

Management Level

Senior Associate

Job Description & Summary

At PwC, our people in management consulting focus on helping clients seize essential advantages by working alongside business leaders to solve their toughest problems and capture their greatest opportunities. They work with some of the world’s largest and most complex companies to understand their unique business issues and opportunities in an ever changing environment. These individuals help create sustainable change by stimulating innovation, unlocking data possibilities, navigating risk and regulatory complexity, optimising deals, and aligning costs with business strategy to create a competitive advantage. Management consultants help the world’s most significant organisations, public and private, quickly become more effective. They improve the way organisations operate; manage costs; better align people, process and technology initiatives; support business growth to maintain or improve competitive edge and complete market and regulatory risk assessment.

As a management consulting generalist at PwC, you will play a vital role in helping clients optimise their operations, improve performance, and achieve strategic objectives. Your work may include analysing business data, developing strategies, supporting management teams, collaborating across teams, optimising tools and technology, improving organisational performance, monitoring compliance, and/or managing change.

Focused on relationships, you are building meaningful client connections, and learning how to manage and inspire others. Navigating increasingly complex situations, you are growing your personal brand, deepening technical expertise and awareness of your strengths. You are expected to anticipate the needs of your teams and clients, and to deliver quality. Embracing increased ambiguity, you are comfortable when the path forward isn’t clear, you ask questions, and you use these moments as opportunities to grow.

Examples of the skills, knowledge, and experiences you need to lead and deliver value at this level include but are not limited to:

• Respond effectively to the diverse perspectives, needs, and feelings of others.
• Use a broad range of tools, methodologies and techniques to generate new ideas and solve problems.
• Use critical thinking to break down complex concepts.
• Understand the broader objectives of your project or role and how your work fits into the overall strategy.
• Develop a deeper understanding of the business context and how it is changing.
• Use reflection to develop self awareness, enhance strengths and address development areas.
• Interpret data to inform insights and recommendations.
• Uphold and reinforce professional and technical standards (e.g. refer to specific PwC tax and audit guidance), the Firm’s code of conduct, and independence requirements.

The Opportunity

We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Senior Associate to join our Pharma Life Sciences R&D Management Consulting practice. As part of the Pharma Life Sciences R&D team, you will support pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device and contract research organization (CRO) industries. Your role involves collaborating with clients to navigate the development lifecycle, including clinical trial design, R&D operations, organizational design, process optimization, regulatory compliance, decision support, and analytics. As a Senior Associate, you analyze complex clinical and operational challenges, support strategic decision-making, and contribute to high-impact client engagements.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with clients to evaluate clinical development strategies, regulatory frameworks, and R&D operational efficiency
• Design and optimize clinical trial processes to deliver effective and timely outcomes
• Support organizational design initiatives to streamline R&D functions and improve operational effectiveness
• Provide regulatory guidance to establish compliance with industry standards and regulations
• Utilize decision support and analytics to drive data-informed decision-making processes.
• Develop and deliver compelling presentations that communicate complex concepts in a clear and concise manner
• Facilitate workshops and meetings with client stakeholders to gather requirements, present findings, and drive consensus
• Build and maintain strong, trusted relationships with clients, acting as a strategic advisor
• Lead and contribute to project management activities, executing timely and successful project deliverables
• Work collaboratively with cross-functional teams to achieve project goals and client satisfaction
• Contribute to the integration of AI-driven solutions and digital health technologies to enhance patient outcomes and drug development efficiency
• Demonstrate adaptability in ambiguous situations, using strategic questioning to clarify complex strategic and operational challenges

What You Must Have

• Bachelor’s degree in Life Sciences, Pharmacy, Biotechnology, or a related field
• 3+ years of experience in pharmaceutical consulting, regulatory affairs, or R&D strategy

What Sets You Apart

• Master’s Degree preferred (e.g., MPH, PharmD, MBA, or MSc in a relevant field)
• Demonstrated experience in the pharmaceutical industry in roles such as Strategic Planning, Clinical Operations, Medical Affairs, or Regulatory Affairs
• Experience in contract research organizations (CROs), academic scientific research, regulatory health authorities, or life sciences consulting
• Technical specialization and understanding of the pharma and life sciences landscape – including R&D processes, regulatory challenges, and market dynamic – to provide informed insights on technical topics such as drug development and regulatory requirements and compliance in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries
• Proven analytical rigor and problem-solving skills utilizing data-driven analysis and established consulting frameworks to manage projects, execute change initiatives, and deliver actionable recommendations
• Ability to analyze and interpret complex clinical, regulatory, and operational data to inform strategic decision-making
• Proficiency in process improvement methodologies to enhance clinical trials, regulatory submissions, and compliance strategies
• Experience in stakeholder engagement and relationship management, enabling seamless collaboration with clients and regulatory agencies
• Exposure to AI-driven technologies, data analytics, and digital health solutions in pharmaceutical R&D functions
• Effective project management and facilitation skills with clear communication and presentation abilities, experience identifying and addressing client needs, proficiency in decision support and analytics tools, and the ability to manage tasks, solve problems, and work both independently and collaboratively

Travel Requirements

Up to 60%

Job Posting End Date

Learn more about how we work: https://pwc.to/how-we-work

PwC does not intend to hire experienced or entry level job seekers who will need, now or in the future, PwC sponsorship through the H-1B lottery, except as set forth within the following policy: https://pwc.to/H-1B-Lottery-Policy.

As PwC is an equal opportunity employer, all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment at PwC without regard to race; color; religion; national origin; sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity); age; disability; genetic information (including family medical history); veteran, marital, or citizenship status; or, any other status protected by law.

For only those qualified applicants that are impacted by the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, the Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, San Diego County Fair Chance Ordinance, and the California Fair Chance Act, where applicable, arrest or conviction records will be considered for Employment in accordance with these laws. At PwC, we recognize that conviction records may have a direct, adverse, and negative relationship to responsibilities such as accessing sensitive company or customer information, handling proprietary assets, or collaborating closely with team members. We evaluate these factors thoughtfully to establish a secure and trusted workplace for all.

The salary range for this position is: $77,000 – $202,000, plus individuals may be eligible for an annual discretionary bonus. For roles that are based in Maryland, this is the listed salary range for this position. Actual compensation within the range will be dependent upon the individual’s skills, experience, qualifications and location, and applicable employment laws. PwC offers a wide range of benefits, including medical, dental, vision, 401k, holiday pay, vacation, personal and family sick leave, and more. To view our benefits at a glance, please visit the following link: https://pwc.to/benefits-at-a-glance

Read Full Description