Associate Director - Strategy & Consulting Life Sciences Pharmaceutical R&D H/F Accenture France

About the Role

As an Associate Director in Accenture's Life Sciences Strategy & Consulting practice, you will lead high-impact strategy and transformation engagements for pharmaceutical clients, with a particular focus on Research & Development. You will help R&D leaders address their most critical challenges across discovery, preclinical, clinical development, clinical operations, portfolio strategy, and operating model transformation.

This role combines deep pharmaceutical R&D expertise, strong consulting leadership, and commercial acumen. You will serve as a trusted advisor to senior client stakeholders, lead multidisciplinary teams, shape strategic recommendations, and help grow Accenture's Life Sciences practice through business development, thought leadership, and talent development.

Key Responsibilities

Client Leadership & Strategic Advisory

• Serve as a trusted advisor to senior R&D stakeholders, including Heads of Research, Translational Medicine, Clinical Development, Clinical Operations, Regulatory, and Portfolio Strategy.
• Lead executive-level problem solving on topics such as R&D strategy, innovation models, portfolio prioritization, development productivity, trial modernization, and target operating model design.
• Translate complex client issues into structured hypotheses, workplans, decision frameworks, and pragmatic recommendations linked to measurable business outcomes.

Engagement Delivery

• Lead end-to-end engagements across diagnostic, strategy, design, and transformation phases, ensuring high-quality delivery and lasting client impact.
• Oversee the development of business cases, operating models, governance structures, implementation roadmaps, and executive-level communications.
• Manage risks, interdependencies, and senior stakeholder alignment across complex, global, cross-functional programs.

Pharmaceutical R&D Expertise

• Bring deep expertise across the pharma R&D value chain, including discovery, preclinical development, early and late-stage clinical development, clinical operations, regulatory interfaces, and portfolio management.
• Advise clients on key challenges such as R&D productivity improvement, asset and portfolio prioritization, clinical trial innovation, digital and AI enablement in R&D, external innovation partnerships, and governance redesign.
• Connect strategy to execution by working closely with Accenture teams across Technology, Data & AI, and Operations to deliver integrated transformation solutions.

Business Development & Practice Growth

• Identify, qualify, and shape new opportunities within existing and prospective pharmaceutical accounts.
• Lead or co-lead proposals, RFP responses, commercial discussions, and client presentations with clear articulation of value and differentiation.
• Develop repeatable offerings, methodologies, and thought leadership focused on pharmaceutical R&D transformation and innovation.
• Contribute to the growth of the Life Sciences practice through market-facing initiatives, alliance development, and internal capability building.

People Leadership

• Lead and develop multidisciplinary teams across consulting, analytics, industry, and technology capabilities.
• Coach Managers, Consultants, and Analysts, providing direction, apprenticeship, and feedback to support growth and performance.
• Foster an inclusive, collaborative culture that encourages innovation, accountability, and excellence.

Thought Leadership & Innovation

• Develop points of view and thought leadership on emerging topics such as AI-enabled drug discovery, precision medicine, platform trials, decentralized and hybrid trials, real-world data, and evolving regulatory expectations.
• Represent Accenture in client forums, industry events, and internal communities as a visible leader in pharmaceutical R&D strategy and transformation.