Vice President, Research & Breakthrough Innovation

At Elanco (NYSE: ELAN) – it all starts with animals!

As a global leader in animal health, we are dedicated to innovation and delivering products and services to prevent and treat disease in farm animals and pets. At Elanco, we are driven by our vision of Food and Companionship Enriching Life and our purpose – all to Go Beyond for Animals, Customers, Society and Our People.

At Elanco, we pride ourselves on fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment. We believe that diversity is the driving force behind innovation, creativity, and overall business success. Here, you’ll be part of a company that values and champions new ways of thinking, work with dynamic individuals, and acquire new skills and experiences that will propel your career to new heights.

Making animals’ lives better makes life better – join our team today!

Your Role: Vice President, Research & Breakthrough Innovation

As Vice President, Research & Breakthrough Innovation, you will be part of the global R&D leadership team to deliver Elanco’s long-term scientific vision. In this role, you’ll be responsible for leading the discovery organization, managing breakthrough innovation portfolios, and translating complex scientific concepts into sustainable commercial value for the enterprise.

Your Responsibilities:

• Lead the identification and validation of novel scientific platforms and therapeutic modalities to fuel Elanco’s long-term research pipeline.
• Oversee the management of global research portfolios, making high-impact decisions on resource allocation and financial oversight for innovation budgets.
• Drive breakthrough innovation initiatives by identifying and evaluating unique scientific challenges and providing guidance to teams to develop pioneering solutions.
• Build and extend strategic relationships with global external innovation ecosystems, regulators, and partners to enhance Elanco’s competitive edge in research.
• Direct the translation of early-stage research into commercially viable assets, ensuring a robust bridge between scientific discovery and market readiness.

What You Need to Succeed (minimum qualifications):

• Education: Advanced degree (PhD, DVM, or equivalent) in a relevant scientific field.
• Experience: A minimum of 12 years of experience in research leadership and breakthrough innovation management within the animal health or pharmaceutical industry.
• Expertise in managing large-scale research portfolios and visionary leadership in discovery operations.

What will give you a competitive edge (preferred qualifications):

• Experience with both large and small molecules and/or monoclonal antibodies.
• Proven track record of successful external innovation partnership development and global regulatory navigation.
• Demonstrated ability to influence at the executive level and drive cross-functional alignment across a global organization.
• Significant experience in financial management of multi-million dollar R&D budgets and asset management.
• Experience leading diverse, high-performing scientific teams in a global, matrixed environment.

Additional Information:

Travel: 25%

Location: Global Elanco Headquarters - Indianapolis, IN - Hybrid Work Environment

Don't meet every single requirement? Studies have shown underrecognized groups are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At Elanco we are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive work environment. If you think you might be a good fit for a role but don't necessarily meet every requirement, we encourage you to apply. You may be the right candidate for this role or other roles!

Elanco Benefits and Perks:

We offer a comprehensive benefits package focusing on financial, physical, and mental well-being while encouraging our employees to pursue our purpose! Some highlights include:
• Multiple relocation packages
• Two weeklong shutdowns (mid-summer and year-end) in the US (in addition to PTO)
• 8-week parental leave
• 9 Employee Resource Groups
• Annual bonus offering
• Flexible work arrangements
• Up to 6% 401K matching

Elanco is an EEO/Affirmative Action Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, protected veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status

Elanco may use automated tools, including AI, to support parts of our recruitment process, such as reviewing applications against job‑related criteria and/or transferrable skills. These tools help ensure a consistent, structured evaluation, but they do not make hiring decisions. All decisions involve a human reviewer. For more information on how we handle personal data, please see our Elanco Workforce Privacy Notice.