Advisor, Operations & Alliances, External Innovation

Elanco•Indianapolis, IN

6d•Hybrid

About The Position

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: Advisor, Operations & Alliances, External Innovation Advisor, Operations & Alliances, External Innovation (EI) will serve as a strategic partner to the EI team, driving operational excellence, facilitating strategic initiatives, and ensuring seamless operations execution across the function. This pivotal role will optimize internal processes, support key alliance management activities, and enhance communication to maximize the impact of Elanco's external innovation efforts. The ideal candidate is a highly organized, proactive, and strategic thinker with a proven ability to manage complex projects, foster collaboration, translate vision into actionable plans, develop effective workflow and operational planning, and operate effectively in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Science, or a related field.
5years of experience in Operations, Project Management, Alliance Management or similar strategic support role, preferably within the pharmaceutical, animal health, or biotechnology industry.
Strong understanding of the animal health industry and innovation ecosystem.
Demonstrated experience in supporting business development, external innovation, or alliance management functions and proven ability to manage complex projects, drive process improvements, and influence without direct authority.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree (MBA) or advanced scientific degree (e.g., PhD).
Experience working in a global organization.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (PowerPoint, Excel, Word, Outlook) and project management software.

Responsibilities

Strategic Planning & Execution Support: Partner with the leadership of EI to translate strategic vision into actionable plans and monitor progress against key objectives. Prepare and synthesize materials for executive-level presentations, board meetings, and strategic reviews. Develop content to be used with internal and external stakeholders to deliver Elanco’s growth message, partnering aims, and quarterly accomplishments (including websites and external communications).
Operational Excellence & Process Improvement: Design, implement, and optimize operational processes and workflows within EI to enhance efficiency, transparency, and accountability. Manage the EI budget, resource allocation, and operational planning cycles. Oversee the development and maintenance of critical departmental tools, databases, and knowledge management systems.
Alliance Management Support: Develop a plan and establish best practices for partner engagement, communication, and performance tracking. Support the preparation for and follow-up from key alliance governance meetings, ensuring action items are tracked and completed. Help identify and mitigate risks associated with strategic alliances, ensuring alignment with Elanco's objectives.
Communication & Stakeholder Management: Facilitate effective communication within the EI team and across relevant internal stakeholders (e.g., R&D, Commercial, Legal, Finance). Act as a central point of contact for internal inquiries, triaging requests and ensuring timely responses. Develop and manage internal communication strategies to highlight EI achievements and foster cross-functional understanding.
Project Management: Support critical cross-functional projects and initiatives, ensuring timely delivery and alignment with strategic goals. Develop project plans, track milestones, manage risks, and report on project status to relevant stakeholders; incorporate EI projects into master planning and resource cycles.