Job Description

JOIN THE CHALLENGER CONSULTANCY

Principal, Pharmaceutical & Life Sciences

Help expand our life sciences business in the Boston-Cambridge market and lead high-impact work across the US.

New York-based | Boston-Cambridge market focus | Full-time

This is a growth role for a consulting leader who can win trust in the market, turn complex life sciences problems into measurable results, and build the client relationships and teams that support a path to Partner.

About Elixirr

Elixirr International plc is a global consulting firm with a bold ambition: to become the best consulting firm in the world.

Founded in 2009 to challenge a declining industry standard, we’ve grown from a single vision into a powerhouse of entrepreneurial talent, delivering boardroom strategy through to execution.

After IPO-ing on AIM in July 2020, Elixirr moved to the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange in July 2025. In that time, our market cap has grown from £98 million to over £350 million – a testament to our differentiated approach and relentless pursuit of excellence.

With a presence across the UK, US, EU, and South Africa, and a client base spanning industries and geographies, we’ve welcomed seven boutique firms into the Group. This has broadened our capabilities across creative, digital marketing, data and AI, procurement, transformation, and more.

Our vision of becoming a services unicorn is firmly within reach – and this is just the beginning. Part of that ambition is becoming an AI-native firm – not for its own sake, but because it lets us do our best work: producing faster, higher-quality, more transformative outcomes for clients, while giving our own people more interesting, higher-value work to do. Better work for our people and better outcomes for our clients are how we build a stronger firm. We’re looking for exceptional talent who can grow into that standard and help us shape the future of consulting.

The role

You will be based in our New York office and will help build Elixirr's presence in the Boston-Cambridge life sciences market, while leading work across the US. You will own senior client relationships, create new business and stay close to delivery. This is a business-building role with a clear route to Consulting Partner.

Responsibilities

• Build the market. Create a senior network and qualified pipeline across pharmaceutical, biotech and adjacent life sciences organizations, with a focus on Boston-Cambridge.
• Win and grow client work. Originate opportunities, shape proposals, lead pitches and turn strong delivery into long-term relationships.
• Lead complex engagements. Set the direction, mobilize the right team and remain accountable for quality, economics and measurable results.
• Bring a point of view. Advise C-suite and functional leaders, challenge assumptions and make complex decisions clear.
• Solve the real problem Lead work across commercial strategy, product launch, market access, R&D, operating model, cost improvement, digital, data and AI, based on your experience and client demand.
• Build the next team Coach consultants, give direct feedback and create opportunities for high performers to progress.
• Run your business. Manage your pipeline, accounts, delivery risk and business development targets with the discipline expected of a future Partner.

Everyone at Elixirr is expected to be proficient in working with AI, aligned to our quality bar and expectations for using AI effectively, applying it responsibly, and helping build the firm’s AI capability. This includes:

• Hands-on fluency with core AI tools (e.g. ChatGPT, Claude) and AI-native build tools (e.g. Lovable, Cursor)
• The ability to translate your own workflows into AI-assisted processes – and increasingly, into AI agents, skills, and plugins that do the work for you
• A habit of experimenting with new AI tools and sharing what works with the team

Experience and qualifications

• Senior consulting experience. 8 – 15 years’ experience developing a track record at Senior Manager, Director or Principal level, leading complex work and contributing materially to sales
• Life sciences credibility. Deep experience in pharmaceutical and/or biotech, with a network and point of view relevant to the Boston-Cambridge market.
• Commercial results. Evidence that you can originate opportunities, win work and grow senior client relationships.
• Delivery judgment. Experience running multiple teams or accounts while protecting quality, team health and engagement economics.
• Executive communication. The ability to challenge senior stakeholders clearly, constructively and with evidence.
• Entrepreneurial ownership. You see what needs to happen, take responsibility and get it done.
• Bachelor's degree required; an advanced degree in business, science, engineering, medicine or a related field is preferred.

Compensation and benefits

• A clear route to Consulting Partner, with promotion decisions reviewed quarterly and no forced ranking
• Equity ownership through annual option grants and a generous ESPP.
• 22 days of paid time off, plus two paid volunteer days each year
• Medical and dental coverage, plus life insurance
• Access to a global team across strategy, digital, data, AI, technology and execution