Green Card Project Scientist Jobs
Project Scientist green card sponsorship follows the EB-2 or EB-3 employment-based path, requiring your employer to complete PERM labor certification with the Department of Labor before filing an I-140 immigrant petition. Research institutions, national laboratories, and universities are among the most active sponsors for this role, leading to lawful permanent residency.
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INTRODUCTION
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!
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Global Regulatory Project Lead
As the Global Regulatory Project Lead, you will be a key individual contributor at the forefront of our innovation pipeline, guiding the regulatory strategy for novel farm and companion animal products. You will serve as the dedicated regulatory expert on global project teams, shaping development from the ground up and leading direct negotiations with agencies like the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM). This role requires a strategic professional who can navigate complex agency interactions, influence cross-functional partners (including Global Research and Development (R&D), Sales and Marketing, Supply Chain, Manufacturing & Quality, Finance, and Technical Services), and ensure our submissions in the United States (US), European Union (EU), and other first-wave countries are successful.
Your Responsibilities:
- Guide the design and development of the global regulatory strategy for development projects, with a primary focus on CVM/FDA submissions.
- Serve as the dedicated regulatory subject matter expert on development teams, representing the regulatory viewpoint and providing risk/benefit evaluations to guide project strategy.
- Act as the primary point of contact for and lead direct engagements with regulatory agencies (e.g., CVM, European Medicines Agency (EMA)), including pre-submission meetings and negotiations.
- Partner with R&D to develop and implement clinical trial submission plans, ensuring alignment with the overall regulatory strategy.
- Collaborate with internal stakeholders to provide technical leadership on Quality, Safety, and Efficacy sections for regulatory submissions.
- Proactively identify and communicate project-specific regulatory risks and opportunities to the development team and leadership.
- Comply with all company local and global policies including quality frameworks, Code of Conduct, anti-discrimination, harassment, and health, safety, and environment (HSE) policies.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
What You Need to Succeed (minimum qualifications):
- Education: A Master’s degree or higher in veterinary medicine, biology, infectious diseases, immunology, animal science, or a related field.
- Experience: At least 10 years of relevant experience in the animal health industry, with direct regulatory affairs experience in veterinary pharmaceuticals.
- Regulatory Expertise: Demonstrated experience leading direct submissions and negotiations with regulatory agencies, with a strong preference for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM).
- Guidance & Influence: Proven ability to serve as the primary regulatory expert on cross-functional project teams in a global environment, with exceptional communication, negotiation, and influencing skills.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
What will give you a competitive edge (preferred qualifications):
- Direct regulatory experience with both farm animal and companion animal products.
- Broad experience with global registration processes, particularly leading first-wave submissions in the European Union and other key markets simultaneously.
- Experience navigating novel regulatory pathways for innovative products.
- A strong understanding of risk assessment and risk management fundamentals.
- Knowledge of Continuous Improvement methodologies (e.g., Six Sigma, Lean).
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- Travel: 10-25%
- Location: This is a US-based role. It can be based at our Global Headquarters in Indianapolis, IN (Hybrid), or be a remote position for the right candidate.
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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 currently anticipates that the base salary for this position could range from $118,000 to $197,000 depending partly on the successful candidate's qualifications, including education and experience. Full-time equivalent employees also will be eligible for a company bonus (depending partly on company and individual performance). Additionally, Elanco offers a comprehensive benefit program to eligible employees that includes a company-matching 401(k); vacation benefits; eligibility for medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug benefits; flexible benefits (e.g., healthcare and/or dependent day care flexible spending accounts); life insurance and death benefits; certain time off and leave of absence benefits; and well-being benefits (e.g., employee assistance program, fitness benefits, and employee clubs and activities). Of course, the compensation is subject to change and could be higher or lower than the range described above. Elanco reserves the right to amend, modify, or terminate its compensation and benefit programs in its sole discretion, and Elanco's compensation practices and guidelines will apply regarding the details of any promotion or transfer of Elanco employees. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the role is filled.
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.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Green Card Sponsorship as a Project Scientist
Document your progressive research contributions now
PERM requires your employer to demonstrate you meet the minimum job requirements. Compile publications, grants, conference presentations, and research reports before you start applying. Gaps in documentation slow down the labor certification process significantly.
Target employers with active I-140 filing history
Use Migrate Mate to identify research institutions, federal contractors, and national laboratories that have sponsored Project Scientists through the employment-based green card process. Verified filing history signals an established internal immigration process, not a first-time effort.
Distinguish EB-2 from EB-3 before salary negotiations
If your offer requires an advanced degree or five years of progressive research experience, your employer may file under EB-2, which typically moves faster through the queue for most nationalities. Knowing your category before the offer stage lets you ask informed questions about the sponsorship timeline.
Ask about the prevailing wage determination upfront
DOL requires employers to pay at least the prevailing wage for your SOC code and work location before PERM certification. Run the OFLC Wage Search for the Project Scientist occupation in your target city so you enter salary discussions knowing the DOL floor, not just market rates.
Understand priority date backlogs before accepting an offer
If you are a national of India or China, your EB-2 or EB-3 priority date may face a multi-year backlog regardless of when PERM is certified. Ask your prospective employer whether their immigration counsel tracks the USCIS Visa Bulletin monthly and plans accordingly.
Secure your O*NET classification before the PERM draft
PERM job descriptions must align with the actual duties of your role. Review your O*NET occupation profile for Project Scientist to verify that your employer's job description matches the typical tasks and educational requirements, reducing the risk of a DOL audit or denial.
Green Card Project Scientist: Frequently Asked Questions
How does green card sponsorship for Project Scientists differ from H-1B sponsorship?
Green card sponsorship leads to lawful permanent residency, not a temporary work status. For Project Scientists, the EB-2 or EB-3 path begins with PERM labor certification filed with the Department of Labor, which includes a prevailing wage determination and a formal recruitment test proving no qualified U.S. workers were available. That process has no equivalent in H-1B visa, which requires only an LCA and an I-129 petition filed with USCIS.
Which green card category typically applies to Project Scientist roles?
Most Project Scientist positions qualify under EB-2 if the role requires a master's degree or higher, or a bachelor's degree plus five years of progressive research experience. Roles requiring only a bachelor's degree with at least two years of experience may fall under EB-3 Skilled Worker. Your employer's immigration counsel determines the category based on the actual minimum requirements for the position, not your personal credentials.
How do I find employers that sponsor Project Scientists for green cards?
Migrate Mate lists employers with verified employment-based green card sponsorship history, searchable by role and location. Focus your search on research universities, national laboratories, government contractors, and pharmaceutical or biotech companies, as these sectors file the most PERM applications for scientific research positions. Avoid applying to employers with no documented sponsorship activity, as first-time sponsors often underestimate the timeline and cost involved.
Can I change employers after my green card sponsorship process has started?
AC21 job portability allows you to change to a same or similar occupation once your I-485 adjustment of status application has been pending for 180 days or more. Before that point, changing employers restarts the PERM process entirely. If your original employer's I-140 was already approved, you may be able to carry your priority date to a new employer's I-140 petition, preserving your place in the queue.
How long does the PERM labor certification process take for scientific roles?
PERM processing times at DOL vary and can be affected by audit selection, which is more common for research and academic roles where job requirements are highly specialized. USCIS publishes current I-140 processing times separately, and priority date movement depends on your country of birth and EB category. Plan for the full PERM-to-green-card timeline to span several years, particularly if you are from a high-demand country.