Lead Scientist Visa Sponsorship Jobs in Indiana
Lead scientist roles in Indiana draw from the state's strengths in pharmaceutical research, agri-biotech, and advanced materials. Employers such as Eli Lilly, Corteva Agriscience, and Indiana University anchor sponsorship activity across Indianapolis, West Lafayette, and South Bend. These positions typically require a doctoral degree and direct research leadership experience, making them well-suited for H-1B visa and employment-based green card pathways.
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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.
LI-SC1
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.
Lead Scientist Job Roles in Indiana
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Search Lead Scientist Jobs in IndianaLead Scientist Jobs in Indiana: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies in Indiana sponsor visas for lead scientists?
Eli Lilly and Company in Indianapolis is among the most active sponsors for research-level scientists in Indiana, filing Labor Condition Applications for roles in drug discovery, oncology, and immunology. Corteva Agriscience sponsors lead scientists in agricultural and crop science research near West Lafayette. Indiana University and Purdue University also sponsor research scientists through academic employment. Smaller biotech and life sciences firms in the Indiana Biosciences Research Institute ecosystem have also demonstrated sponsorship history.
What visa types realistically fit lead scientist roles in Indiana?
Lead scientist positions typically require a doctoral or master's degree in a directly related scientific field, meeting the specialty occupation standard for H-1B, H-1B1 visa (for Chilean and Singaporean nationals), and E-3 visa (for Australian nationals). All three require a certified Labor Condition Application filed by the employer. For longer-term pathways, EB-2 and EB-3 employment-based green cards are common, with most employers using PERM labor certification. J-1 visa research scholar status may apply at university-affiliated research institutions.
How to find lead scientist visa sponsorship jobs in Indiana?
Migrate Mate lists lead scientist positions at Indiana employers with verified visa sponsorship history, searchable by role and location across cities like Indianapolis, West Lafayette, and Bloomington. Because lead scientist roles are specialized, filtering by employers with active H-1B or EB-2 filing history saves time. Migrate Mate surfaces that sponsorship data alongside the job listing, so you can focus applications on employers already familiar with the sponsorship process for scientific research roles.
Which cities in Indiana have the most lead scientist sponsorship jobs?
Indianapolis concentrates the highest volume of lead scientist sponsorship activity, driven by Eli Lilly's global headquarters and the Indiana Biosciences Research Institute cluster. West Lafayette follows closely due to Corteva Agriscience's research operations and proximity to Purdue University. Bloomington supports lead scientist roles through Indiana University's research programs in biology, chemistry, and informatics. South Bend and Fort Wayne have smaller but active research employer bases in advanced manufacturing and materials science.
Are there state-specific factors that affect visa sponsorship for lead scientists in Indiana?
Indiana's concentration in pharmaceutical, agricultural science, and advanced materials research creates consistent demand for lead scientists with doctoral-level credentials, which aligns well with H-1B specialty occupation requirements. Purdue University's strong graduate pipeline in chemistry, biology, and engineering feeds both academic and industry research roles. Indiana's cost of doing business relative to coastal research hubs means employers here sometimes maintain leaner legal teams, so candidates should confirm whether a prospective employer has prior H-1B or PERM filing experience before applying.
What is the prevailing wage for sponsored lead scientist jobs in Indiana?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.