Life Sciences Consultants

As one of Putnam’s Life Sciences Consultants you will help lead and execute with a team of Associates to complete projects. Working with Managers and Partners you will:

  • Interact with clients to understand problems, and develop and refine hypotheses to test
  • Structure complex strategic and analytical problems that constitute the core of the team’s work
  • Leverage your substantial science training to optimize commercial strategies for our clients
  • Lead the entire team to synthesize analyses into key findings and actionable recommendation and participate in delivering these in client presentations.

At Putnam, we pride ourselves on a team-based approach that is client focused and impact oriented. We serve many of the industry leaders, including all of the top 10 global biopharmaceutical companies. Almost all of our studies combine sophisticated quantitative analytics with significant qualitative fact-finding and synthesis to inform strategic decision-making. Our diverse casework spans portfolio prioritization, development pathway and resource optimization, market assessment, product pricing and launch strategies, market segment growth strategies, sales and marketing strategies, franchise development and patent expiration strategies. While the client-service core of our work can be demanding, we pride ourselves on the collegial, friendly and balanced environment at Putnam where consulting can be a long-term career option.

Our offices are located in the vibrant cities of Boston, San Francisco, New York, and London.

Desired Skills and Experience

The ideal candidate for the Life Sciences Consultant position will have a PhD from a top school and demonstrated excellence as undergraduates, graduates and during any previous employment opportunities. Proven analytic abilities, a rigorous background, presentation skills, management experience and a team-oriented attitude are essential. PhDs in Biomedical Engineering, Biology, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Physics or Engineering are most desirable. PhD candidates doing a Postdoc will also be considered. A demonstrated passion for health care or the life sciences is essential. An active interest in commercial strategy or the business side of health care is preferred.

All Current Openings

Life as a Life Sciences Consultant

Explore stories of Putnamites to get a sense of what it is really like to work here.

Joanna Rys

As a former bench scientist, I find it exciting to work on projects that involve cutting-edge technologies and breakthrough therapies that have a direct clinical impact. I am able to leverage my research expertise by providing scientific and analytical insight into the development of business strategies that help our clients tackle challenging problems.

Joanna Rys

Principal
San Francisco

Working at Putnam

22 languages

collectively spoken by putnamites

56% of Putnamites

volunteer at charitable organizations

Half of our Partners and Principals

joined Putnam as Associates

At Putnam, I utilize my scientific background and critical thinking skills to help our teams provide meaningful solutions for our clients. It is extremely rewarding to team up with such high-caliber individuals to make an impact at the cutting-edge of the healthcare industry.

Brandt Nichols

Life Sciences Consultant - Boston
University of Texas, PhD, Cancer Biology

Professional Development and Employee Investment

See some of our highlights to learn more about what it's like to be a part of our team.

A consulting gig without the endless travel? Indeed

  • Case teams typically consist of 2-6 team members across all levels including Partner
  • Teams can be comprised of staff from any of our offices, with client geography and time zones as a consideration along with experience and skill development for our team members.
  • Most team members are double-staffed on simultaneous projects
  • Typically only senior level case team members travel onsite for client engagements although there are many avenues for all team members to interact directly with the client on an ongoing basis.
  • Teams celebrate the completion of a successful case with End of Case Team Building Events

Putnam has invested heavily to create world-class training programs

For new hires, the firm provides basic consulting and industry overview training in the first 3 months of employment aimed at providing new Associates a solid foundation to hit the ground running on case work.

For employees with 2-4 years of tenure who are progressing toward the Consultant role, the firm provides Advanced Consulting Skills Training focused on developing the skills and tools to facilitate the transition to managing greater levels of responsibility in problem solving, case management, staff development, and firm development offsite in Portsmouth, NH.

For more experienced employees those promoted to, or hired into, the Consultant role the firm has developed a Case Leadership Training Offsite, held annually at Chatham Bars Inn on Cape Cod. The objective for this training is to provide practical insights and tools for case team leaders in a structured, highly interactive way.

Individual case teams celebrate the completion of a successful case with an End of Case Event. In addition we also have a selection of firm-wide & local office events:

  • Holiday Parties
  • Dinners
  • Sporting Events
  • Team Building Events

We have a robust mentor program to help foster development case to case. From day 1 you are paired with an experienced Putnamite to help guide you and welcome you to the firm.

We are actively involved in our community as a collective firm through engagements like Summer Days of Service and our Holiday Gift Drive. We actively encourage our employees to take on their own initiatives and promote within the firm as well. We are proud to support a small Putnam team who has been leading efforts to help build a primary school in Malawi in partnership with BuildOn. We are also proud to stand in support of amazing local and national charities such as:

  • Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence, MA
  • Dana Farber Cancer Institute
  • Greater Boston Food Bank
  • Minds Matter Boston
  • National Tay-Sachs & Allied Diseases Association

We also actively support the MIT SOLVE Network which aims to solve world challenges through social impact innovation, and Out 4 Undergrad (O4U) conference which aims to showcase career opportunities in business for ambitious LGBTQ+ students.

Home Staffing Model

A consulting gig without the endless travel? Indeed

  • Case teams typically consist of 2-6 team members across all levels including Partner
  • Teams can be comprised of staff from any of our offices, with client geography and time zones as a consideration along with experience and skill development for our team members.
  • Most team members are double-staffed on simultaneous projects
  • Typically only senior level case team members travel onsite for client engagements although there are many avenues for all team members to interact directly with the client on an ongoing basis.
  • Teams celebrate the completion of a successful case with End of Case Team Building Events
Professional Development

Putnam has invested heavily to create world-class training programs

For new hires, the firm provides basic consulting and industry overview training in the first 3 months of employment aimed at providing new Associates a solid foundation to hit the ground running on case work.

For employees with 2-4 years of tenure who are progressing toward the Consultant role, the firm provides Advanced Consulting Skills Training focused on developing the skills and tools to facilitate the transition to managing greater levels of responsibility in problem solving, case management, staff development, and firm development offsite in Portsmouth, NH.

For more experienced employees those promoted to, or hired into, the Consultant role the firm has developed a Case Leadership Training Offsite, held annually at Chatham Bars Inn on Cape Cod. The objective for this training is to provide practical insights and tools for case team leaders in a structured, highly interactive way.

Company Outings

Individual case teams celebrate the completion of a successful case with an End of Case Event. In addition we also have a selection of firm-wide & local office events:

  • Holiday Parties
  • Dinners
  • Sporting Events
  • Team Building Events
Mentorship Program

We have a robust mentor program to help foster development case to case. From day 1 you are paired with an experienced Putnamite to help guide you and welcome you to the firm.

Philanthropy

We are actively involved in our community as a collective firm through engagements like Summer Days of Service and our Holiday Gift Drive. We actively encourage our employees to take on their own initiatives and promote within the firm as well. We are proud to support a small Putnam team who has been leading efforts to help build a primary school in Malawi in partnership with BuildOn. We are also proud to stand in support of amazing local and national charities such as:

  • Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence, MA
  • Dana Farber Cancer Institute
  • Greater Boston Food Bank
  • Minds Matter Boston
  • National Tay-Sachs & Allied Diseases Association

We also actively support the MIT SOLVE Network which aims to solve world challenges through social impact innovation, and Out 4 Undergrad (O4U) conference which aims to showcase career opportunities in business for ambitious LGBTQ+ students.

Strategy for the Life Sciences

  • Insight

    The capacity to gain an accurate and deep intuitive understanding

    Putnam focuses solely on the life science industries, allowing us to provide unparalleled depth, experience and insight into our client’s most complex challenges.

  • Clarity

    The quality of being easily understood

    We do not define our client’s issue to fit our capabilities. Instead, we listen to their needs and tailor our comprehensive set of tools, techniques and expertise to quickly bring clarity to complex issues facing our clients.

  • Strategy

    A careful plan or method for achieving a particular goal

    Understanding the global challenges facing our clients enables us to provide customized, actionable and strategic recommendations that draw on deep therapeutic area and functional expertise.