Sr Director Process Translation & Execution – Group Leader Lilly Medicine Foundry

Overview

At Lilly, we unite caring with discovery to make life better for people around the world. We are a global healthcare leader headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. Our employees around the world work to discover and bring life-changing medicines to those who need them, improve the understanding and management of disease, and give back to our communities through philanthropy and volunteerism. We give our best effort to our work, and we put people first.

We’re looking for people who are determined to make life better for people around the world.

Organization And Function Overview

Lilly is investing $4.5 billion in the Lilly Medicine Foundry, a state-of-the-art facility for advanced manufacturing with drug development. The Foundry’s mission is to accelerate innovation, expand clinical trial capacity, expedite the delivery of new medicines, and reduce costs and environmental impact.

The Process Translation and Execution (PTE) team drives scientific excellence and innovation to accelerate manufacturing advancements. The team translates API/DS process knowledge into clinical supply readiness, oversees technology transfer, implements phase-appropriate control strategies, and ensures right-first-time clinical manufacturing for a variety of modalities including synthetic molecules, biologics, peptides, oligonucleotide, and bioconjugates (ADC, ARC etc.). Through cross-functional collaboration, PTE influences commercial process decisions, revolutionizes clinical manufacturing, building capabilities in emerging technologies and aligning with corporate and LRL goals, and propels the site toward long-term business success.

In the Foundry Construction and Project Delivery/Startup Phase (2025 To 2028), roles will be fluid and dynamic as we build a new organization, design lab, develop and implement the necessary systems and business processes required to enable operational readiness, support the project delivery, and build the site culture. Success will require significant collaboration, creativity, and resilience as the Lilly Medicine Foundry transitions from design to startup and ultimately to steady-state operations.

This period presents a unique opportunity for learning, growth, and making a lasting impact.

Position Summary

We’re seeking an experienced and passionate technical leader to join the PTE team as a group leader, and help build a culture rooted in collaboration, innovation, and purpose. This role will be instrumental in shaping a high-performing PTE team, driving impactful contributions to pipeline delivery across modalities, and fostering professional growth and development.

• Guide, mentor, and supervise a team of PTE scientists and engineers, provide technical expertise and guidance throughout all project phases.
• Provide regular coaching and support to team members to enhance their skills and achieve their professional growth goals; foster a high-performance, positive, and productive work environment.
• Conduct regular one-on-one meetings and performance reviews to provide constructive feedback and elevate team performance.
• Promote psychological safety, create an environment where team members feel safe to take calculated risks and learn from failures.

• Provide strategic leadership and oversight for clinical API or DS technology transfer activities from Process Development to Foundry cGMP Operations; leverage deep process understanding to guide successful tech transfer, ensure right-first-time execution and reliable clinical supply.
• Drive timely development, review, and alignment of critical technical documentation required for tech transfer. Lead and support facility fit assessments, risk analyses to proactively identify and mitigate scale-up and manufacturing risks.
• Collaborate actively with cross-functional teams to shape and implement robust tech transfer strategies. Identify opportunities to accelerate timelines and streamline processes for continuous improvement, while influencing key process decisions that impact Foundry deliverables for clinical manufacturing.