Lilly is currently constructing an advanced manufacturing facility for production of API molecules. This facility is intended to provide APIs for current and future products, including new modalities. This is a unique opportunity to be a part of the leadership team for the startup of a greenfield manufacturing site, and the successful candidate will help to build the organization, the facility and the culture to enable a successful startup into GMP manufacturing operations.
Position Overvie
w
The Senior Director is responsible for leading the site’s process-facing engineering functions—including process engineering, automation, and maintenance—to ensure the team has the capacity, capability, and leadership to support site startup and long-term manufacturing goals. This role provides both administrative and technical leadership for engineering operation
s.As a member of the Lilly Site Lead Team, the Senior Director contributes to shaping the site’s strategic direction, building organizational capability, and managing cross-functional issues. The team works collectively to achieve long-term business objectives, adapt to evolving corporate and external environments, and develop the site for future succes
s.During the project delivery and startup phases (2029–2030), the Site Lead Team will operate dynamically to support project execution, build the organization, implement GMP systems and processes, and establish site culture. This will require strong collaboration, creativity, and resilienc
e.
Responsibilit
ies
Pre-Startup & Startup Phase (through 2029–2
- 030)Organizational Development: Collaborate with the Site Lead Team to build a capable, inclusive, and resilient organization focused on safety, quality, and operational excelle
- nce.Functional Strategy: Define priorities and roadmap for process engineering, automation, and maintenance. Develop systems and processes by leveraging internal expertise and external best practi
- ces.Safety Leadership: Actively contribute to the site HSE Lead Team to ensure safety is embedded throughout project delivery and star
- tup.Project Support: Act as end user for process equipment—providing input on design, commissioning, and startup plans to align with both project and long-term site go
- als.Team Structure: Design and evolve the engineering organization to ensure the right resources and leadership are in place for GMP manufactur
- ing.System Readiness: Ensure qualified and safe states for equipment, processes, utilities, and facilities are established and maintai
- ned.Corporate Alignment: Build strong technical relationships with corporate teams and champion strategic initiatives at the site le
vel.
Post-Startup
- PhaseOngoing Strategy Execution: Continue refining and executing the engineering roadmap, aligning functional goals with site priori
- ties.Compliance & Standards: Ensure adherence to corporate policies and standards across environmental, safety, and quality dom
- ains.External Benchmarking: Maintain an outward focus to identify and apply best practices from across the industry and internal net
- work.Asset Management: Partner with Facilities Engineering to manage site investments—planning, prioritizing, and executing capital projects aligned with site object
- ives.Operational Integrity: Ensure equipment remains in a qualified and safe state, and that maintenance is performed and documented to the highest stand
- ards.Governance & Controls: Establish and maintain robust control systems to manage compliance and escalate issues appropria
- tely.Leadership Development: Cultivate future technical and managerial leaders for the site and potential global r
oles.
Basic Requir
- ementsBachelor's degree in an engineering disc
- ipline10+ years of experience in a leadership role managing teams within the pharmaceutical in
dustry
Additional Pref
- erencesExperience in API manufacturing, including implementation of a Process Safety Management p
- rogram.Strong understanding of cGMPs and their application to manufacturing oper
- ations.Proven ability to build effective relationships across all organizational levels—from site leadership to frontline
- teams.Demonstrated success in leading projects from initiation to completion, meeting timelines, budgets, and performance sta
- ndards.Track record of developing and managing high-performing, engaged teams with a focus on safety, quality, and strong team c
ulture.
Additional Inf
- ormationRole will begin remotely with occasional business travel to the Global Headquarters in Indianapolis, Indiana and to the new si
- te area.Full relocation to area of new site is required. New site location will be shared upon signing of a confidentiality ag
reement.
