Associate Director Value Chain Leader

At Lilly, the work is demanding because patients are waiting. We unite caring with discovery to help make life better for people around the world, knowing that every decision, every detail, and every day matters. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, our over 50,000 employees around the globe take on complex challenges to discover and deliver life-changing medicines, strengthen how health is understood and managed, and support the communities we serve.

This is hard, urgent, selfless work—and it’s work worth doing. If you’re driven by purpose and ready to bring your best to work that truly matters for patients, we invite you to join us.

Lilly’s product commercialization spans a growing global manufacturing network, dozens of specialized functions, and an expanding portfolio of transformative medicines. The gap: no single leader owns the full picture. The Value Chain Leader is the single leader that owns the full picture. You are the single point of accountability for a product’s entire manufacturing commercialization lifecycle. You own the manufacturing CMC strategy, lead the Value Chain Team, collaborate with development, and serve as the go-to interface for senior executives who need clarity.

This is a strategic leadership role, not a coordination role. It demands deep pharma development and/or manufacturing knowledge, executive presence, and the ability to drive alignment across a powerful, matrixed organization—without direct authority.

Lilly’s commercialization process involves deep, specialized functions—Development, Engineering, Analytical, Quality, TS/MS, Supply Chain, Manufacturing Sites, and CMC Regulatory. Each brings critical experience. The winning Value Chain Leader orchestrates a team: knowing when to convene the full team, and when to engage only who is needed—protecting expert time and driving efficient progress. In year one, and consistently thereafter, you will demonstrate:
Stakeholder orchestration credibility—functional leaders trust that when you call them in, it matters; when you do not, it is handled. A Mfg. Technical Agenda that serves as the true single source of truth—every relevant function’s input synthesized into one coherent product strategy. At least one major bottleneck resolved through smart, targeted convening—the right people in the room, no one else.

Senior leaders who say you “always know where the product stands”— earned through disciplined intelligence gathering, not reporting overhead. A Value Chain Team operating with more speed and purpose than before—siloed expertise channeled into coordinated, forward momentum.

Own the Manufacturing CMC Commercialization Strategy across Development, Manufacturing, and the Business Unit(s). Lead the Value Chain Team and oversee its technical execution, ensuring clear ownership, milestone accountability, and proactive risk management. Drive alignment of launch presentation and commercial image strategy across relevant functional and affiliate stakeholders. Ensure gate deliverables are clearly defined, plans are in place, and execution is on track—proactively identifying and resolving gaps.

Serve as the accountable representative for the product/program at all Governance and Oversight Forums, providing clear, confident updates on progress, risks, and decisions required. Act as the primary interface for senior executive seeking visibility into commercialization status—translating technical complexity into concise actionable insight. Ensure escalations are surfaced proactively and resolved with appropriate speed and rigor.