Senior Director - Patent Counsel

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.

Lilly is seeking an experienced and strategic Senior Director - Patent Attorney passionate about providing solutions-oriented advice and counselling for issues facing Lilly in discovery, development and commercialization of pharmaceutical products.

Individual must be motivated by working in a dynamic environment with broad responsibility. This position reports to the Associate Vice President and Assistant General Patent Counsel of Cardiometabolic Health and peptide modalities and requires close collaboration with other members of the Lilly Legal Patent team and business leadership.

• Draft and prosecute pharmaceutical patent applications in all jurisdictions, primarily related to peptides and biologic therapeutics in accordance with business requirements, patent laws and Lilly policies and procedures.

• Proactively analyze risks and develop sound strategic and tactical approaches/solutions with appropriate consideration of business objectives and the environment.

• Advise teams and senior management about exclusivity, freedom to operate, due diligence, contract, licensing, and litigation risks in a manner consistent with the law, ethics, and Lilly policies; communicate advice in a clear and concise manner.

• Develop, coordinate, support and, optionally, lead inter and ex parte challenges in all jurisdictions related to Lilly and/or third‑party portfolios.

• Participate and contribute to overall strategy established through departmental mentorship forums related to patent procurement or litigation strategies.

• Lead with a continuous improvement mindset by remaining proficient in global laws, court precedents, and regulations pertinent to pharmaceutical products; apply knowledge appropriately in carrying out individual responsibilities as well as opportunities within the team and organization.

• Prioritize, lead, and manage projects; contribute to the implementation of new policies and procedures; lead task‑directed teams.

• Contribute to efficiency, collegiality, and collaboration.

• Bachelor’s degree in a scientific field that together with prior work experience, provides sufficient background for effective communication with scientists and management about scientific aspects of discovery, development, and commercialization of small molecule products.

• Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D.) Degree

• Minimum of four years of post‑JD experience as a patent attorney in a law firm or industry.

• At least 4 years of experience preparing and prosecuting patent applications relating to prosecuting peptide and biologics (large molecule), and some experience preparing and prosecuting small molecule patent applications.

• Licensed to practice law in at least one of the 50 States and licensed to represent clients in patent matters before the USPTO.

• Qualified applicants must be authorized to work in the United States on a full‑time basis. Lilly will not provide support for or sponsor work authorization or visas for this role, including but not limited to F‑1 CPT, F‑1 OPT, F‑1 STEM OPT, J‑1, H‑1B, TN, O‑1, E‑3, H‑1B1, or L‑1.

• Highly motivated and collaborative partner with the ability to work effectively with team members and members of management across all levels of the organization.

• Demonstrated leadership and efficiency in working with senior leadership.

• Experience in the pharmaceutical industry in a scientific position in drug discovery or development or demonstrated significant experience with and knowledge of drug discovery and development, and/or with patent litigation relating to pharmaceutical products.

• Innovative and proactively sees…