Group Leader, Environmental Risk Assessor

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— but 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.

The Environmental Risk Assessment group provides enterprise leadership for environmental risk assessments (ERAs) that support global regulatory submissions, environmental stewardship commitments and strategic management of issues related to pharmaceuticals in the environment (PiE). Positioned within Lilly’s research and development organisation, the group applies scientific judgement to design fit-for-purpose testing strategies for portfolio assets and to anticipate evolving regulatory expectations.

This scientific role leads the ERA Group and is accountable for the strategy, quality and timely delivery of environmental studies and risk assessments that characterize the interaction of Lilly therapeutics with the environment. The group leader serves as a people leader, scientific leader, strategic consultant and technical expert for PiE-related issues across Lilly’s portfolio, manufacturing network, regulatory functions and external engagement forums.

• Lead the ERA Group by setting scientific direction, developing environmental scientists and building environmental risk assessment capability across the portfolio.
• Own portfolio ERA testing, prioritisation, study governance and submission-ready delivery for global regulatory registrations.
• Direct execution of environmental studies that meet regulatory expectations through fit-for-purpose CRO partnerships that ensure GLP compliance, data quality and reliable report delivery.
• Advance Lilly’s diverse portfolio and ERA science by identifying and fostering innovative solutions and cross-functional collaboration.
• Communicate ERA strategy, risks, decisions and regulatory implications to Lilly leadership, project teams and regulatory functions.
• Advise manufacturing on pharmaceutical discharge limits and implementation strategies that protect people, ecosystems and business continuity.
• Lead PiE governance by assessing internal and external developments, framing business implications and driving mitigation strategies through cross-functional partnership with GHSE, Governmental Affairs and R&D.
• Represent Lilly externally to benchmark guidelines, influence regulatory expectations, shape industry positions and guide external research engagement.

• PhD in environmental or natural sciences, or related field
• 15 years experience in chemical environmental risk assessment in pharmaceutical or pesticide industry and/or as consultant to such industries
• Research experience in environmental toxicology and/or environmental fate
• Experience with OECD environmental studies and GLPs
• Confirmed skills in scientific communication via published papers and presentations

• Demonstrated effective cross functional and external influencing skills
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills and an ability to interpret data from environmental studies
  
  Ability to organize and lead task teams to consensus deliverable
• Strong understanding of the scientific method
• Broad understanding of global environmental policies/issues and potential business implications especially those that impact pharmaceutical environmental risk assessment
• Familiarity with pharmaceutical or pesticide risk assessment processes
• Previous Pharma or Industry experience

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