Senior Director Glass Science

Location: Sesto Fiorentino

Job Summary
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.

Job Title:

Senior Director – TSMS Glass Science (glass primary packaging for Lilly's parenteral drug products — vials, cartridges, and prefilled syringes)

This is an opportunity for an industry-recognized glass subject matter expert (SME) to serve as the technical authority on glass primary packaging for Lilly's parenteral drug products, and to advise on deviations, supplier interactions, and industry standards. The role informs internal strategies and external standards and serves as a reference point across functions — including Technical Development & Manufacturing Sciences, Quality, Regulatory, Drug Delivery & Chemistry Sciences, and Research & Development — for glass container science, glass-drug product compatibility, and container closure system integrity.

Key Responsibilities

Glass Science & Technical Authority:  Serve as the enterprise-level technical authority on pharmaceutical glass (borosilicate Type I vials, cartridges, syringes) across the global manufacturing network.

Provide expert technical guidance on glass composition, surface chemistry, delamination, particulate formation mechanisms, and glass-drug product interactions.

Apply first-principles understanding of glass tube drawing and converting processes, coating behavior, and ionic leaching to investigate and resolve manufacturing issues.

Advise on complex deviations and out-of-specification investigations involving glass primary packaging at Lilly manufacturing sites globally.

Leverage advanced analytical techniques (ToF-SIMS, XPS, SEM-EDX, FTIR, ICP-MS) to characterize glass surface phenomena and interpret data from contract analytical laboratories.

Challenge and engage glass supplier experts with scientific rigor; drive supplier accountability for material quality and performance.

Container Closure Systems & Supplier Management:  Advise programs for new glass components and container closure systems (CCS), including design, specification development, and generation of qualification plans and reports.

Integrate parenteral processing requirements (filling, stoppering, capping, lyophilization) into CCS design selection and qualification.

Perform process capability assessments, FMEA, and root cause analyses for glass component-related quality events.

Represent Lilly TSMS in technical interactions and partnerships with glass packaging material suppliers; drive continuous improvement activities.

Lead or support supplier audits, providing deep technical input on glass manufacturing processes, control strategies, and quality systems.

Translate knowledge of supplier manufacturing processes and failure modes into Lilly control strategies.

Regulatory, Compliance & Standards:  Author major papers, presentations, and regulatory submission modules (CTD sections) related to primary packaging and CCS with minimal guidance.

Represent Lilly during regulatory inspections and engage with regulatory agencies on topics related to glass packaging and CCS integrity.

Maintain knowledge of ICH, USP, Ph. Eur., and FDA guidance related to container closure systems, extractables/leachables, and particulate matter.

Write and review global standards and strategies for glass primary packaging components; influence industry working groups including Bio Phorum Fill Finish.

Ensure science and compliance are balanced in technical recommendations; partner with Regulatory, Quality, and HSE functions.

Network Leadership & Knowledge Transfer:  Drive sustained network-level results, influencing global network leaders and site heads…