Lead Operator, Hybrid Operations - Lilly Medicine Foundry

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.

The Lilly Medicine Foundry Manufacturing Lead Operator actively supports start-up activities to bring manufacturing equipment into service. The Lead Operator becomes an expert in their assigned area and educates the team on the proper operation of the facility. This role requires domestic and international travel to collaborate, train, and learn from sites that currently produce APIs.

Upon completion of the project phase, the Lead Operator provides on-the-floor, tactical leadership for production of API molecules. The Lead Operator ensures a safety-first, quality-always approach while managing a production process that encompasses diverse unit operations and manufacturing skills.

This role ensures the supply of our medicines by supporting the team, following instructions, assisting with troubleshooting, collaborating cross-functionally, and upholding our safety-first, quality-always mindset. Lead Operators will support daily activities to meet production plans by:

• Responsible to help enforce adherence to compliance requirements (safety, quality, and environmental) and appropriately escalating any adverse events.
• Operating processes and equipment according to batch records, user manuals, design parameters, standard operating procedures, and work instructions to meet production schedule.
• Providing on-the-floor leadership to make tactical day-to-day decisions and ensure proper prioritization of operations resources throughout the shift.
• Ensuring completion of daily monitoring, testing, and cleaning duties to ensure equipment and systems are in good operating condition and maintained per local and corporate regulatory requirements.
• Serving as a cultural leader for site safety culture, promoting compliant operations and positive safety behaviors. Lead by example and promote accountability at all levels.
• Providing technical leadership for troubleshooting and reaction to process upsets, integrating operator input and escalating as appropriate.
• Following all applicable procedures for safety event reporting and documentation. This includes following appropriate spill response procedures, escalation of issues, and initiating Emergency Response procedures as needed.
• Ensuring adequate communication at shift passovers and participating in daily shift huddles/meetings to understand and set expectations for daily operational goals.
• Ensuring all area personnel follow cGMP practices, safe work habits, plant dress code, hygiene standards, and housekeeping requirements unique to the work area and job classification.
• Partnering with area management and supervision to understand Foundry strategy and future production needs. Represent and support this strategy in conversations with shift members.
• Actively participating in assigned building and area operations such as safety audits, procedure coordination, housekeeping, and continuous improvement projects.
• Using specified company-supplied personal protective equipment (PPE) (e.g., hair and beard coverings, lab coats or gowns, safety shoes, safety glasses, hard hats, etc.) as required.

• HS Diploma/GED
• 3+ years of directly applicable manufacturing experience, GMP and/or chemical processing strongly preferred.
• 2 years of direct leadership/supervisory experience required.
• API experience required.
• 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.