Senior Director - Process, Maintenance & Automation Engineering

Location: Katwijk NB

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.

About the Katwijk Site

Eli Lilly is investing €2.6 billion in a new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Katwijk, Netherlands. This facility will produce oral medicines for cardiometabolic health, neuroscience, oncology, and immunology, incorporating next-generation manufacturing technologies including dock-to-dock automation, paperless manufacturing, and process analytical technology while achieving carbon neutrality and zero waste to landfills.

Position Overview

The Sr Director, Process, Maintenance & Automation Engineering provides strategic and operational leadership for Process Engineering, Automation, and Maintenance functions at the Katwijk site. This role ensures the reliability, compliance, and continuous performance of manufacturing equipment, control systems, and automated technologies. As a member of the Site Leadership Team, the incumbent will champion next-generation manufacturing capabilities — including paperless operations, dock-to-dock automation, and process analytical technology — while delivering a world-class, GMP-compliant maintenance programme from site startup through steady-state operations.

Key Responsibilities
Develop vision and operational discipline across Process Engineering, Automation, and Maintenance functions in accordance with Eli Lilly Manufacturing Standards.

Provide supervisory direction for department leaders, employees, and contractors across all supported functions.

Conduct performance appraisals, salary reviews, and HRP sessions; develop talent assessment, career, and succession plans.

Foster a culture of technical excellence, safety, and continuous improvement.

Leadership & People Management
Ensure regulatory compliance from an equipment, instrumentation, and process performance perspective.

Provide technical leadership for troubleshooting, deviation resolution, change management, safety assessments, and lifecycle management of manufacturing processes.

Drive initiatives that improve process efficiency, compliance, and productivity.

Coordinate engineering support for manufacturing operations and daily activities.

Automation & Technology
Implement and manage automated systems and technologies, including dock-to-dock automation, paperless manufacturing, and process analytical technology (PAT).

Ensure compliance with Computer Systems Validation (CSV), Infrastructure Platform Qualification, and Software Quality practices.

Ensure compliance with FDA regulations including 21 CFR Part 11 and applicable computer systems regulations.

Oversee the lifecycle management of automation platforms, control systems, and digital manufacturing tools.

Maintenance Programme
Oversee the development, implementation, and execution of a comprehensive maintenance programme encompassing preventive, corrective, and predictive maintenance, as well as planning and scheduling.

Oversee technical maintenance services including pressure vessels, spare parts, CMMS, mechanical integrity, calibration, and reliability services.

Ensure adequate lifecycle management of plant assets and equipment.

Coordinate and allocate resources for daily maintenance operations and projects.

Financial Management
Develop and manage annual expense and capital budgets for Process Engineering, Automation, and Maintenance departments.

Control expenses and capital expenditures; ensure monthly and annual financial reporting and forecasting is timely and accurate.

Supervise monthly reporting of departmental performance metrics.

Quality, Compliance & EHS
Ensure all operations comply with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Good Documentation Practices, and applicable regulatory requirements.

Ens…