Associate Director, Clinical Research Lead - Immunology & Neurodegeneration Cardiometabolic Health (Southcentral or Midwest)

Role Summary

Associate Director, Clinical Research Lead - Immunology & Neurodegeneration Cardiometabolic Health (Southcentral or Midwest) at Lilly. The Clinical Research Lead (CRL) is a strategic, field-based scientific leader responsible for driving the execution of Lilly clinical trials through investigator engagement and site performance management, ensuring high-performing sites and timely, high-quality trial delivery.

Responsibilities

• Clinical Investigator Management
  • Accountable for investigator engagement from identification through enrollment, database lock, and study closeout
  • Serve as a clinical trial scientific ambassador, ensuring investigators understand protocol intent, scientific rationale, and eligibility
  • Develop and sustain strategic, high-trust relationships with investigators across trials and therapeutic areas
  • Influence enrollment by co-creating tailored recruitment strategies aligned with site capabilities and study objectives
  • Identify opportunities to reach new patients and accelerate enrollment at priority sites
  • Capture and elevate insights from sites to optimize feasibility, protocol design, and study conduct
• Clinical Trial Management
  • Lead site-level strategy and risk planning to ensure enrollment and data delivery
  • Use performance metrics to anticipate issues and maintain momentum toward milestones
  • Drive inspection readiness across sites
  • Collaborate across functions and with vendors to resolve barriers, ensuring speed and quality
  • Understand local treatment paradigms to influence site selection and protocol localization
  • Oversee vendor monitoring quality and escalate risks as needed
  • Lead end-to-end management of Post-Marketing Safety Studies where applicable
• Business Management and Engagement
  • Cultivate a portfolio of high-impact investigators who prioritize Lilly trials
  • Provide exceptional investigator experience as a knowledgeable scientific partner
  • Collaborate cross-functionally to align trial and site priorities and troubleshoot challenges
  • Conduct data-informed site prospecting and prioritization
  • Maintain scientific fluency to lead meaningful discussions with sites
  • Act as a liaison between field teams, vendors, and investigators to ensure alignment
  • Elevate investigator and site experience through collaboration with field teams
• Country / Regulatory Engagement (where applicable)
  • Represent Investigator Engagement with regulatory agencies, ethics committees, and national research organizations
  • Influence regulatory agility and operational feasibility in trial ecosystems
  • Ensure local requirements are translated into compliant, efficient trial execution
  • Align regional initiatives with enterprise-wide clinical development success

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent; strong preference for scientific, clinical, or health-related fields
• Minimum 5 years of experience in clinical research or pharmaceutical industry with interaction with HCPs and clinical sites
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States; no visa sponsorship expected
• Current residence or willingness to relocate to Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Kansas, or Illinois

Other Information / Additional Preferences

• Advanced degree in a scientific or clinical field (PharmD, PhD, MD, or MSc preferred)
• Experience in Immunology or Cardiometabolic therapeutic areas
• Strong understanding of GCP, clinical development, operations, and trial lifecycle
• Knowledge of therapeutic landscape and standards of care
• Ability to build credibility and influence across the HCP community
• Strategic, results-driven approach in complex, fast-paced environments
• Data-driven decision-making and ability to interpret performance metrics
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and organizational skills
• Deep therapeutic area knowledge and familiarity with local clinical research ecosystems
• Experience influencing clinical site performance and enrollment success
• Track record of delivering or exceeding performance targets in a matrix environment
• Experience with regulators or national bodies supporting clinical trial delivery
• English fluency; local language proficiency as needed

Travel Requirements

• Willingness to travel extensively (60-80%)