Associate Director - External Engagement & Global Medical Affairs Thought Leader Center of Excellence

Role Summary

Associate Director - External Engagement & Global Medical Affairs Thought Leader Center of Excellence. Lead the Thought Leader (TL) / External Engagement (EE) capability across the enterprise, ensuring strategy, compliance, and effective execution of external engagements with TLs, HCPs, and other external experts to advance Lilly’s medical affairs objectives.

Responsibilities

• Lead Thought Leader (TL) / External Engagement (EE) capability across enterprise partners; provide process clarity, compliance, and platform support for the TLEE community globally.
• Provide onboarding, training, and "train the trainer" support to global roles responsible for External Engagement.
• Drive consistency in EE execution internationally by authoring and implementing playbooks and leading performance support tactics; innovate to harmonize practices and optimize effectiveness of current models and standards.
• Build strong, trusted relationships with cross-functional partners; lead assigned teams and initiatives.
• Lead capability innovation projects to increase internal efficiency and external impact; identify and remove barriers to keep BU roles strategic and customer-focused.
• Engage in BU/TA forums to support TLEE business needs with content, training, and solutions.
• Enable acceleration, reach, and scale by adopting and applying TLEE processes, platforms, and capabilities.
• Consult with Privacy, Legal, Ethics and Compliance to create/modify policies impacting Lilly TLs across BUs and geographies.
• Stay updated on TLEE benchmarking and share learnings across stakeholders.
• Lead communication with stakeholders regarding external engagement topics; design and train a consistent Global approach for planning and execution that ensures integrity, quality, and compliance.
• Optimize utilization of EE solutions (H1, TL Map through sunset, Dragonfly, etc.); understand data needs and influence analytics to improve impact metrics.
• Ensure timely onboarding for EE roles; continually improve TL identification, planning, and tracking; reduce administrative burden in BU structures.
• Communicate legal and compliance risks and privacy considerations related to contracted external engagement.

Qualifications

• Bachelor‚Äôs degree.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in the pharmaceutical or medical device industry.
• Authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis (no sponsorship).

Additional Preferences

• At least five years of experience in roles intersecting field Thought Leader activities and/or External Engagement.
• Experience with content development (authoring process/design, training, onboarding, SOPs).
• Demonstrated learning agility and proactive problem-solving skills; ability to diagnose root causes and prevent recurrence.
• Strong communication and negotiation skills with cross-functional colleagues and external vendors; ability to influence across functions and leadership levels.
• Ability to share learnings across multiple areas; knowledge of current contracted engagement processes.
• Background with CRM tools and documentation systems; experience interfacing between business and IT/tech groups.
• Ability to work across cultures and accommodate periodic international calls; adaptability and strategic initiative in a fast-paced environment.
• Knowledge of the drug development process across all phases; experience leading organizational change management; teamwork and interpersonal skills; relevant partner/vendor relationships.
• Indianapolis-based preferred; relocation available.