Associate Director - Tech at Lilly

Role Summary

Associate Director – Tech at Lilly Kenosha. Oversee and drive the IT strategy and operations for the manufacturing site, ensuring reliable, compliant, and secure IT systems across manufacturing, warehouse, and Quality Control Labs. Lead a team to implement strategic IT initiatives aligned with global standards and site ramp-up objectives.

Responsibilities

• Oversee execution of the Kenosha IT strategy, aligned with the Manufacturing & Quality IT Digital Strategy and ramp-up schedule.
• Identify and prioritize innovative technology initiatives that support site growth and compliance requirements.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to gain support and alignment on strategic IT initiatives.
• Participate in cross-functional leadership teams at site and global levels.
• Benchmark on innovative solutions (external and internal to Lilly).
• Lead a group of associates, managing recognition, compensation, talent assessment and succession planning activities.
• Provide coaching and professional development opportunities to team members, promoting growth and retention.
• Foster cross-functional communication and collaboration to align IT solutions with business needs.
• Demonstrate Lilly values and operational excellence standards.
• Support site leadership initiatives, including recruiting and mentoring.
• Ensure reliable and secure operation of key systems (MES, QC/QA systems, networks, endpoints, storage).
• Oversee data and digital strategy execution, measuring value against targets.
• Maintain robust computer system validation and data integrity capabilities.
• Oversee disaster recovery and business continuity planning for key systems.
• Define and report capability measures for key systems and processes, following LEAN principles.
• Manage third party relationships for key system support services, including MES.
• Participate in preparation of the site IT budget and manage IT projects from requirements through deployment.
• Monitor project progress, address risks, and keep stakeholders informed of progress.
• Ensure system compliance with FDA, GMP, Lilly policy, and local procedures; enforce security protocols.
• Facilitate inspections and findings management for IT topics.

Qualifications

• Bachelor‚Äôs degree in Software Engineering, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Engineering, or related field.
• Minimum of 7+ years IT leadership experience in a GMP-regulated industry.
• Experience developing and maintaining MES, QC, QA systems, or data analytics.
• Experience with ITSM frameworks like ITIL, including incident management, problem resolution, and change management.
• Experience working in a global organization and delivering complex IT projects within scope, budget, and schedule.
• Experience with Agile and Waterfall project management methodologies; familiarity with CFR 21 Part 11 regulatory requirements.

Skills

• Strong leadership and people management abilities; ability to inspire and develop high-performing IT teams.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to engage stakeholders at all levels.
• Proven ability to align IT initiatives with business goals and drive innovation.
• Knowledge of ISA-95, OT/IT integration, cloud, IoT, AI, and data analytics in pharma settings.
• Ability to manage cross-functional collaboration and maintain a culture of operational excellence.

Education

• Bachelor‚Äôs degree required (see Qualifications).

Additional Requirements

• Global travel and flexibility as needed to support site/regional/global initiatives.
• Compliance with CFR 21 Part 11 and related regulatory requirements.