Director - Clinical Design Physician – Cardiometabolic Health
Eli Lilly and Company
August 19, 2026
Remote friendly (Indianapolis, IN)
United States
Clinical Research and Development
Purpose / Role Overview:
Provide medical leadership for Clinical Design in cardiometabolic health. Translate therapeutic area and asset strategy into clinical development program and trial design optionality, and develop high-quality clinical trial protocols to support proof of concept through registration (phase II–III) studies, including possible early/late development and commercialization.
Primary Responsibilities:
- Serve as medical leader on cross-functional Clinical Design teams; translate strategy into clear objectives and trial optionality, articulating tradeoffs (value, risks, cost, time).
- Represent design optionality to asset teams and senior leaders; adjust based on leadership feedback.
- Develop study protocols with Design Team and partners (Cardiometabolic Health Business Unit Development, Discovery, Program Phase Medicine, Clinical Pharmacology).
- Assess how protocol features impact execution speed/efficiency.
- Support asset strategy (e.g., target patient population) and portfolio clinical strategy alignment.
- Collaborate on clinical trial design and conduct (e.g., sample size, patient commitment, timelines, grants/governance interactions).
- Champion initiatives such as decentralized trials and diversity/equity/inclusion; understand design implications for adoption.
- Review risk profiles and support appropriate subject risk communication.
- Participate in investigator identification/selection; support recruitment, diversity, and retention.
- Ensure seamless transition from design to execution; contribute to scientific data dissemination, reports, and publications.
Minimum Requirements:
- MD or DO; board-eligible/certified in appropriate specialty/subspecialty or equivalent post-medical school clinical training for the country of hiring.
- U.S. trained physicians: board eligibility/certification.
- 3+ years pharmaceutical industry experience.
- 3+ years in multiple areas relevant to clinical trial design (e.g., inferential/statistical methods, rating instruments, regulatory standards, safety assessment, investigator/site management, decentralized clinical trials).
Preferred:
- Clinical trial design leadership in at least one key development phase.
- Strong diabetes comorbidity expertise (e.g., cardiology, obesity medicine, nephrology, hepatology) and/or clinical research experience.
- Advanced statistical foundation (incl. Bayesian) and ability to translate study design concepts.
- Willingness to relocate to Indianapolis or work hybrid remotely; limited domestic/international travel as needed.
Benefits (as stated):
- Company bonus (full-time equivalent).
- Company-sponsored 401(k); pension; vacation; medical/dental/vision/prescription benefits; flexible benefits; life insurance; time off/leave; well-being benefits (EAP, fitness, clubs/activities).
Application Instructions:
- If you need an accommodation to submit a resume: complete the workplace accommodation request form (https://careers.lilly.com/us/en/workplace-accommodation).
Provide medical leadership for Clinical Design in cardiometabolic health. Translate therapeutic area and asset strategy into clinical development program and trial design optionality, and develop high-quality clinical trial protocols to support proof of concept through registration (phase II–III) studies, including possible early/late development and commercialization.
Primary Responsibilities:
- Serve as medical leader on cross-functional Clinical Design teams; translate strategy into clear objectives and trial optionality, articulating tradeoffs (value, risks, cost, time).
- Represent design optionality to asset teams and senior leaders; adjust based on leadership feedback.
- Develop study protocols with Design Team and partners (Cardiometabolic Health Business Unit Development, Discovery, Program Phase Medicine, Clinical Pharmacology).
- Assess how protocol features impact execution speed/efficiency.
- Support asset strategy (e.g., target patient population) and portfolio clinical strategy alignment.
- Collaborate on clinical trial design and conduct (e.g., sample size, patient commitment, timelines, grants/governance interactions).
- Champion initiatives such as decentralized trials and diversity/equity/inclusion; understand design implications for adoption.
- Review risk profiles and support appropriate subject risk communication.
- Participate in investigator identification/selection; support recruitment, diversity, and retention.
- Ensure seamless transition from design to execution; contribute to scientific data dissemination, reports, and publications.
Minimum Requirements:
- MD or DO; board-eligible/certified in appropriate specialty/subspecialty or equivalent post-medical school clinical training for the country of hiring.
- U.S. trained physicians: board eligibility/certification.
- 3+ years pharmaceutical industry experience.
- 3+ years in multiple areas relevant to clinical trial design (e.g., inferential/statistical methods, rating instruments, regulatory standards, safety assessment, investigator/site management, decentralized clinical trials).
Preferred:
- Clinical trial design leadership in at least one key development phase.
- Strong diabetes comorbidity expertise (e.g., cardiology, obesity medicine, nephrology, hepatology) and/or clinical research experience.
- Advanced statistical foundation (incl. Bayesian) and ability to translate study design concepts.
- Willingness to relocate to Indianapolis or work hybrid remotely; limited domestic/international travel as needed.
Benefits (as stated):
- Company bonus (full-time equivalent).
- Company-sponsored 401(k); pension; vacation; medical/dental/vision/prescription benefits; flexible benefits; life insurance; time off/leave; well-being benefits (EAP, fitness, clubs/activities).
Application Instructions:
- If you need an accommodation to submit a resume: complete the workplace accommodation request form (https://careers.lilly.com/us/en/workplace-accommodation).