Director - Heart Failure Research

Role Summary

Director - Heart Failure Research at Lilly leading strategic discovery and development efforts in heart failure, with oversight of in vivo/in vitro pharmacology studies, model identification, and cross-functional collaboration to drive preclinical programs from target identification through IND-enabling studies.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic vision and direction for heart failure drug discovery and development programs, from target identification through IND-enabling studies.
• Lead and advise on the design, execution, and interpretation of in vivo and in vitro pharmacology studies to assess efficacy, PK/PD, and safety of therapeutic candidates.
• Identify robust animal models of heart failure (including HFpEF and HFrEF) and other cardiovascular diseases.
• Serve as a subject matter expert on heart failure biology, pathology, current treatments and next generation approaches.
• Stay current with scientific literature and external progress to keep research innovative and competitive.
• Lead, mentor, and manage a team of scientists, fostering a collaborative and high-performing culture.
• Manage strategies, timelines, and resource allocation to ensure program achievements.
• Develop project plans and risk mitigation strategies addressing scientific and operational challenges.
• Communicate program progress, risks, and results to senior management and cross-functional partners.
• Enable outsourcing activities with CROs for specialized studies, ensuring quality and prompt execution.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate data and drive program strategies.
• Represent the preclinical team in external meetings with scientific experts and potential partners.
• Contribute pharmacology data to regulatory filings, including IND submissions.
• Support business development efforts by evaluating external opportunities for potential in-licensing.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in cardiovascular biology, pharmacology, molecular biology, or a related field
• 5+ years of industry experience in preclinical drug discovery and development
• Strong expertise in heart failure, including pathophysiology, preclinical models, and current therapeutic landscape

Skills

• Demonstrated leadership and people-management skills
• Data-driven decision making and innovative problem-solving
• Strong project management across complex research programs
• Excellent written and verbal communication for diverse audiences
• Strong interpersonal skills for collaboration with internal teams, external partners, and vendors

Education

• Ph.D. in cardiovascular biology, pharmacology, molecular biology, or related field