Director / Senior Director, Small Molecule External Innovation
Eli Lilly and Company
6 months ago
Remote friendly (South San Francisco, CA)
United States
Clinical Research and Development
Responsibilities:
- Source and evaluate external capabilities, technologies, and assets across LSMD’s three pillars (license/acquisition, research collaborations, and integrated discovery partnerships).
- Maintain a structured pipeline of external opportunities with status tracking, strategic fit assessment, and next steps.
- Build and sustain relationships across biotech, venture, academic, and CRO ecosystems to surface LSMD-aligned opportunities.
- Represent SM E&I at partnering events (JPM, BIO, BioEurope), venture showcases, and scientific conferences.
- Lead cross-functional scientific due diligence (medicinal chemistry, computational chemistry, automation, pharmacology, biophysics, AI/ML).
- Author structured evaluation reports, investment theses, and governance presentations for senior leadership.
- Own and maintain a living competitive landscape for key SM E&I technology domains and translate insights into strategic recommendations.
- Partner with Therapeutic Area Search & Evaluate teams, Lilly Research Labs, Catalyze360, and Corporate BD to ensure portfolio coherence and execution quality.
Basic Qualifications:
- PhD with 7+ years (or Master’s with 10+ years) in pharmaceutical/biotechnology R&D with a foundation in drug discovery or translational science.
- 3+ years in external innovation/search/evaluation, business development scouting, or similar systematic evaluation of external scientific opportunities.
Additional Skills/Preferences:
- Broad scientific literacy (chemistry, biology, pharmacology, AI/ML, automation, translational science) with ability to coordinate/synthesize input.
- Experience leading structured scientific due diligence for licensing, collaborations, or investments.
- Strong written communication for evaluation/governance materials.
- Familiarity with external biotech/health-tech ecosystem (venture-backed/early-stage engagement).
- Familiarity with at least two technology areas (e.g., macrocyclic drug design, targeted protein degradation, AI/ML drug discovery, automation, PPI modulators, DNA-encoded libraries).
- Exposure to deal structures (research collaborations, licensing, option agreements, asset acquisitions).
- Business sense to persuade/influence; strong interpersonal skills; ability to manage multiple concurrent evaluations.
Additional Information:
- Supports work across Diabetes/Obesity/Cardiometabolic, Neuroscience, Immunology, Oncology, Genetic Medicines, and Advanced Modalities.
- Up to 40% travel.
Compensation & Benefits (as stated):
- Anticipated wage: $148,500 - $217,800; eligible for company bonus (FTE).
- Comprehensive benefits including 401(k), pension, vacation, medical/dental/vision/prescription, flexible benefits, life insurance, time off/leave, and well-being benefits (e.g., EAP, fitness, clubs/activities).
- Source and evaluate external capabilities, technologies, and assets across LSMD’s three pillars (license/acquisition, research collaborations, and integrated discovery partnerships).
- Maintain a structured pipeline of external opportunities with status tracking, strategic fit assessment, and next steps.
- Build and sustain relationships across biotech, venture, academic, and CRO ecosystems to surface LSMD-aligned opportunities.
- Represent SM E&I at partnering events (JPM, BIO, BioEurope), venture showcases, and scientific conferences.
- Lead cross-functional scientific due diligence (medicinal chemistry, computational chemistry, automation, pharmacology, biophysics, AI/ML).
- Author structured evaluation reports, investment theses, and governance presentations for senior leadership.
- Own and maintain a living competitive landscape for key SM E&I technology domains and translate insights into strategic recommendations.
- Partner with Therapeutic Area Search & Evaluate teams, Lilly Research Labs, Catalyze360, and Corporate BD to ensure portfolio coherence and execution quality.
Basic Qualifications:
- PhD with 7+ years (or Master’s with 10+ years) in pharmaceutical/biotechnology R&D with a foundation in drug discovery or translational science.
- 3+ years in external innovation/search/evaluation, business development scouting, or similar systematic evaluation of external scientific opportunities.
Additional Skills/Preferences:
- Broad scientific literacy (chemistry, biology, pharmacology, AI/ML, automation, translational science) with ability to coordinate/synthesize input.
- Experience leading structured scientific due diligence for licensing, collaborations, or investments.
- Strong written communication for evaluation/governance materials.
- Familiarity with external biotech/health-tech ecosystem (venture-backed/early-stage engagement).
- Familiarity with at least two technology areas (e.g., macrocyclic drug design, targeted protein degradation, AI/ML drug discovery, automation, PPI modulators, DNA-encoded libraries).
- Exposure to deal structures (research collaborations, licensing, option agreements, asset acquisitions).
- Business sense to persuade/influence; strong interpersonal skills; ability to manage multiple concurrent evaluations.
Additional Information:
- Supports work across Diabetes/Obesity/Cardiometabolic, Neuroscience, Immunology, Oncology, Genetic Medicines, and Advanced Modalities.
- Up to 40% travel.
Compensation & Benefits (as stated):
- Anticipated wage: $148,500 - $217,800; eligible for company bonus (FTE).
- Comprehensive benefits including 401(k), pension, vacation, medical/dental/vision/prescription, flexible benefits, life insurance, time off/leave, and well-being benefits (e.g., EAP, fitness, clubs/activities).