Sr. Director - Engineering (Automation, Maintenance, Process)

Role Summary

The Senior Director is responsible for leading the site’s process-facing engineering functions—including process engineering, automation, and maintenance—to ensure the team has the capacity, capability, and leadership to support site startup and long-term manufacturing goals. This role provides both administrative and technical leadership for engineering operation.

As a member of the Lilly Site Lead Team, the Senior Director contributes to shaping the site’s strategic direction, building organizational capability, and managing cross-functional issues. The team works collectively to achieve long-term business objectives, adapt to evolving corporate and external environments, and develop the site for future success. During the project delivery and startup phases (2029–2030), the Site Lead Team will operate dynamically to support project execution, build the organization, implement GMP systems and processes, and establish site culture.

Responsibilities

• Pre-Startup & Startup Phase (through 2029‚Äì2030):
  • Organizational Development: Collaborate with the Site Lead Team to build a capable, inclusive, and resilient organization focused on safety, quality, and operational excellence.
  • Functional Strategy: Define priorities and roadmap for process engineering, automation, and maintenance. Develop systems and processes by leveraging internal expertise and external best practices.
  • Safety Leadership: Actively contribute to the site HSE Lead Team to ensure safety is embedded throughout project delivery and startup.
  • Startup Project Support: Act as end user for process equipment‚Äîproviding input on design, commissioning, and startup plans to align with both project and long-term site goals.
  • Team Structure: Design and evolve the engineering organization to ensure the right resources and leadership are in place for GMP manufacturing.
  • System Readiness: Ensure qualified and safe states for equipment, processes, utilities, and facilities are established and maintained.
  • Corporate Alignment: Build strong technical relationships with corporate teams and champion strategic initiatives at the site level.

• Post-Startup Phase:
  • Phase_Ongoing Strategy Execution: Continue refining and executing the engineering roadmap, aligning functional goals with site priorities.
  • Compliance & Standards: Ensure adherence to corporate policies and standards across environmental, safety, and quality domains.
  • External Benchmarking: Maintain an outward focus to identify and apply best practices from across the industry and internal network.
  • Asset Management: Partner with Facilities Engineering to manage site investments‚Äîplanning, prioritizing, and executing capital projects aligned with site objectives.
  • Operational Integrity: Ensure equipment remains in a qualified and safe state, and that maintenance is performed and documented to the highest standards.
  • Governance & Controls: Establish and maintain robust control systems to manage compliance and escalate issues appropriately.
  • Leadership Development: Cultivate future technical and managerial leaders for the site and potential global roles.

Qualifications

• Required: Bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline
• Required: 10+ years of experience in a leadership role managing teams within the pharmaceutical industry

Additional Qualifications

• Preferred: Experience in API manufacturing, including implementation of a Process Safety Management program
• Preferred: Strong understanding of cGMPs and their application to manufacturing operations
• Preferred: Proven ability to build effective relationships across all organizational levels‚Äîfrom site leadership to frontline teams
• Preferred: Demonstrated success in leading projects from initiation to completion, meeting timelines, budgets, and performance standards
• Preferred: Track record of developing and managing high-performing, engaged teams with a focus on safety, quality, and strong team culture

Education

• Bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline

Additional Requirements

• Role will begin remotely with occasional business travel to the Global Headquarters in Indianapolis, Indiana, and to the new site area. Full relocation to the area of the new site is required. New site location will be shared upon signing of a confidentiality agreement.