Associate Director, Business Operations

At Lilly, we unite caring with discovery to make life better for people around the world. We are a global healthcare leader headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. Our employees around the world work to discover and bring life-changing medicines to those who need them, improve the understanding and management of disease, and give back to our communities through philanthropy and volunteerism. We give our best effort to our work, and we put people first. We're looking for people who are determined to make life better for people around the world.

Organization Overview

At Lilly, we unite caring with discovery to make life better for people around the world. We are a global healthcare leader headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. Our employees around the world work to discover and bring life-changing medicines to those who need them, improve the understanding and management of disease, and give back to our communities through philanthropy and volunteerism. We give our best effort to our work, and we put people first. We're looking for people who are determined to make life better for people around the world.

Job Summary

The Associate Director of Business Operations will negotiate complex Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls (CMC) contracts while driving digital transformation of CMC-related efforts via technology-enabled automation. This role requires extensive CMC knowledge, exceptional business judgment, strong negotiation skills, and the ability to manage multiple high-stakes initiatives with rigorous attention to detail.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and negotiate complex contracts with external Contract Development and Manufacturing Organizations (CDMOs), ensuring favorable terms that align with organizational objectives and timelines
• Leverage the latest technologies to streamline and automate CMC operational processes, identifying opportunities to enhance efficiency, reduce cycle times, and optimize resource allocation through innovative digital solutions
• Shepherd multiple concurrent initiatives through organizational processes, identifying potential roadblocks early and implementing proactive solutions to keep programs on track
• Support alliance management for CMC-specific relationships, including developing and maintaining comprehensive tracking systems for key performance indicators (KPIs) across programs
• Coordinate CMC pilot programs to evaluate vendor capabilities and assess emerging technologies

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor's degree
• Minimum 7 years of experience in pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry with proven track record of successfully negotiating complex contracts with CDMOs
• Strong scientific background to support CMC efforts
• Experience supporting Request for Proposals (RFPs) and drafting and redlining Work Orders for CMC services

Additional Skills/Preferences

• Strong analytical skills with demonstrated ability to develop, track, and report on key performance indicators and program metrics
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with ability to influence and collaborate across all organizational levels
• Demonstrated "go-getter" mentality with self-starting capabilities, proactive approach to identifying and solving operational challenges, exceptional ability to multi-task effectively, and relentless drive to reach goals and deliver results
• Exceptional attention to detail with proven ability to maintain accuracy while managing multiple high-priority initiatives simultaneously
• Superior organizational skills with demonstrated ability to prioritize effectively and meet tight deadlines in a fast-paced research environment
• Proven ability to document, standardize, and systematize complex processes to enable scalability and knowledge