Associate Director - Operational Readiness

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.

Lilly is currently constructing an advanced manufacturing facility for production of API molecules located in Lebanon, IN. This facility is Lilly’s largest investment in manufacturing capacity and is intended to provide APIs for current and future products, including new modalities. This is a unique opportunity to be a part of the startup team for a greenfield manufacturing site, and the successful candidate will help to drive the plant operational readiness plan to enable a successful startup into GMP manufacturing operations.

Overview

The Associate Director – Operational Readiness is a key site leader responsible for driving startup readiness within a plant area at the LP1 site. This role ensures alignment and coordination across key stakeholders to deliver a fully integrated and executable plan for operational readiness. This role will focus on risk identification, mitigation oversight, and governance at the tactical level, ensuring that startup activities are delivered safely, on time, and to the required quality standards.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Planning: Drive operational readiness strategies to ensure seamless execution of business initiatives and organizational priorities.
• Cross-Functional Coordination: Partner with stakeholders across multiple teams to align readiness activities with program objectives and timelines.
• Process Optimization: Identify gaps and implement improvements in readiness frameworks, tools, and processes to enhance efficiency and scalability.
• Risk Management: Assess operational risks and develop mitigation plans to support successful delivery of critical programs.
• Performance Monitoring: Establish metrics and reporting mechanisms to track readiness progress and ensure accountability.
• Leadership & Guidance: Provide direction and mentorship to readiness teams, fostering collaboration and continuous improvement.
  
  
  

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering or related field.
• 5 years of experience in manufacturing operations, project management, or startup readiness within regulated environments.
  
  
  

Additional Preferences

• Experience working on large-scale capital projects or plant startups is highly desirable.
• Strong understanding of project management principles and startup readiness frameworks.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment and adapt quickly to changing circumstances.
• Skilled in stakeholder engagement and relationship building across diverse functions.
• Demonstrated ability to identify risks, develop mitigation strategies, and drive implementation.
• Excellent organizational and communication skills; able to translate complex issues into clear actions.
• Collaborative mindset with strong interpersonal skills to influence and align cross-functional teams.
  
  
  

Lilly is dedicated to helping individuals with disabilities to actively engage in the workforce, ensuring equal opportunities when vying for positions. If you require accommodation to submit a resume for a position at Lilly, please complete the accommodation request form (https://careers.lilly.com/us/en/workplace-accommodation) for further assistance. Please note this is for individuals to request an accommodation as part of the application process and any other correspondence will not receive a response.

Lilly is proud to be an EEO Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, religion, gender identity, sex, gender expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, ancestry, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status.

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Actual compensation will depend on a candidate’s education, experience, skills, and geographic location. The anticipated wage for this position is

$117,000 - $171,600

Full-time equivalent employees also will be eligible for a company bonus (depending, in part, on company and individual performance). In addition, Lilly offers a comprehensive benefit program to eligible employees, including eligibility to participate in a company-sponsored 401(k); pension; vacation benefits; eligibility for medical, dental, vision and prescription drug benefits; flexible benefits (e.g., healthcare and/or dependent day care flexible spending accounts); life insurance and death benefits; certain time off and leave of absence benefits; and well-being benefits (e.g., employee assistance program, fitness benefits, and employee clubs and activities).Lilly reserves the right to amend, modify, or terminate its compensation and benefit programs in its sole discretion and Lilly’s compensation practices and guidelines will apply regarding the details of any promotion or transfer of Lilly employees.

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