Sr Director (m/w/d) - EU Alliance Manager IMI/IHI

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 seeking a results-driven Sr Director (m/w/d) - EU Alliance Manager IMI/IHI to lead its strategic collaborations within the Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI) and Innovative Health Initiative (IHI) — Europe’s prominent public-private research partnerships.

Description of the Role:

This role serves as the primary liaison between Lilly, the European Commission, and cross-industry consortium partners to ensure successful execution of multi-year, pre-competitive research projects addressing critical public health needs.

The EU Alliance Manager will drive alignment across internal scientific and business teams and external partners, facilitating seamless collaboration and advancing Lilly’s research objectives across all therapeutic areas. This leadership position will manage strategic partnerships and operational activities, serve as the face of IMI/IHI within Lilly, and advise senior management on network capabilities and investment strategies.

Success in this role depends on strong relationship management, scientific project oversight, and business acumen, including navigating complex regulatory frameworks and contractual agreements. The ideal candidate brings at least five years of pharmaceutical industry experience, scientific expertise (PhD preferred), and a proven ability to influence stakeholders across geographic and cultural boundaries. This Europe-based position requires excellent communication and leadership skills to manage diverse cross-functional teams and drive impactful, innovative external research collaborations. This is a remote role and can be based anywhere in Europe.
Join us now as Sr Director (m/w/d) - EU Alliance Manager IMI/IHI

Your Responsibility:

• Lead Lilly’s engagement with IMI/IHI partnerships, liaising between EU institutions, consortium members, and internal teams.
• Manage IMI/IHI alliance portfolio, including steering committees and cross-functional project execution.
• Develop and maintain strategic relationships across public-private consortia and regulatory bodies.
• Oversee contract negotiation, compliance, and financial reporting related to collaborations.
• Monitor regulatory and policy developments affecting European public-private partnerships.
• Facilitate scientific project alignment with broader business and research strategies.
• Deliver timely financial oversight, risk mitigation, and operational reporting to stakeholders.
  

Your Profile:

• PhD in Life Sciences with 5+ years pharmaceutical industry and research collaboration experience.
• Strong knowledge of compliance, regulatory, and contractual frameworks (GDPR, quality, safety).
• Proven leadership in navigating complex, cross-cultural environments and influencing senior stakeholders.
• Excellent communication skills with ability to distill complex scientific and business concepts.
• Strong problem-solving, judgment, and mediation skills for managing sensitive alliance issues.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within matrix organizations and willingness to travel up to 50%.
• Legal and financial acumen to manage contracts and budgets effectively.

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Summary

• Location: Germany, Remote; ES: Spain Remote Alcobendas; France, Paris Remote; UK, Remote; IT: Italy Remote; DK: Denmark Remote
• Type: Full time