Senior Director, Lilly Ventures, APAC

Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement; Singapore; Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Lilly Venture Senior Director to lead venture partnerships in the Asia Pacific region. This role focuses on building relationships with VC firms and engaging with scientific leaders to enhance innovation. The ideal candidate will possess a strong background in life sciences and venture capital, with exceptional communication and leadership skills. Join a dynamic team that values collaboration and strategic thinking, as you contribute to groundbreaking advancements in healthcare and drug discovery. If you're ready to make a significant impact in the biotech ecosystem, this opportunity is for you.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in life sciences VC or related industry experience.
• Strong scientific pedigree through publications or patents preferred.

Responsibilities

• Building trusted VC relationships and managing deal flow.
• Evaluating fund performance and mapping geographic trends.
• Engaging with regional innovation ecosystems for partnerships.

Skills

Venture Capital

Life Sciences

Drug Discovery

Communication Skills

Leadership Skills

Problem-Solving

Education

Ph.D./M.D. in Pharmaceutical or Biomedical Field

M.B.A.

Job description

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 work worldwide to discover and bring life-changing medicines to those in need, improve disease understanding and management, and give back through philanthropy and volunteerism. We prioritize our work and people, seeking those committed to enhancing lives globally.

Eli Lilly has achieved unprecedented R&D productivity, launching twenty new medicines over a decade. To sustain this pipeline, Lilly expands efforts to access external innovation, fueling discovery and development engines.

The Lilly Ventures team has established long-term relationships with leading Life Science Innovation Funds, aiming for portfolio entry. It manages three portfolios—Therapeutics, Technology, and Impact—using fund partnerships and direct investments, providing a broad network to access emerging science globally.

As part of Lilly's Catalyze360 organization, Lilly's Ventures Investing team collaborates with the Science team and partners with innovation hubs like Lilly Gateway Labs and ExploR&D, serving as an investor and strategic partner to the biotech ecosystem.

To expand Lilly Ventures' global reach via the Asia Pacific strategy, we seek a Lilly Venture Senior Director based in Singapore, focusing initially on Japan, Singapore, and Korea, with potential expansion into China, India, and Australia. This role involves seeking venture partnerships for early-stage science and enterprise capabilities to accelerate late-stage science for portfolio delivery, partnering internally and externally to position Lilly as a partner of choice for emerging innovations.

Responsibilities include identifying regional and cross-border VC firms, evaluating fund performance, mapping geographic trends, and developing strategies based on emergent trends in investment and science. The role collaborates with global teams, engages with scientific leaders, and requires high emotional intelligence and sound judgment in confidential discussions. A deep understanding of the VC ecosystem and drug discovery processes is essential.

Responsibilities (including but not limited to):

• Building trusted VC relationships and representing Lilly Ventures with key partners.
• Managing VC deal flow, communicating value to internal stakeholders, and prioritizing ventures aligned with Lilly's strategy.
• Assessing external innovation opportunities scientifically, analyzing patents and literature, and leading discussions with Lilly scientists.
• Engaging with regional innovation ecosystems for partnering, licensing, or acquisition opportunities.
• Representing Lilly strategies to external organizations and mapping the competitive landscape for growth opportunities.
• Coordinating efforts across affiliates and communicating with senior leadership.
• Applying business acumen, market knowledge, and discretion in high-profile situations.

Basic Qualifications

• Ph.D./M.D. with an M.B.A. in a relevant pharmaceutical or biomedical field.
• 5+ years in life sciences VC or related industry experience, with familiarity in small biotech or venture capital firms.
• Strong scientific pedigree through publications, patents, or presentations preferred.

Additional Skills/Preferences

• Exceptional EQ, CQ, problem-solving, communication, and leadership skills; influential without authority.
• Highly organized, capable of multitasking across active programs.
• Expertise in biopharmaceutical discovery, patents, and innovation trends.
• Experience in a global matrix environment and leading regional efforts.
• Established relationships in biotech/venture landscapes in Japan, Singapore, Korea, and/or China.
• Knowledge across disease areas relevant to Lilly.
• Understanding of technologies, drug discovery stages, and deal structures.
• Strong interpersonal, negotiation, and representation skills.
• Digital literacy and ability to work across time zones.

Additional Info:

• Location primarily in Singapore; bilingual in English and another regional language preferred.
• Travel and regional visits required.
• Role involves virtual work with onsite support at Lilly sites.
• Lilly supports workforce inclusion and provides accommodations for applicants with disabilities.