Associate Director, Immunology Scientific Data Communications

Eli Lilly and Company; Indianapolis (IN); On-site; USD 128,000 - 187,000; Full time

Job summary

Eli Lilly and Company is seeking an Associate Director of R&D Communications - Immunology to lead data storytelling across pre-clinical to first approval. The role partners with senior leaders to shape strategic narratives and execute communication plans for the immunology portfolio.

The position focuses on data communications, congress and publications strategy, and executive preparation, with travel and cross‑functional collaboration across R&D and TA functions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, science, public relations, or related field.
• 5 years of communications experience in pharmaceutical, biotech, or healthcare environments.
• Lilly will not sponsor work authorization or visas for this role.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead the early, mid- and late‑stage communications strategy for immunology.
• Follow congress playbooks to showcase Lilly’s immunology data.
• Align publications strategy with communications objectives and engage media.
• Prepare executives for media interviews and high-stakes engagements.
• Build proactive media relations and key journalist partnerships.
• Collaborate across TA leads and enterprise pillars for integrated narratives.
• Create messaging frameworks for issues and competitive dynamics.
• Lead agency partners and external resources.

Skills

Data storytelling

Media relations

Executive communications

Publications planning

Congress strategy

Strategic storytelling

Education

Bachelor’s degree in communications, science, public relations, or related field

Job description

At Lilly, the work is demanding because patients are waiting. We unite caring with discovery to help make life better for people around the world, knowing that every decision, every detail, and every day matters. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, our over 50,000 employees around the globe take on complex challenges to discover and deliver life‑changing medicines, strengthen how health is understood and managed, and support the communities we serve. This is hard, urgent, selfless work—but it’s work worth doing. If you’re driven by purpose and ready to bring your best to work that truly matters for patients, we invite you to join us.

The Associate Director, R&D Communications -Immunology (with TA flex) is the dedicated communications lead for Lilly’s immunology pipeline, accountable for core deliverables: data congress support and landmark data communications. This role is embedded with LRL counterparts in immunology and maintains a dotted‑line relationship with the Immunology TA communications lead. Lilly’s immunology portfolio spans inflammatory bowel disease, dermatology, and rheumatology, with both established and pipeline assets that are redefining treatment paradigms. Clear and compelling data storytelling is essential to differentiate Lilly’s immunology portfolio in a crowded competitive space. Reporting to the Senior Director, Global Data Storytelling Communications, the Associate Director leads communications across the scientific lifecycle for immunology assets, from pre‑clinical through first regulatory approval, ensuring every data moment is strategically planned, narratively connected to the enterprise science story, and implemented with the quality and ambition that reflects Lilly’s position as the world’s most valuable healthcare company. This is a trusted advisor to senior R&D and TA leaders.

Key Objectives / Deliverables

• DATA COMMUNICATIONS AND NARRATIVE STRATEGY: Develop and lead the early, mid- and late‑stage communications strategy and positioning for the immunology pipeline. Architect narratives before landmarks land, ensuring Lilly shapes how the science is understood rather than reacting to it. Connect every data readout to the broader Lilly enterprise science story. Also, ability to flex in an agile team environment across our portfolio.
• CONGRESS STRATEGY: Follow early Congress playbooks to show up with Lilly’s Immunology data where and how it matters.
• PUBLICATIONS STRATEGY: Partner with medical affairs and R&D to align publications strategy with communications objectives. Ensure peer‑reviewed data disclosures reinforce the corporate narrative and are supported by proactive media and collaborator engagement.
• EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATIONS AND COUNSEL: Serve as a trusted advisor to senior immunology R&D and TA leaders. Prepare executives for media interviews, scientific congresses, and other high‑stakes engagements. Develop executive visibility strategies and supporting materials.
• MEDIA RELATIONS: Develop and implement proactive media strategy for immunology pipeline achievements. Build and maintain relationships with key journalists covering the therapeutic area. Manage reactive media inquiries in partnership with the broader media relations team.
• CROSS‑TA AND ENTERPRISE INTEGRATION: Partner with fellow TA leads, the Emerging Science and Portfolio team, and the Global Consumer Science Communications pillars to ensure narratives are integrated. Contribute to the enterprise data release playbook and unified congress presence.
• ISSUES MANAGEMENT: Develop messaging frameworks, scenario plans, and rapid‑response protocols for competitive and reputational issues specific to the therapeutic area. Serve as an expert for issues navigation within the communications function.
• TEAM COLLABORATION: Partner across communications. Lead agency partners and external resources effectively.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, science, public relations, or related field
• 5 years of communications experience in pharmaceutical, biotech, or healthcare environments
• Qualified applicants must be authorized to work in the United States on a full‑time basis. Lilly will not provide support for or sponsor work authorization or visas for this role, including but not limited to F‑1 CPT, F‑1 OPT, F‑1 STEM OPT, J‑1, H‑1B, TN, O‑1, E‑3, H‑1B1, or L‑1.

Additional Skills / Preferences

• Demonstrated experience in immunology or closely related therapeutic area communications
• Proven experience with clinical data communications, congress strategy, and media relations
• Experience providing critical communications counsel to senior executives
• Strong understanding of the immunology landscape, including inflammatory bowel disease, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, and rheumatologic conditions. Familiarity with the competitive dynamics and key opinion leader networks in immunology.
• Exceptional ability to translate complex scientific and clinical data into compelling narratives for diverse audiences, including media, investors, policymakers, and patients
• Demonstrated ability to architect proactive narratives around data landmarks rather than responding reactively
• Strong media relations skills with experience engaging top‑tier science, health, and business journalists
• Experience with publication planning and medical affairs collaboration
• Proven judgment in high‑pressure situations with significant reputational implications
• Proactive, anticipatory mentality with the rigor to prepare for emerging issues and competitive dynamics
• Track record of communications work that drove measurable business outcomes
• Strong executive presence and credibility with senior partners across R&D, commercial, and corporate functions

Additional Information

• Location: Indianapolis, IN.
• Domestic and international travel expected (15‑25%).

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.

Our employee resource groups (ERGs) offer strong support networks for their members and are open to all employees. Our current groups include: Africa, Middle East, Central Asia (AMECA), Black Employees at Lilly (BE@Lilly), Chinese Culture Network (CCN), EnAble, Evolve, Lilly Indian Network (LIN), Organization of Latinx at Lilly (OLA), Pride (LGBTQ+ Allies), Veterans Leadership Network (VLN) and Women’s Initiative for Leading at Lilly (WILL).

Actual compensation will depend on a candidate’s education, experience, skills, and geographic location. The anticipated wage for this position is $127,500 - $187,000. 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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