Associate Director - IT Systems Delivery Lead

100 Eli Lilly and Company; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 125,000 - 183,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k)

Pension

Vacation benefits

Medical benefits

Job summary

Lilly is seeking an Associate Director – IT Systems Delivery Lead to guide large-scale programs at new API manufacturing facilities in the US. The role sits in Technology at Lilly MQ and focuses on delivering manufacturing and quality systems with safety, quality, and regulatory compliance at the forefront.

You will lead design-to-delivery programs across sites, manage risks, coordinate stakeholders, and ensure alignment with site and IT strategy while balancing budgets and timelines in a

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in IT, Computer Science, Project Management or related field.
• 10+ years of experience in program or portfolio management overseeing multiple projects.
• Strong understanding of project management methodologies (Agile, Waterfall, Scrum, etc).
• Experience in Pharma and GMP Manufacturing.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage large-scale programs from design, execution and delivery, aligning with goals.
• Oversee Release Train Engineering, coordinating teams for timely delivery.
• Ensure all projects adhere to GxP standards and regulatory compliance.
• Engage stakeholders at all levels with clear status updates.
• Identify risks and develop mitigation strategies for program success.
• Allocate resources across projects to optimize productivity.
• Generate and present reports on progress and outcomes.

Skills

Program management

Stakeholder management

Risk management

Leadership

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in IT, Computer Science, Project Management 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.

Associate Director – IT Systems Delivery Lead

This is an opportunity you don’t want to miss! Lilly is entering an exciting period of growth, and we are committed to delivering innovative medicines to patients around the world. Lilly is investing to create several new state‑of‑the‑art manufacturing sites. These brand-new facilities will utilize the latest technology for API and Dry products Manufacturing and will include several platforms including Peptides, Small Molecules, Bio Conjugates, Oligonucleotides and Drug Substance Manufacturing, as well as Dry Products Manufacturing. This is an exciting once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to help build and operate a new site. These new sites will be built using the latest high‑tech equipment, advanced highly integrated and automated manufacturing systems, and have a focus on minimizing the impact to our environment.

What You’ll Be Doing:

You will be part of Technology at Lilly MQ (Manufacturing and Quality), an organization that drives manufacturing operational excellence and productivity efforts through utilization of technology. Technology at Lilly MQ strives to enable the making of medicine “with safety first and quality always”. The Delivery for MQ Technology at Lilly will play a crucial role in supervising and aligning multiple programs to ensure they meet their intended objectives, timelines, budgets and impacts. This role requires a deep understanding of each program's goals and how they connect with others across the portfolio. Additionally, identifies interdependencies and ensures seamless integration between various initiatives. By proactively managing potential risks, cross‑connections, and resource exchanges, they drive cohesive execution across the organization, balancing strategic priorities with practical deliverables to maximize value. This position is vital for ensuring all programs are aligned with the overall Strategy for New facilities and deliver desired outcomes efficiently and within budget. The Delivery Lead will also have an active participation in driving business and strategic financial plan conversations related to programs/projects for new facilities.

How You’ll Succeed:

Program Management and Delivery:

• Lead and manage large‑scale programs from design, execution and delivery in a green field site, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and objectives.

Release Train Engineering:

• Oversee the release train process, coordinating with various teams to ensure timely and efficient delivery of products and services.

GxP Compliance:

• Ensure all projects adhere to GxP standards, maintaining the highest levels of quality and regulatory compliance.

Stakeholder Management:

• Engage with stakeholders at all levels, providing clear communication and regular updates on program status.

Risk Management:

• Identify potential risks and develop mitigation strategies to ensure program success.

Resource Allocation:

• Effectively allocate resources across projects to optimize productivity and performance.

Reporting:

• Generate and present comprehensive reports on program progress, performance metrics, and outcomes.

Must have a strong business understanding and demonstrated business learning agility e.g. manufacturing processes, lab processes, engineering standards.

Must have strong analytical and problem‑solving skills. Must be able to communicate complex technical information to both technical and non‑technical stakeholders and influence decision making at senior leadership level. Must be able to stay up‑to‑date with new technologies and evaluate which ones are best suited for the organization's needs.

Develop an in‑depth understanding of the business processes at the assigned site. Apply knowledge to assigned solutions to support the business processes. Work with Process Engineers, Operations, Quality, and TS/MS to resolve any issues reported on the solutions implemented. Drive the site adoption of assigned solutions, ensuring alignment with Site and IT strategy, and leveraging awareness of internal and external trends in partnership with the Business SMEs.

Basic Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in IT, Computer Science, Project Management or related field
• 10+ years of experience in program or portfolio management, overseeing multiple projects
• Strong understanding of project management methodologies (Agile, Waterfall, Scrum, etc) as well as software development methodologies.
• Experience in Pharma and GMP Manufacturing

Additional Preferences Experience:

• Experience managing programs/projects in the pharmaceutical business.
• Previous experience in the startup of a new facility or clinical development manufacturing site.
• Demonstrated experience handling large‑scale, cross‑functional projects and programs.

Skills:

• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to assess risks, manage trade‑offs, and make sound decisions.
• Excellent communication and leadership skills to interact with stakeholders at all levels of the organization.

Leadership Skills:

• Proven leadership experience in managing cross‑functional teams.

Industry Engagement:

• Active participation in industry forums and standards organizations.

Other Information:

Role is Monday through Friday and based on‑site. Must be flexible in providing support to accommodate other inputs (production schedules, shutdowns, etc.). Occasional extended hour and / or off‑hour work may be required. Position will be based out of one of our new API manafacturing facilities currently planned for Houston TX, Richmond VA and Hunstville AL.

In the initial 6‑12 months it is also expected that the candidates can travel back and forth to the company Headquarters in Indianapolis IN. 5‑10% of Business Travel time.

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 $124,500 - $182,600. Full‑time equivalent employees also will be eligible for a company bonus (depending, in part, on company and individual performance).

• 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.

#WeAreLilly At Lilly we strive to ensure our employees are part of a team that cares about them and our shared purpose of making life better for those around the world. How do we do this? We continue to look for ways to include, innovate, accelerate and deliver while maintaining integrity, excellence and respect for people. We hope that you seek to join us on our journey as we create medicine and deliver improved outcomes for patients across the globe!

#WeAreLilly