Associate Director - TSMS (Small Molecule)

Eli Lilly and Company; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 123,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) plan

Pension plan

Medical, dental, vision coverage

Vacation benefits

Well-being benefits

Job summary

Lilly in Houston is establishing an advanced APIs manufacturing site and seeks a TS/MS Associate Director to lead a technical staff in cGMP API production. You will guide tech transfer, validate processes, and ensure GMP compliance across engineering, quality, and regulatory teams.

The role requires a BA/BS or higher in a relevant science and 5+ years in cGMP API manufacturing, with preference for experience in small molecules or related modalities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's in Chemistry, Microbiology, Biochemistry, Biochemical Engineering, or related science.
• 5+ years of cGMP commercial API manufacturing experience.
• Experience in small‑molecule, peptide, or oligonucleotide manufacturing.
• Strong analytical and quantitative problem‑solving skills.
• Ability to communicate and influence across functional groups.

Responsibilities

• Maintain a safe work environment and lead safety initiatives.
• Hire, manage and grow a team of scientists for technology transfer and process validation.
• Oversee staff performance management and development.
• Influence site technical agenda and GMP quality plan objectives across disciplines.
• Ensure technical excellence for investigations and regulatory submissions.
• Interact with regulators, customers, and external auditors as needed.
• Drive process capability, control, yield and productivity improvements.
• Coordinate global best practice sharing and site harmonization.

Skills

Technical leadership

Project management

Analytical skills

Communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Chemistry/related science degree

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 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.

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. Our40,000 employeesaround 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’relooking 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 moleculeslocatedin Houston, TX.This facility is intended to provide APIs for current and future products, including new modalities.This is a unique opportunity to be a part of the leadership team for the startup of a greenfield manufacturing site, and the successful candidate will help to build the organization, thefacilityand the culture to enable a successful startup into GMP manufacturing operations.

Main Purpose and Objectives:

The TS/MS Associate Directoris responsibleforleading/mentoring a technical staff and understandingchemical synthesis processing as it relates to cGMP API commercial manufacturing.This role is responsibleto manageroutine production support activities while balancing implementation of technical projects and process optimizations, providingguidance on time management and priorities for direct reports.Key position responsibilities aresupporting technical transfer of new processes to site,developingand executing the process and process-related validation plans,establishingcontrol and capability of the process, and maintaining GMP compliance in all associated documents and activities. The position requires knowledge ofcGMPs, applicable global regulatory manufacturing guidance, and the corporate/industry standards for validation.This position will interact with engineering, manufacturing, validation, quality assurance, quality control, development, and regulatory departmentsto influence and implement the technical agenda within a multi-discipline technical environment.Interaction mayberequiredwith other Lilly site/contract producers of Lilly products.

Responsibilities:

• Responsible for maintaining a safe work environment, leading safety initiatives, and working safely and accountable for supporting all HSE Corporate and Site Goals.
• Hire, manage and grow a team of scientists tasked with support of technology transfer, process validation, manufacturing operations, and continuous improvement. Accountable for the performance and results of the TSMS production support function.
• Hiring, performance management, and development of staff
• Partner within TSMS and across functional disciplines to influence and implement the technical agenda, site business plan objectives and GMP Quality Plan objectives
• Ensure adequate oversight and technical excellence for investigations and complaints.
• Technical review and approval for site quality documents, plans, regulatory submissions, validation-related documents, and studies.
• Interact with regulators, customers, or other outside stakeholders on business issues or in support of internal and external agency audits
• Define strategic direction and provide oversight for setting the technical agenda to improve process capability, process control, yield, and/or productivity for all products within the site portfolio.
• Network globally to share best practices, rationale, and control strategies to ensure harmonization and alignment between sites.

Basic Requirements:

• Bachelors orMasters inChemistry, Microbiology, Biochemistry, Biochemicalengineeringor related sciencefield.
• 5+ years ofcGMP commercial API manufacturingexperience inTechnical Services orassociated disciplines such as Manufacturing, Quality Control, Quality Assurance, Advanced Project Management, Development, Regulatory Sciences or Engineering.

Additional Preferences:

• Experience in smallmolecule, peptide, or oligonucleotide manufacturing.
• Technical leadership, administrativeand organizational skills.
• Proficiencyin deliveringhighly complextasks and/or tasks that are highly cross-functional.
• Demonstrated Project Management skills and ability to coordinate complex projects.
• Strong analytical and quantitative problem-solving skills.
• Ability to communicate and influence effectively across functional groups and stakeholders.
• Strategic thinking and ability to balance short term needs with long term business evolution.
• Demonstrated ability to learn & apply technical/scientific knowledge.

OtherInformation:

• Occasional travel required 5 – 10%.
• Required to be working onsite.
• Required to be on call.
• Shift work may apply.

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 Network, Black Employees at Lilly, Chinese Culture Network, Japanese International Leadership Network (JILN), Lilly India Network, Organization of Latinx at Lilly (OLA), PRIDE (LGBTQ+ Allies), Veterans Leadership Network (VLN), Women’s Initiative for Leading at Lilly (WILL), enAble (for people with disabilities). Learn more about all of our groups.

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

$123,000 - $180,400

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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