Director/Senior Director Cell Line Development

Eli Lilly and Company; Indianapolis (IN); On-site; USD 153,000 - 264,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus eligibility

401(k) matching and pension

Medical, dental, vision benefits

Flexible spending accounts

Job summary

Eli Lilly and Company headquartered in Indianapolis, IN, seeks a Senior Advisor Scientist to lead the cell line development platform within BR&D. You will set technical direction, drive innovative workflows, and mentor scientists in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.

Lead cross-functional teams on CMC activities, champion AI/ML for clone selection, and contribute to IND/BLA submissions while advancing large-molecule programs. This is a demanding role with high impact on patient lives.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Biochemistry, Biotechnology, or a related field with 6+ years of biopharmaceutical industry experience.
• Hands-on expertise in mammalian cell culture, transfection, clone screening, stability assessment and cell banking.
• Experience integrating automation, high-throughput screening, and digital tools into CLD workflows (FACS, microfluidic screening, ambr).
• Knowledge of CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing and analytical tools (digital PCR, NGS) for gene expression dynamics.

Responsibilities

• Lead the technical strategy for Lilly CHO cell line development platform and advance capabilities.
• Evaluate and deploy technologies that increase cell line productivity and product quality.
• Champion AI/ML across CLD workflows to accelerate clone selection and data-driven decisions.
• Serve as cell line development lead on cross-functional teams and ensure robust delivery.
• Mentor scientists and establish data standards to scale capabilities.
• Author and review IND/BLA technical reports and regulatory documentation.
• Build external collaborations with academia and industry consortia.
• Present findings internally and at conferences to strengthen Lilly's reputation.

Skills

Mammalian cell culture

Transfection

Clone screening

Stability assessment

Cell banking

AI/ML in CLD workflows

Mentoring/leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Project planning

Education

Ph.D. in Biochemistry, Biotechnology, or related field

Tools

FACS

Microfluidic screening

Ambr micro-bioreactors

CRISPR/Cas9

digital PCR

NGS

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 50000 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 Upstream Bioprocess Research and Development team (BR&D) within Lilly delivers new medicines to patients through the development and commercialization of insulins, peptides, oligonucleotides, monoclonal antibodies, and novel gene therapy systems. The Senior Advisor Scientist will lead the advancement of the cell line development platform, setting technical strategy and driving the innovation that strengthens Lilly's pipeline programs. The successful candidate will also mentor and develop scientific talent, and thrive in a collaborative, fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead the technical strategy for Lilly CHO cell line development platform by advancing the technical capabilities and workflows that enable the large-molecule portfolio.
• Evaluate and deploy emerging molecular, automation, and analytical technologies that increase cell line productivity, enhance target product quality, and shorten CLD timelines.
• Champion AI/ML across the CLG workflow to accelerate clone selection and enhance data-driven decision-making.
• Serve as the cell line development lead on cross-functional CMC teams, translating platform advances into faster, more robust delivery across the large molecule pipeline.
• Mentor and develop scientists and research associates, to establish best practices and data standards that scale the group's capability.
• Author and review the technical reports and regulatory documentation (IND, BLA) that carry cell line development through submission.
• Build and lead external collaborations through academic partnerships and industry consortia to scout and evaluate emerging cell line development technologies.
• Present scientific findings internally and externally through conferences and peer-reviewed publications, strengthening Lilly’s reputation in cell line engineering.

Basic Requirements

• Ph.D. in Biochemistry, Biotechnology, or a related field with 6+ years of biopharmaceutical industry experience, with a sustained record of platform leadership and technical mentoring.
• Hands-on expertise in mammalian cell culture, transfection, clone screening, stability assessment, and cell banking.
• Experience integrating lab automation, high-throughput screening, and digital tools into CLD workflows, including FACS, microfluidic screening, and ambr micro-bioreactors.
• Proficiency in CRISPR/Cas9-based genome-editing campaigns and application of molecular analytical tools, such as digital PCR and NGS, to assess gene expression dynamics.
• Working knowledge of CMC regulatory expectations for cell line development and submission-ready documentation (IND, BLA).
• Demonstrated ability to coach, and mentor scientists, and set technical direction for a team.
• Ability to work cross-functionally, plan effectively, and prioritize goals to meet accelerated timelines.

Additional Information/Preferences

• Application of AI/ML in cell line or process development to create predictive models for clone productivity, product quality and/or workflow optimization.
• Hands on experience with protein and product-quality characterization methods, including analytical SEC (aSEC), CE-SDS, and capillary isoelectric focusing (cIEF).

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 $153,000 - $264,000.

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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