Lab Operations Manager

Eli Lilly and Company; Indianapolis (IN); On-site; USD 65,000 - 149,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) plan

Pension

Vacation benefits

Medical, dental, vision benefits

Well-being programs

Job summary

Eli Lilly and Company in Indianapolis is seeking a Lab Operations Manager to support SMDD laboratory operations, manage supplies, coordinate capital projects, and partner with scientists and vendors on improving efficiency.

The role emphasizes inventory control, safety compliance, and cross-functional collaboration to ensure uninterrupted lab activities in a fast-paced biotech environment.

Qualifications

• BS in science/technical field with 4+ years in biotech/pharma.
• Alternatively HS Diploma with 8+ years in pharma industry.
• Ability to work with lab personnel, contractors, vendors and management.
• Direct lab management experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Maintain lab supplies and inventory; forecast usage and support capacity planning.
• Coordinate capital purchasing and work with scientists on project prioritization.
• Partner with maintenance/equipment teams for instrument upkeep and qualification.
• Guide data management with instrument systems and data flows.
• Lead lab safety, housekeeping, and compliance with HSE initiatives.
• Serve as single point contact for glassware and lab waste removal processes.
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency and equipment utilization.
• Translate complex operational challenges into actionable goals and deadlines.

Skills

Lab management

Vendor coordination

Inventory management

Strong communication

Education

BS in science/technical field

HS Diploma with 8+ years of experience

Tools

MS Excel

PowerPoint

MS Word

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.

SMDD is a multidisciplinary organization, focused on the development and commercialization of parenteral formulations of both small and large molecules. Positioned within SMDD, the Lab Operations Manager will work closely with SMDD scientists and lab management to support laboratory operations. This position is tasked with developing and implementing a cohesive strategy to support a variety of non-testing activities across a diverse set of laboratories leveraging Lilly team members and external vendors. In addition, the Lab Operations Manager will provide support to laboratory administrative duties as needed.

Key Responsibilities

• Proactively maintain appropriate lab supplies and consumables inventory by monitoring consumption. Support forecasting and capacity planning to ensure uninterrupted supplies. Interact with vendors supplying consumables and manage consumable delivery areas in laboratories.
• Knowledgeable of SMDD capital purchasing processes. Interacts with scientists to facilitate capital project identification, prioritization and submission.
• Build a strong partnership with the maintenance and equipment team to ensure that laboratory equipment is installed, qualified, maintained and repaired in an efficient manner.
• Knowledgeable of responsibilities and expectations for laboratory instrument system owners. Familiarity with the processes to connect new instruments to data management systems and able to provide guidance to system owners.
• Drive consistency across SMDD material cold storage areas (refrigerators and freezers) by establishing best practices for inventory management, alarm response and storage practices. Oversee the scheduling of routine defrosting/cleanouts of storage units.
• SMDD safety committee member facilitating lab inspection and reporting inspection results. Lead periodic lab clean outs. Facilitate laboratory housekeeping activities. Handle prior chemical approval/expiration authorizations. Partner with HSE to implement safety initiatives.
• Manage the vendor interface effectively and be the single point of contact for laboratory glassware and lab waste removal process across SMDD laboratories to ensure consistency.
• Identify and oversee the implementation of opportunities to increase lab efficiency such as equipment utilization and sample handling.
• Work with SMDD scientists to translate complex operational challenges and issues into actionable goals and deadlines for effective communication and management.
• Working knowledge of IT infrastructure, software applications, and technical requirements relevant to the role, with the ability to troubleshoot basic issues and adapt to new systems.

Minimum Requirements

• BS in a science or technical field with 4+ years of professional experience in the Biotech or Pharmaceutical industry
• Will also consider individuals with equivalent pharmaceutical industry experience such as HS Diploma with 8+ years of experience.
• Ability to work with laboratory personnel, contractors, vendors and management.

Additional Preferences

• 2+ years of direct lab management experience.
• Previous experience in lab setup, lab management, procurement, and inventory management.
• Ability to influence and partner with individuals outside of a formal reporting relationship towards realization of team goals.
• Customer-focused attitude.
• Demonstrates good verbal, written communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent general computer skills (e.g., MS Excel, Microsoft Edge, PowerPoint, MS Word) and the ability to compile, summarize and present information to diverse groups.

Additional Information

• Possible exposure to chemicals, allergens, and loud noises.
• No travel outside the Indianapolis area is expected.

Lilly is dedicated to helping individuals with disabilities to actively engage in the workforce, ensuring equal opportunities when vying for positions.

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 $65,250 - $148,500.

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,

• 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
• well-being benefits (e.g., employee assistance program, fitness benefits, and employee clubs and activities)

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