Lead Operator, Mixed Modality - Lilly Medicine Foundry

Eli Lilly and Company; Indianapolis (IN); On-site; USD 38,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k)

Pension

Medical, dental, vision

Vacation benefits

Well-being programs

Job summary

Eli Lilly and Company in Indianapolis, Indiana, seeks a Manufacturing Lead Operator to support startup activities and bring manufacturing equipment into service. The Lead Operator becomes an on-the-floor expert, guiding teams and ensuring safety, quality, and regulatory compliance during production of API molecules.

The role requires travel and strong leadership, with a focus on tactical day-to-day decisions, shift coordination, and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• HS Diploma or GED required.
• 3+ years of manufacturing experience, GMP/chemical processing preferred.
• 2 years of direct leadership/supervisory experience required.
• API experience required.
• Authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.

Responsibilities

• Help enforce safety, quality, and environmental compliance.
• Operate processes and equipment per batch records and SOPs to meet production schedules.
• Provide on-the-floor leadership for day-to-day decisions and resource prioritization.
• Complete daily monitoring, testing, and cleaning to maintain equipment and systems.
• Promote a strong safety culture and advise on safety behaviors.
• Lead troubleshooting and respond to process upsets, escalating when needed.
• Follow procedures for safety reporting, spill response, and emergency actions.
• Ensure clear communication at shift handoffs and daily huddles.
• Ensure adherence to cGMP, safe work, and housekeeping requirements.
• Collaborate with area management to understand Foundry strategy and needs.

Skills

Leadership

Safety compliance

Communication

Lean manufacturing

Problem solving

Education

HS Diploma/GED

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.

Job Position Overview:

The Lilly Medicine Foundry Manufacturing Lead Operator actively supports start-up activities to bring manufacturing equipment into service. The Lead Operator becomes an expert in their assigned area and educates the team on the proper operation of the facility. This role requires domestic and international travel to collaborate, train, and learn from sites that currently produce APIs.

Upon completion of the project phase, the Lead Operator provides on-the-floor, tactical leadership for production of API molecules. The Lead Operator ensures a safety-first, quality-always approach while managing a production process that encompasses diverse unit operations and manufacturing skills.

Responsibilities:

• Responsible to help enforce adherence to compliance requirements (safety, quality, and environmental) and appropriately escalating any adverse events.
• Operating processes and equipment according to batch records, user manuals, design parameters, standard operating procedures, and work instructions to meet production schedule.
• Provide on-the-floor leadership to make tactical day-to-day decisions and ensure proper prioritization of operations resources throughout the shift.
• Ensure completion of daily monitoring, testing, and cleaning duties to ensure equipment and systems are in good operating condition and maintained per local and corporate regulatory requirements.
• Serve as a cultural leader for site safety culture, promoting compliant operations and positive safety behaviors. Lead by example and promote accountability at all levels.
• Provide technical leadership for troubleshooting and reaction to process upsets, integrating operator input and escalating as appropriate.
• Follow all applicable procedures for safety event reporting and documentation. This includes following appropriate spill response procedures, escalation of issues, and initiating Emergency Response procedures as needed.
• Ensure adequate communication at shift passovers and participate in daily shift huddles/meetings to understand and set expectations for daily operational goals.
• Ensure all area personnel follow cGMP practices, safe work habits, plant dress code, hygiene standards, and housekeeping requirements unique to the work area and job classification.
• Partner with area management and supervision to understand Foundry strategy and future production needs. Represent and support this strategy in conversations with shift members.
• Actively participating in assigned building and area operations such as safety audits, procedure coordination, housekeeping, and continuous improvement projects.
• Using specified company-supplied personal protective equipment (PPE) (e.g., hair and beard coverings, lab coats or gowns, safety shoes, safety glasses, hard hats, etc.) as required.

Basic Requirements:

• HS Diploma/GED
• 3+ years of directly applicable manufacturing experience, GMP and/or chemical processing strongly preferred.
• 2 years of direct leadership/supervisory experience required.
• API experienced required.
• 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:

• Previous experience in facility or area start-up environments.
• Previous experience in a pharmaceutical or chemical manufacturing operation involving PSM-regulated or hazardous chemicals.
• A solid understanding of FDA guidelines and cGMP requirements.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to handle and prioritize multiple requests.
• Knowledge of lean manufacturing principles.
• Flexibility to troubleshoot and triage challenges effectively.
• The ability to understand technical nomenclature and language, as well as work with mathematical formulas.
• Ability to effectively communicate (electronically, written and verbal).
• Basic computer skills (desktop software) are required.

Additional Information:

• Position Location: US: Lebanon IN Lilly Medicine Foundry Operations initial location in Indianapolis, IN during pre-startup phase
• Travel Percentage: 5%
• Must be able to work a 12-hour rotating shift
• May be required to provide support outside of normal working hours including nights, weekends, and holidays.
• 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 $27.40 - $40.19
• 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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