Lead Operator, Mixed Modality - Lilly Medicine Foundry

BioSpace; Lebanon (IN); On-site; USD 38,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k)

Pension

Vacation benefits

Medical, dental, vision benefits

Flexible benefits

Job summary

Lilly Medicine Foundry is seeking a Lead Operator to actively support start-up activities and bring manufacturing equipment into service. The role provides on-the-floor leadership for production of API molecules with a safety-first, quality-driven approach and cross-functional collaboration.

Responsibilities include leading daily operations, ensuring compliance, and guiding troubleshooting during production shifts.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of manufacturing experience (GMP/chemical processing preferred).
• Experience leading teams in manufacturing operations.
• Strong knowledge of safety, quality, and environmental compliance.
• Able to work a 12-hour rotating shift.

Responsibilities

• Enforce compliance with safety, quality, and environmental requirements and escalate issues.
• Operate processes and equipment per batch records and SOPs to meet production schedules.
• Provide on-the-floor leadership for day-to-day decisions and shift resource prioritization.
• Ensure daily monitoring, testing, and cleaning to keep equipment in good condition.
• Lead site safety culture and promote accountable, compliant operations.
• Provide technical leadership for troubleshooting and process upsets.
• Follow safety event reporting and Emergency Response procedures as needed.
• Coordinate shift handoffs and participate in daily huddles to align goals.
• Ensure area personnel follow cGMP, hygiene, and housekeeping requirements.
• Collaborate with management to understand Foundry strategy and future production needs.
• Participate in safety audits, procedure coordination, and continuous improvement projects.
• Use company PPE as required.

Skills

Leadership

GMP compliance

Lean manufacturing

Troubleshooting

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.

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

This role ensures the supply of our medicines by supporting the team, following instructions, assisting with troubleshooting, collaborating cross‑functionally, and upholding our safety‑first, quality‑always mindset. Lead Operators will support daily activities to meet production plans by:

• 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.

API Experienced Required

2 years of direct leadership/supervisory experience 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).

Additional Information

• Basic computer skills (desktop software) are required.
• 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).

• 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).

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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