Principal - QA API External Manufacturing Peptides

BioSpace; Indianapolis (IN); On-site; USD 65,000 - 169,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company bonus

401(k) plan

Medical benefits

Job summary

Lilly, headquartered in Indianapolis, IN, seeks a Quality Assurance professional to oversee API External Manufacturing operations at on-site sites in Indianapolis, IN or Durham, NC. The role ensures regulatory compliance, audits, and robust QA support for third-party manufacturing partners.

The position requires 5+ years in QA within pharma, cGMP experience, auditing of external sites, and travel as needed. Competitive compensation and benefits accompany this full-time role.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Pharmacy, Chemical Engineering or related science.
• Minimum 5 years of QA experience in pharma/biopharma with focus on API manufacturing and external supply.
• Experience with cGMP regulations (FDA, EMA, HPRA) and pharmacopeial requirements.
• Experience auditing external manufacturing sites.
• Experience with quality management systems (e.g., Veeva).
• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally to external sites.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage quality aspects of external API manufacturing sites including batch record review, disposition, deviation management, and change control.
• Conduct and/or participate in quality audits of external sites to assess compliance with cGMP and Lilly standards.
• Review and approve quality-related documents (master batch records, validation protocols, reports, stability data, assays).
• Collaborate with internal teams and external partners to resolve quality issues and drive improvements.
• Provide QA guidance during new product introductions and technology transfers to external manufacturers.
• Develop, implement, and maintain quality agreements with external orgs.
• Investigate quality incidents, determine root causes, and implement CAPAs.
• Represent Lilly's quality interests during regulatory inspections at external sites.
• Mentor junior QA associates.

Skills

Quality Assurance

Audit experience

cGMP knowledge

External manufacturing

Regulatory compliance

Education

Bachelor's degree in Chemistry

Tools

Veeva

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.

Join the energetic and growing Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient - External Manufacturing Organization (API-EM) that delivers a diverse portfolio of medicines essential to our patients around the world. This on-site role may be based at either the Indianapolis, IN or Durham, NC sites.

Job Summary

This role provides essential Quality Assurance oversight for API External Manufacturing operations, ensuring compliance with cGMP and regulatory requirements for all products manufactured by third-party partners.

Job Responsibilities

• Lead and manage quality aspects of external API manufacturing sites, including but not limited to batch record review, disposition, deviation management, and change control.
• Conduct and/or participate in quality audits of external manufacturing sites to assess compliance with cGMP, regulatory expectations, and Eli Lilly's quality standards.
• Review and approve quality-related documents, such as manufacturing master batch records, validation protocols and reports, stability data, and analytical methods.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with internal teams (e.g., Supply Chain, Regulatory Affairs, Technical Services) and external manufacturing partners to resolve quality issues and drive continuous improvement.
• Provide expert QA guidance and support during new product introductions and technology transfers to external manufacturers.
• Develop, implement, and maintain quality agreements with external manufacturing organizations.
• Investigate and troubleshoot complex quality incidents, deviations, and out-of-specification results, determining root causes and implementing effective corrective and preventive actions (CAPAs).
• Represent Eli Lilly's quality interests during regulatory inspections at external manufacturing sites.
• Mentor and provide technical guidance to junior QA associates.

Basic Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Pharmacy, Chemical Engineering or related scientific discipline.
• Minimum 5 years experience in Quality Assurance within the pharmaceutical or biopharmaceutical industry, with a strong focus on API manufacturing and external supply.
• Experience in cGMP regulations (FDA, EMA, HPRA, etc.) and global pharmacopeial requirements.
• Experience in auditing external manufacturing sites.
• Experience in quality management systems (e.g., Veeva).
• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally to external manufacturing sites as 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 Preferences

• Strong understanding of API manufacturing processes, analytical techniques, and quality control principles.
• Demonstrated ability to make sound quality decisions and effectively communicate complex technical and quality information to diverse audiences.
• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and critical thinking skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.

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

$65,250 - $169,400

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.

#WeAreLilly