Principal/Sr. Principal Logistics Engineer

Biopharma Careers; United States; On-site; USD 66,000 - 172,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) plan

Pension

Vacation benefits

Medical, dental, vision benefits

Flexible benefits

Life insurance

Time off and leave

Job summary

Lilly is seeking a logistics and materials management professional to lead the Richmond site’s materials handling and warehousing operations. You will manage PFEP data, collaborate with Operations, Quality and Safety, and help design processes during start-up and ongoing operations.

Responsibilities include overseeing ASRS, VSM, AMRs, AGVs, and conveyance systems; driving lean initiatives; developing SOPs; and coordinating with maintenance on spare parts strategies.

Qualifications

• MBA or MSc preferred.
• SAP S/4HANA and/or SAP EWM experience strongly preferred.
• Lean Six Sigma experience or certification is desirable.
• Strong analytical and quantitative problem-solving skills with root-cause analysis.
• Experience with automated storage and material handling systems (ASRS, VSM, AMRs, AGVs, conveyance).
• GMP understanding in warehouse/material management environments.

Responsibilities

• Create and maintain a site-level PFEP with supplier data, SAP BOM, and product usage across the Richmond site.
• Support design and implementation of business processes during start-up.
• Support setup, commissioning, and qualification of automated material handling systems.
• Drive lean principles and optimize material flows in the logistics center.
• Develop SOPs and work instructions with Operations, Quality, and Safety.
• Partner with maintenance/automation to develop spare parts strategies.
• Monitor system performance and KPIs, drive continuous improvement.
• Maintain PFEP data across production flows to avoid capacity issues.
• Assist leadership to anticipate demand and propose proactive solutions.

Skills

Lean Six Sigma

Data-driven decision making

Project management

Cross-functional collaboration

Analytical skills

Education

MBA or MSc

Tools

SAP S/4HANA

SAP EWM

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.

Description of Role / Position

Key Responsibilities

Project / Start-up Phase

• Create and maintain a site-level Plan for Every Part (PFEP), incorporating supplier data, SAP bill-of-material and non-BOM items (e.g. reusable containers and pallets), and product usage rates across the Richmond site.
• Support the design and implementation of business processes during the start-up phase.
• Support the set-up, commissioning, and qualification activities for automated material handling systems (ASRS, VSM, AMRs, AGVs, and conveyance equipment).
• Drive lean principles and ensure efficient material flows are maintained throughout the logistics center; support value stream mapping initiatives.
• Develop Logistics Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and work instructions in partnership with Operations, Quality, and Safety.
• Partner with maintenance and automation teams to develop a spare parts strategy for logistics equipment.

Ongoing Operations

• Responsible for ensuring logistics systems (ASRS, VSM, conveyance, AMRs, AGVs) consistently meet the operational demands of the business.
• Monitor daily system performance metrics and KPIs, identifying trends and driving continuous improvement opportunities.
• Maintain PFEP data throughout the full lifecycle of all production flows to ensure system capacity is not exceeded.
• Work closely with business leaders to anticipate when business demand will approach or exceed logistics system capability and propose solutions proactively.
• Develop and maintain quality systems for logistics and materials management, including SOPs, work instructions, and training materials pertinent to receipt, kitting, shipping, and general warehouse practices.
• Manage change controls and support or lead quality investigations; own work instructions and SOPs governing warehouse equipment.
• Participate in Quality and Safety Time on Floor (TOF) audits; support safety assessments, job hazard analyses, and FMEAs relevant to warehouse operations and material movement equipment.
• Support change and deviation management within the function.
• Provide daily operations support across: (i) receipt of inbound materials, (ii) kitting and replenishment of production materials, (iii) general material flow through the logistics center, and (iv) execution of daily shipments.
• Benchmark emerging materials management and logistics initiatives across the Lilly network and externally.
• Support capital planning for expansion or recapitalization of warehouse systems and equipment.

Additional Skills / Preferences

• MBA or MSc preferred.
• SAP S/4HANA and/or SAP EWM experience strongly preferred.
• Lean Six Sigma experience or certification is desirable.
• Strong analytical and quantitative problem-solving skills with demonstrated ability in root cause analysis and data-driven decision making.
• Experience with automated storage and material handling systems (ASRS, VSM, AMRs, AGVs, conveyance) is highly desirable.
• Solid understanding of GMP requirements as they apply to warehouse and material management operations.
• Understanding of data integrity principles and their application in a regulated manufacturing environment.
• Ability to communicate and influence effectively across functional groups and site stakeholders.
• Demonstrated project management capability; able to coordinate complex, cross-functional initiatives.
• Strategic thinking with the ability to balance short-term operational needs against long-term business evolution.
• Demonstrates continuous improvement mindset; familiar with lean principles and value stream mapping.
• Self-motivated, organized, and able to work proactively with minimal supervision.
• Enthusiasm for change, team spirit, and flexibility to adapt to evolving business needs.

Benefits and Compensation

Actual compensation will depend on a candidate’s education, experience, skills, and geographic location. The anticipated wage for this position is $66,000 - $171,600

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

Additional Requirements / Information

This role requires flexibility and the ability to adapt across Materials Management and Warehousing/Logistics workstreams in a state-of-the-art logistics center, including inbound receipts, kitting, management of contract service providers, and shipping execution.

Ability to travel occasionally during the start-up phase of the project.

Role may require participation in on-call or off-hours support during key start-up and validation phases.

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).

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