Project Manager - Utilities - GFD

BioSpace; Richmond (VA); On-site; USD 66,000 - 172,000; Full time

Job summary

Lilly is seeking a senior project management professional to lead a greenfield Utilities program valued at $500MM USD or more. The role spans from concept design through commissioning and handover, coordinating Lilly and non-Lilly teams across manufacturing, lab, and facilities.

The candidate will ensure safe, compliant execution per cGMP and ISPE guidelines, with extensive travel and relocation as required for a biotech campus project. Strong communication and leadership are essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Engineering or a technical related field.
• Minimum of 10+ years in capital project delivery in industrial/manufacturing facilities (>$100MM).
• Experience leading greenfield projects.
• Willingness to relocate and travel; US work authorization required.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a greenfield Utilities program of $500MM USD or more.
• Coordinate utility tie-ins and sequencing with multiple project teams.
• Ensure compliance with cGMP, FDA, ISPE Baseline Guides, and relevant standards.
• Develop and maintain safety and environmental execution plans for projects.

Skills

Effective communication skills

Willingness to relocate

Self-directed work ethic

Education

Bachelor of Science in Engineering or related field

Professional Engineer (PE) or equivalent

Project Management Professional (PMP) certification

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 is 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.

The Global Facilities Delivery (GFD) Organization, part of Corporate Engineering, delivers new and renovated capital assets around the world. Our mission is accomplished through a highly leveraged organization of design, construction, and qualification contractors. Many of the assets delivered focus on medical innovation and delivering innovative solutions to patients. Some of the assets delivered will expand the supply of existing medicines or strengthen the supply chain.

Key Objectives/Deliverables

• Project Management: Lead and manage teams to deliver a greenfield Utilities program of $500MM USD or more in capital assets that are highly business-critical in nature. Scope includes Clean Utilities (WFI, Pure Steam, Clean Steam, USP/Purified Water, Process Gases, Clean Compressed Air) and Gray (Plant) Utilities (chilled water, hot water, plant steam, plant air, potable and process water, natural gas, electrical distribution, emergency power, wastewater) supporting Manufacturing, Laboratory, Administrative, and Warehouse buildings on a biotech/bioconjugate campus. Teams will consist of both Lilly and Non-Lilly professionals, working safely from front-end planning (conceptual design) through commissioning, qualification, and operational handover (cradle to grave). Project objectives are defined as delivering asset capability and capacity with safety, cost, schedule, and quality assurance.
• Interface/Communication: Ability to lead from a regional distance from corporate headquarters while developing and maintaining effective communication with GFD leadership, the project team, governance teams, business partners, and other stakeholders. Coordinate utility tie-ins, capacity allocations, and handoff sequencing with the Manufacturing, Lab, Administrative, and Warehouse building project teams to ensure utilities support each building's commissioning and qualification milestones. Facilitate issue resolution, anticipate scope changes, and implement project work safely with quality, speed, and value.
• Compliance: Lead with a disciplined, structured approach to project management based on compliance with Company Policies and Procedures, cGMP requirements for clean utility systems serving manufacturing and lab operations, and applicable regulatory and code standards (FDA, ISPE Baseline Guides, ASME BPE, USP, NFPA, local AHJ).
• Safety/Environment: Develop and maintain safety and environmental execution plans for projects. Ensure compliance with safety and environmental policies, procedures, and work rules for project personnel, contractors, and subcontractors from conceptual design through operational verification.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor of Science in Engineering or a technical related field (i.e. project management, construction management).
• Minimum of 10+ years previous experience in capital project delivery in industrial or manufacturing facilities (preferably leading projects/multiple projects >$100MM in size).
• Previous experience managing greenfield projects.
• Willingness to relocate and/or travel to locations outside of home state/country.
• 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

• Biotech, biologics, or bioconjugate manufacturing experience
• Capital Project Management experience delivering Central Utility Plants (CUPs) and clean/gray utility distribution on greenfield pharma or biotech campuses
• Direct experience with clean utility systems (WFI, Pure Steam, Clean Steam, USP/Purified Water, Process Gases, Clean Compressed Air) including ASME BPE design and construction standards
• Experience delivering site-wide gray utilities (chilled water plants, boiler plants, electrical substations and distribution, emergency power, process and wastewater systems)
• Experience commissioning and qualifying utility systems to cGMP standards (IQ/OQ/PQ), including impact assessment and system boundary definition per ISPE Baseline Guides
• Experience coordinating utility delivery across multi-building campuses (manufacturing, lab, administrative, warehouse) with sequenced tie-ins and phased turnover
• Experience in the following areas: GMP manufacturing, LEAN, automation, construction, construction quality, project controls, the engineering disciplines, safety, and scheduling
• The capacity to achieve results and influence through people
• Demonstrated ability to work from long distances with little supervision (ability to make decisions without managerial approval while keeping management informed/engaged on critical issues)
• Effective communication skills, both written and verbal
• Ability to influence personnel and organizations without having direct administrative responsibility for them
• Competency in a foreign language(s)
• Professional Engineer (PE) or equivalent technical certification
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification
• Experience in working and/or living outside the U.S.
• Demonstrated willingness to embrace the concept of continuous improvement and be an agent for change

Additional Information

• International travel is likely required in this role and may include weekends and multi-week stays (15% to 30% travel, domestic and international).
• The position will require full relocation to the project location in Richmond, VA for the duration of the project. Onsite presence required (this is NOT a remote role).

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

$66,000 - $171,600

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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