Senior Director, Biologics Purification & Innovation

Biopharma Careers; Indianapolis (IN); On-site; USD 156,000 - 229,000; Full time

Job summary

Lilly, headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, is seeking a Senior Director to lead the purification CMC function for biologics. You will guide downstream process development including scale-up, viral clearance strategy, technology transfer, and regulatory submissions across monoclonal antibodies, bispecifics, and bioconjugates.

As a strategic leader, you will direct department priorities, ensure adoption of emerging tech, and collaborate with Discovery, Manufacturing, and Regulatory to advance

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Chemical Engineering, or related fields with 10+ years in pharma.
• Deep knowledge of bioproduct development from candidate selection through regulatory submission.
• Strong track record of technology innovation in downstream bioprocessing or related areas.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and leadership skills; experience leading 10+ scientists.

Responsibilities

• Leads purification development including viral safety to enable scale-up and tech transfer.
• Sets strategic direction of the department and drives portfolio growth.
• Oversees emerging technologies, regulatory initiatives, and their implementation.
• Drives innovation roadmap to align with discovery and manufacturing needs.
• Reallocates resources to meet portfolio demands and improve productivity.
• Leads adoption of AI/ML tools, process modeling, and high-throughput screening.
• Develops talent and manages performance across the organization.
• Oversees lab operations and scale-up facilities with safety focus.
• Collaborates with leaders across departments to ensure business effectiveness.

Skills

Communication

Leadership

Team management

Strategic thinking

Education

PhD in Chemistry

MS with 18+ years experience

Tools

Bioprocessing

Regulatory filing

Job description

Lilly, headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, is seeking a Senior Director to lead the purification CMC function for biologics. You will guide downstream process development including scale-up, viral clearance strategy, technology transfer, and regulatory submissions across monoclonal antibodies, bispecifics, and bioconjugates.

As a strategic leader, you will direct department priorities, ensure adoption of emerging tech, and collaborate with Discovery, Manufacturing, and Regulatory to advance