Senior Director, Early-Phase Process Development

Biopharma Asia; Indianapolis (IN); On-site; USD 153,000 - 264,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) matching

Pension

Vacation benefits

Well-being benefits

Life insurance

Job summary

Lilly is seeking an experienced scientist to lead synthetic molecule route development and unit operation design for API candidates, supporting preclinical through Phase 2. You will supervise chemists, engineers, and technicians, coordinate tech transfer, and influence external CRO/CMO collaborations to ensure robust, scalable processes.

The role emphasizes leadership, collaboration, and delivering solutions within a fast-paced pharmaceutical environment with external partnerships and regulatory

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in organic chemistry, or a related field with 8+ years of pharmaceutical process development experience OR MS in Organic Chemistry or related field with 15+ years' experience.
• Experience in pharmaceutical process development and active ingredient development is preferred.
• Experience with technical transfer of processes into manufacturing operations and regulatory submissions.
• Established external reputation with publications and leadership in a research environment.

Responsibilities

• Demonstrate deep expertise in modern synthetic organic and process chemistry to address CMC challenges.
• Lead/design new synthetic routes for API manufacturing using modern technologies.
• Plan laboratory experiments to support route/process design and technology transfer
• Guide cross-disciplinary teams and oversee external R&D and CRO/CMO collaborations
• Collaborate with internal networks to provide data for clinical trials and regulatory submissions
• Mentor and develop a diverse scientific staff and promote collaboration across teams

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Collaboration

Mentoring

Project management

Education

PhD in Organic Chemistry

MS in Organic Chemistry

Tools

PAT (process analytical technologies)

Job description

Lilly is seeking an experienced scientist to lead synthetic molecule route development and unit operation design for API candidates, supporting preclinical through Phase 2. You will supervise chemists, engineers, and technicians, coordinate tech transfer, and influence external CRO/CMO collaborations to ensure robust, scalable processes.

The role emphasizes leadership, collaboration, and delivering solutions within a fast-paced pharmaceutical environment with external partnerships and regulatory