Senior Discovery ADME Leader - PK/PD Strategy

BioSpace; Indianapolis (IN); On-site; USD 177,000 - 308,000; Full time

Job summary

Lilly in Indianapolis, IN seeks a Discovery ADME Project Leader to lead the ADME strategy for preclinical programs. The role demands deep mechanistic understanding of drug disposition, PK, and translational science, with ability to integrate biology, chemistry, and modeling to deliver The Right Molecule at The Right Time.

Geography open to Boston, MA, Louisville, CO, or Indianapolis, IN. You will guide design, profiling, and mentoring while partnering with DMPK, Toxicology, Pharmacology, and

Qualifications

• PhD (or equivalent) in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacometrics, Systems Pharmacology, Preclinical or Clinical Pharmacology, Drug Metabolism, Toxicology, Chemical Biology, or related field.
• 3+ years of post-graduation industry experience in a drug discovery environment, driving discovery teams.
• Deep ADME expertise; working knowledge of medicinal chemistry and Toxicology principles is advantageous.
• Experience translating complex technical concepts into strategic value for senior leadership and cross-functional partners.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute integrated preclinical ADME strategies aligned with discovery stage, target product profile (TPP), design hypotheses being tested, and regulatory expectations.
• Integrate ADME and pharmacology to enable translational simulations and modeling to support dose selection, design of PK/PD, efficacy, and safety studies.
• Define stage-, modality-, and issue-appropriate profiling, decision funnels (in silico, in vitro, in vivo to translational modeling).
• Guide compound design and optimization through data-driven design principles (clearance, permeability, solubility, DDI risk, transporter liabilities).
• Serve as the ADME strategy and science single-point-of-accountability on cross-functional program teams, translating ADME findings into actionable design and test hypotheses.
• Collaborate closely with Medicinal Chemistry, DMPK, Toxicology, Pharmacology, and other Discovery Functions to drive high-quality candidate selections. Contribute to go/no-go decisions using quantitative PK/PD, IVIVE, and mechanistic interpretation.
• Represent ADME in portfolio governance discussions and leadership reviews.
• Implement best practices, assay innovation, and automation where appropriate. Drive continuous improvement in data reporting, knowledge management, and decision frameworks.

Skills

ADME expertise

Translational science

Data interpretation

Education

PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences or related field

Job description

Lilly in Indianapolis, IN seeks a Discovery ADME Project Leader to lead the ADME strategy for preclinical programs. The role demands deep mechanistic understanding of drug disposition, PK, and translational science, with ability to integrate biology, chemistry, and modeling to deliver The Right Molecule at The Right Time.

Geography open to Boston, MA, Louisville, CO, or Indianapolis, IN. You will guide design, profiling, and mentoring while partnering with DMPK, Toxicology, Pharmacology, and