Sr. Design Director - Head of Incubation Lab

Initial Therapeutics, Inc.; Indianapolis (IN); On-site; USD 154,000 - 227,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company is seeking a creative leader for its Incubation Lab in Indianapolis. The role involves guiding a multidisciplinary team to innovate digital healthcare experiences while ensuring high standards in quality and design. An ideal candidate will have extensive experience in design leadership and a strong portfolio that demonstrates their ability to manage projects from conception to execution.

Benefits

Comprehensive benefit program

Participation in company-sponsored 401(k)

Flexible spending accounts

Life insurance and death benefits

Qualifications

• 15+ years of experience in design and product innovation.
• 5+ years in a creative leadership role.
• Strong portfolio showcasing end-to-end projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Incubation Lab, setting vision and culture.
• Coach a multidisciplinary team of designers and technologists.
• Guide the design and prototyping of novel digital experiences.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Design Expertise

Prototyping

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Design

High School Diploma/GED with 15+ years of experience

Job description

At Lilly, we unite caring with discovery to make life better for people around the world. We are a global healthcare leader headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. Our employees around the world work to discover and bring life-changing medicines to those who need them, improve the understanding and management of disease, and give back to our communities through philanthropy and volunteerism. We give our best effort to our work, and we put people first. We’re looking for people who are determined to make life better for people around the world.

Eli Lilly is a global healthcare leader that unites caring with discovery to create medicines that make life better for people around the world. We’re using cutting-edge technologies and innovative platforms to develop next-generation therapeutic ecosystems, connected devices, data, and analytics to transform patient experiences and improve treatment outcomes.

As a member of Design at Lilly, you'll be at the forefront of Eli Lilly’s commitment to crafting intuitive, accessible, and impactful digital experiences. We work across all functions of the organization, applying design thinking to solve complex challenges and create high-quality digital solutions that improve the lives of patients who use our medications. Our team combines user insight with design expertise to ensure the human element is at the core of our digital solutions.

About the Role

We’re seeking an experienced, hands-on creative leader to lead the Incubation Lab—a fast-moving design and technology team within Lilly’s Digital Office. Operating as an internal innovation studio, the Lab explores bold ideas, prototypes transformative experiences, and builds new capabilities that shape the future of healthcare.

In this role, you’ll lead a multidisciplinary team of designers, technologists, and strategists. You'll guide the Lab’s vision, inspire creative excellence, and bring clarity to ambiguity—all while championing experimentation, fast iteration, and exceptional craft.

This role is ideal for someone who can move fluidly between high-level strategy and hands-on execution, who thrives in ambiguity, and who brings a deep passion for the intersection of design, technology, and health.

What You’ll Do

Lead the Lab -

• Set the vision, priorities, and culture for the Incubation Lab
• Balance speed and experimentation with high standards for quality and craft

Grow a High-Performing Team -

• Coach and develop a multidisciplinary team of designers, technologists, and strategists
• Foster a creative, collaborative, and psychologically safe environment

Set Creative Direction -

• Guide the design and prototyping of novel digital experiences
• Ensure every output feels intentional, thoughtful, and human-centered

Shape the Innovation Pipeline -

• Partner across the organization to identify bold opportunities and future-forward challenges
• Explore how emerging technologies—AI, immersive media, new platforms—can drive impact

Champion the Work -

• Build trusted relationships with cross-functional leaders and stakeholders
• Advocate for the role of design in unlocking new value for patients and the business

Stay Future-Focused -

• Bring a sharp eye to shifts in healthcare, design, and technology
• Continuously inspire the team with fresh thinking and visionary ideas

What You Bring

A compelling portfolio or body of work showing end-to-end projects—from early concepting to polished prototypes or shipped experiences

Demonstrated ability to lead and encourage cross-functional teams, set clear direction, and nurture individual growth

Deep expertise in visual design craft, including typography, layout, storytelling, motion, and emerging formats

Experience working across the full innovation lifecycle: from research and ideation through prototyping, iteration, and refinement

A strong, clear communicator who can simplify complexity and align diverse partners

Comfort with ambiguity and a bias toward action—able to shift between strategic and tactical thinking with ease

Basic Qualifications/ Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Design, such as Digital Design, Interaction Design, Visual Communication Design or a similar field.
• Or High School Diploma/GED with 15+ years of equivalent practical experience.
• 15+ years of experience in design, creative technology, or product innovation, including
• 5+ years in a creative leadership or management role
• Qualified candidates must be legally authorized to be employed in the United States; Lilly does not anticipate providing sponsorship for employment visa status (e.g., H-1B or TN status) for this employment position.

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 Network, Black Employees at Lilly, Chinese Culture Network, Japanese International Leadership Network (JILN), Lilly India Network, Organization of Latinx at Lilly (OLA), PRIDE (LGBTQ+ Allies), Veterans Leadership Network (VLN), Women’s Initiative for Leading at Lilly (WILL), enAble (for people with disabilities). Learn more about all of our groups.

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

$154,500 - $226,600

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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