Utilities Senior Operator (Night Shift) - Lilly Medicine Foundry

Eli Lilly and Company; Indianapolis (IN); On-site; USD 30,000 - 58,000; Full time

Job summary

Eli Lilly and Company is seeking a Utilities Senior Operator for the Lilly Medicine Foundry in Indiana. The role is a permanent night shift (5:00 PM–5:30 AM) on a 12-hour 3-2-2-3 schedule, with possible initial day shifts during onboarding in 2027.

You will independently operate and maintain utility systems (water, steam, cooling, VOC, nitrogen) and support safety and continuous improvement initiatives in a GMP environment. Requires 5+ years in utilities and a valid driver’s license.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in utilities, industrial, or mechanical operations; GMP pharma experience preferred.
• Must be able to lift up to 40 pounds and work in varying temperatures.

Responsibilities

• Independently operate, monitor, and maintain all assigned utility systems with minimal oversight.
• Maintain housekeeping standards across utility operations areas and address cleanliness issues.
• Identify and troubleshoot equipment and process issues, communicating findings to supervision.
• Support training and development of Operators by sharing knowledge and procedures.
• Recommend continuous improvement ideas and elevate safety observations for follow-up.
• Follow all SOPs, GMP requirements, and maintain accurate logs and documentation.

Skills

Mechanical aptitude

Safety consciousness

Attention to detail

Team collaboration

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

CMMS platforms

Log documentation

Pumps & heat exchangers

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’s 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.

Lilly recently announced a $4.5 billion investment to create the Lilly Medicine Foundry, a new center for advanced manufacturing and drug development. The first-ever facility of its kind, combining research and manufacturing in a single location, the Medicine Foundry will allow Lilly to further develop innovative solutions to optimize manufacturing processes and increase capacity for clinical trial medicines, while also reducing costs and environmental impact.

The Utilities Senior Operator is a self-directed team member who demonstrates a solid working knowledge of utility systems operations and equipment maintenance at the Lilly Medicine Foundry site, including high purity water, compressed air, steam, chilled water, heated water, chilled glycol, heated glycol, domestic water, cooling towers, tepid water, waste streams, VOC management, nitrogen systems, aqueous waste neutralization, and tank farm management (solvent tank filling and hazardous waste tank emptying).

This position requires minimal oversight and is expected to independently manage daily operational responsibilities, proactively address housekeeping and safety concerns, and support the development of Operators. The Senior Operator understands all utility processes at a working level and contributes to continuous improvement and safety initiatives. This position is designated for a permanent night shift assignment and operates on a fixed 12-hour 3-2-2-3 schedule (5:00 PM to 5:30 AM). During onboarding and site startup activities, team members may initially work a temporary day shift schedule before transitioning to nights in 2027.

Responsibilities

• Independently operate, monitor, and maintain all assigned utility systems with minimal oversight, applying a solid working knowledge of equipment and processes.
• Proactively maintain housekeeping standards across utility operations areas and take initiative to address cleanliness issues without being directed.
• Identify and troubleshoot equipment and process issues, communicating findings and actions taken to supervisory personnel while resolving problems.
• Support the training and development of Operators by sharing knowledge, demonstrating correct procedures, and reinforcing safe work practices.
• Recommends continuous improvement ideas and identify safety concerns, elevating observations to the Expert Operator or Lead Operator for follow-up.
• Follow all SOPs, GMP requirements, and site EH&S protocols, and maintain accurate logs and documentation in accordance with Good Documentation Practices.

Basic Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in utilities, industrial, or mechanical operations required; experience in a GMP pharmaceutical manufacturing environment preferred.
• Must have mechanical aptitude.
• Must possess a valid driver’s license.
• Must be willing to respond to call-in and scheduled overtime work.
• Must be capable of lifting up to 40 pounds.
• Must be able to withstand exposure to temperature variations while performing work outside in winter and summer weather conditions.
• Must be able to wear respiratory equipment and work at elevated heights as needed.
• 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 Skills/Preferences

• Demonstrated ability to operate utilities systems including pumps, heat exchangers, chillers, compressed air, or water treatment equipment with minimal direction.
• Experience identifying and troubleshooting common equipment and process issues in an industrial or manufacturing environment.
• Proficient in data entry, log keeping, and documentation practices consistent with GMP and regulatory requirements.
• Prior experience supporting or participating in the training of less experienced team members.
• Familiarity with work order systems, CMMS platforms, or maintenance documentation tools.
• Demonstrated commitment to safety, housekeeping, and continuous improvement in a regulated manufacturing environment.

Additional Information

• Initial location is Carmel, Indiana. Permanent location will be at the new Lilly Medicine Foundry in Lebanon, Indiana. Potential for short-term assignment at our sister plant (LP2) in Lebanon, IN for training and support.
• This position is located at Lebanon, IN – Lilly Medicine Foundry. Hazardous operations exist within Utilities, involving exposure to systems using acid, steam, caustic, high pressure, and high temperatures. Personal protective equipment is required. Awkward positions, cramped quarters, ladder, and scaffolding work will be required at times.
• Position Location: Lebanon, IN – Lilly Medicine Foundry
• Travel Percentage (%): Minimal - less than 10%
• Shift Information: This position is designated for a permanent night shift assignment and operates on a fixed 12-hour 3-2-2-3 schedule (5:00 PM to 5:30 AM). During onboarding and site startup activities, team members may initially work a temporary day shift schedule before transitioning to nights in 2027.

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 $21.63 - $42.31. 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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