Associate Vice President, Drug Products External Manufacturing at Eli Lilly and Company

Indianapolis, Indiana, United States

Apply Now

Not SpecifiedCompensation

Expert & Leadership (9+ years), Senior (5 to 8 years)Experience Level

Full TimeJob Type

UnknownVisa

Pharmaceuticals, Healthcare, BiotechnologyIndustries

Requirements

MBA preferred; minimum Bachelor's Degree or higher in Engineering, Scientific, or Life Sciences field
Minimum of 15 years of progressive pharmaceutical manufacturing experience
Deep expertise in drug product operations, including site leadership and external manufacturing
Proven success managing complex manufacturing networks and scaling global supply
Demonstrated ability to lead diverse, cross-functional teams with clarity and purpose
Strong negotiation and partnership-building skills with internal and external stakeholders
Technical mastery in design, manufacturing, validation, and quality systems
Exceptional organizational and project leadership capabilities
Extensive knowledge of cGMPs, global regulatory standards, and industry best practices
Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills, with executive presence
Requires travel 30–50%

Responsibilities

Develop and execute a forward-looking Business and Strategic Plan that accelerates cycle time, elevates quality, and enhances performance across external partnerships
Lead quality excellence with CMOs through proactive process monitoring, trending, and deviation management to enable seamless commercialization
Oversee timely tech transfer and launch readiness for externally manufactured products, scaling with Lilly’s expanding global footprint
Build a high-performing global organization grounded in lean principles, manufacturing excellence, and joint governance with CMOs
Establish and lead CMO governance frameworks, including executive reviews, contract negotiations in partnership with procurement, and strategic relationship management
Apply Lilly’s internal governance rigor to external operations, ensuring parity in process discipline, performance oversight, and accountability
Implement systems for production scheduling, quality oversight, regulatory compliance, technical agenda execution, and contract lifecycle management
Continuously evolve Contract Manufacturing Standards to reflect commercialization dynamics and launch complexity
Support business development by evaluating new CMOs and leading transition plans for integration into Lilly’s oversight model
Attract, develop, and retain exceptional talent across technical, operational, and leadership domains to build a resilient and future-ready organization
Serve as Lilly’s ambassador to CMOs and strategic manufacturing partners, forging high-impact collaborations that ensure reliable, high-quality delivery of medicines to patients worldwide
Architect and drive the transformation of external manufacturing strategy, operating models, and capabilities to support Lilly’s unprecedented pipeline growth and wave of new product launches

Skills

External Manufacturing

CMO Management

Strategic Planning

Quality Excellence

Process Monitoring

Deviation Management

Tech Transfer

Launch Readiness

Lean Principles

Manufacturing Excellence

Governance Frameworks

Contract Negotiations

Supply Chain Management

Pharmaceutical Manufacturing

Parenteral

Oral Solids

Combination Devices

Packaging

Eli Lilly and Company

Develops and delivers prescription medicines globally

About Eli Lilly and Company

Eli Lilly and Company is a global pharmaceutical company that focuses on discovering, developing, and delivering medicines to improve health. The company has a long history of scientific achievements, including the creation of insulin, the first life-saving treatment for diabetes. Lilly's operations involve extensive research and development to create new medications and enhance existing ones, ensuring they are safe and effective. Their products are primarily prescription medicines sold to healthcare providers for various medical conditions, including diabetes, cancer, and pain management. What sets Lilly apart from its competitors is its strong commitment to ethical practices and the protection of its products from counterfeiting. The company's goal is to enhance lives through innovative medical solutions while maintaining high standards of quality and ethics.

Indianapolis, IndianaHeadquarters

1876Year Founded

$1,180.1MTotal Funding

IPOCompany Stage

Biotechnology, HealthcareIndustries

10,001+Employees

Risks

Competition from Novo Nordisk's Ozempic may impact tirzepatide's market share.

Potential construction delays in Indiana could affect GLP-1 drug production timelines.

Regulatory challenges may hinder Kisunla's expansion in new Alzheimer's markets.

Differentiation

Eli Lilly's rich history includes the first life-saving insulin treatment.

Lilly's strategic partnerships enhance its position in neurodegenerative disease treatments.

FDA approval of Zepbound opens new therapeutic markets for sleep disorder treatments.

Upsides

Lilly's $9 billion complex in Indiana boosts GLP-1 drug production capacity.

Kisunla's approval in China expands Lilly's Alzheimer's treatment market in Asia.

Collaboration with EVA Pharma enhances Lilly's reputation as socially responsible.

Land your dream remote job 3x faster with AI

Try Jobo Free