Sr. Director - Engineering (Automation, Process, Maintenance) at Eli Lilly and Company

Richmond, Virginia, United States

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Not SpecifiedCompensation

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

Full TimeJob Type

UnknownVisa

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology, Healthcare, ManufacturingIndustries

Requirements

Experience leading process-facing engineering functions including process engineering, automation, and maintenance
Ability to provide administrative and technical leadership for engineering operations
Membership and contribution to the Lilly Site Lead Team, shaping strategic direction, building organizational capability, and managing cross-functional issues
Strong collaboration, creativity, and resilience for dynamic operations during project delivery and startup phases (2029–2030)
Expertise in leveraging internal expertise and external best practices to develop systems and processes
Knowledge of GMP manufacturing, safety, quality, and operational excellence
Capability to act as end user for process equipment, providing input on design, commissioning, and startup plans
Skills in designing and evolving engineering team structures for GMP manufacturing
Ability to build strong technical relationships with corporate teams and champion strategic initiatives
Experience in asset management, capital project planning, prioritization, and execution
Understanding of compliance with corporate policies and standards in environmental, safety, and quality domains
Outward focus for external benchmarking and applying industry and internal best practices

Responsibilities

Collaborate with the Site Lead Team to build a capable, inclusive, and resilient organization focused on safety, quality, and operational excellence during pre-startup and startup phases
Define priorities and roadmap for process engineering, automation, and maintenance
Actively contribute to the site HSE Lead Team to embed safety throughout project delivery and startup
Provide input as end user for process equipment on design, commissioning, and startup plans to align with project and long-term site goals
Design and evolve the engineering organization to ensure appropriate resources and leadership for GMP manufacturing
Ensure qualified and safe states for equipment, processes, utilities, and facilities are established and maintained
Build strong technical relationships with corporate teams and champion strategic initiatives at the site level
Refine and execute the engineering roadmap post-startup, aligning with site priorities
Ensure adherence to corporate policies and standards across environmental, safety, and quality domains
Maintain an outward focus to identify and apply best practices from industry and internal networks
Partner with Facilities Engineering to manage site investments, including planning, prioritizing, and executing capital projects
Ensure equipment remains in a qualified and safe state, with maintenance performed and documented to the highest standard

Skills

Key technologies and capabilities for this role

Process EngineeringAutomationMaintenanceGMP ManufacturingEngineering LeadershipMonoclonal AntibodiesBioconjugatesAseptic ManufacturingProject ExecutionStartup Operations

Questions & Answers

Common questions about this position

What is the location of this job?

The role is based at Lilly's new advanced manufacturing facility in Goochland County, Virginia.

What are the main responsibilities of the Senior Director?

The Senior Director leads the site’s process-facing engineering functions including process engineering, automation, and maintenance, provides administrative and technical leadership, and contributes to the Site Lead Team for strategic direction and organizational development.

What is the team structure for this role?

The role is part of the Lilly Site Lead Team and involves designing and evolving the engineering organization to ensure the right resources and leadership for GMP manufacturing.

What is the company culture like at this site?

The culture emphasizes building a capable, inclusive, and resilient organization focused on safety, quality, and operational excellence, with strong collaboration, creativity, and resilience during startup.

What makes a strong candidate for this position?

Strong candidates will have leadership experience in process engineering, automation, and maintenance, with the ability to build organizations, define functional strategies, and collaborate on safety and project delivery for GMP manufacturing startups.

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.

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