Director/Sr. Director - Synthetic and Medicinal Chemistry CRO Scientific Leader

Location: Louisville
Posted on: June 23, 2025

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. The Lilly Small Molecule Discovery group is an organization purpose-built to create molecules that make life better for people. We focus on using cutting edge science to unlock new approaches that can treat people suffering from diseases with poor treatment options. We continually challenge ourselves to deliver molecules that can provide breakthrough efficacy with the highest possible safety margins. We are dedicated to optimizing our mindset, technology, and processes for faster, more nimble execution. Our success is built on a culture that empowers innovative problem solving through open collaboration and individual accountability. We are seeking a deeply experienced and engaged synthetic and medicinal chemistry leader to drive exceptional CRO scientific performance, advancing portfolio programs across Diabetes, Obesity, Cardiovascular Health, Immunology, Neuroscience, and Oncology. This role requires a deeply engaged leader with a passion for applying cutting-edge synthetic and medicinal chemistry to support teams in discovering exceptional medicines for patients. The ideal candidate will have an extensive track record of driving programs through world-class synthetic and medicinal chemistry innovation. Success in this role will require exceptional leadership capabilities, robust team-building skills, outstanding communication skills, and a strong ability to cultivate productive external relationships. We are looking for transformative leaders who can amplify external impact and eliminate inefficiencies that hinder progress. A passion for science, a collaborative mindset, and a commitment to accountability are essential. Key Responsibilities: Lead with integrity, professionalism, and commitment to Lilly’s mission. Foster and maintain high-value, collaborative relationships with external CRO partners. Lead, coach, and mentor a team of synthetic and medicinal chemistry CRO execution leaders. Cultivate a growth mindset within the team. Communicate clearly, effectively, and succinctly with external partners, discovery leadership, and key stakeholders. Proactively partner with senior discovery leaders to ensure robust team resourcing and best CRO fit for critical project needs. Identify, evaluate, and onboard new CRO and research partners. Establish and promote Lilly’s brand and values across external CRO partners. Ensure CRO partners meet performance expectations, maintain transparency, and adhere to agreed timelines. A proactive and highly engaged approach to solving challenging synthetic and medicinal chemistry problems is essential. Foster continuous learning, performance excellence, and scientific rigor. Participate in pre-diligence and due diligence reviews of potential collaboration opportunities. Basic Requirements: Ph.D. in a scientific discipline related to drug discovery Minimum of 10 years of leadership experience in drug discovery, with a strong track record of delivering candidates into clinical development. Additional Preferences: Experience across multiple therapeutic areas. Broader organizational leadership experience. Deep experience leading highly productive CRO collaborations Demonstrated science-first approach to organizational leadership Excellent communication skills, strong team builder, and positive team-player mindset Proven track record of coaching and mentoring scientists Additional Information: Occasional travel to visit CRO partners may be required. The physical demands here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job 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 $144,000 - $250,800 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. WeAreLilly

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