Senior Director - Lilly Ventures

About This Role

This role delivers and progresses cutting-edge external biotech science into Lilly Research Labs by identifying and delivering direct financial investments in high-profile biotech companies. The Senior Director will lead fund interactions, manage portfolio updates, and support external innovation partnering models.

Responsibilities

• Lead/co-lead fund interactions and work closely with fund and geography leads to find, monitor, and progress opportunities
• Attend scientific meetings with venture funds, discussing key matters and accurately recording company/portfolio updates
• Identify and deliver direct financial investments in high-profile biotech companies
• Interact regularly with the existing portfolio to convert relationships into portfolio-facing deals
• Technical evaluation of new partnership opportunities via objective scientific assessment
• Coordinate and triage external project opportunities, including leading and participating in prioritization meetings
• Serve as deal team/due diligence/pre-due diligence participant, responsible for preparing governance documents and investment committee recommendations
• Lead interactions with external organizations, representing Lilly strategies and providing timely feedback
• Map the external competitive landscape and cultivate platforms for growth in new indications or progressive technologies
• Liaise with internal functions to ensure strict policy compliance and smooth execution of confidentiality processes
• Contribute to reporting the overall Ventures portfolio to senior management
• Facilitate the development and maintenance of strong external networks to enhance business relationships

Requirements

• PhD in a discipline related to pharmaceutical drug discovery and development
• Prior experience in drug discovery or development
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in the biopharmaceutical industry or related fields
• Demonstrated ability to advance projects and initiatives
• Outstanding EQ, problem-solving, analytical, project management, communication, and leadership skills
• Highly organized and able to multitask effectively
• Strong demonstrable knowledge of Lilly's systems and ways of working
• Good understanding of the drug discovery and development process / high learning agility
• Excellent English communication skills (written and oral)

Qualifications

• PhD in a discipline related to pharmaceutical drug discovery and development, e.g., Biochemistry, Chemistry, Pharmacology, Physiology, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology or Genetics
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in the biopharmaceutical industry or related fields (life sciences VC, life science technology transfer, consulting) with additional experience working with small life science companies, venture capital firms or in the external innovation deal making space optimal.

Nice to Have

• Additional experience working with small life science companies, venture capital firms or in the external innovation deal making space
• Strong scientific background as evidenced by publications, patents, presentations, project work
• Demonstrated knowledge across several disease areas relevant to Lilly’s business and understanding of key pathways
• Working knowledge across multiple modalities and emerging technologies
• Strong project management, data science/analytics and organizational skills
• Demonstrated knowledge of the biotech and academic ecosystem with a strong preference for direct experience in Boston/New York
• Interest in analytics

Benefits