Principal Scientist Analytical Strategy Lilly Medicine Foundry

Organization Overview 

Lilly recently announced a $4.5 billion investment to create the Lilly Medicine Foundry, a new center for advanced manufacturing and drug development in Lebanon, Indiana. 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. 

In the Foundry Construction and Project Delivery/Startup Phase (2025 to 2028), roles will be fluid and dynamic as we build a new organization, design and implement the necessary systems and business processes required to enable operational readiness, support project delivery, and build the site culture. Success will require significant collaboration, creativity, and resilience as the Lilly Medicine Foundry transitions from design to startup and ultimately to steady-state operations and continuous improvement. This period presents a unique opportunity for learning, growth, and making a lasting impact. 

Position Purpose 

The Analytical Strategy Scientist provides operational and strategic support across the analytical laboratories at the Lilly Medicine Foundry, serving as a key coordination and execution layer across project management, outsourcing, learning and development, and documentation functions. This role is integral to the LMF startup and commissioning phase, contributing to the establishment of foundational workflows, tracking systems, and processes needed to support analytical operations ahead of lab operationalization, and continuing to provide strategic coordination support as the site scales toward steady-state operations. The position requires strong project management, communication, and organizational skills, with a collaborative mindset and the ability to work effectively across manufacturing, quality, and analytical teams in a dynamic, fast-paced environment. 

Key Responsibilities 

Project Management & Planning 

• Support planning, coordination, and execution of analytical projects and deliverables tied to LMF manufacturing runs and broader analytical department priorities. 

• Track project timelines, monitor KPIs, and maintain visibility into project status across analytical functions, flagging risks and resolving bottlenecks in coordination with analytical leadership and cross-functional partners including Manufacturing and Process Translation & Execution. 

• Develop and maintain project tracking tools, dashboards, and reporting cadences to ensure analytical priorities remain on schedule and within scope. 

• Coordinate cross-functionally to align analytical deliverables with manufacturing timelines and site operational readiness milestones. 

Outsourcing Coordination 

• Support the analytical outsourced testing program by coordinating with external vendors and contract laboratories to ensure timely, compliant delivery of analytical testing services. 

• Track vendor deliverables, timelines, and performance metrics, escalating issues to analytical leadership as needed. 

• Assist in the development and submission of Requests for Proposals and support vendor evaluation and onboarding processes in partnership with Quality Assurance and analytical leadership. 

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