Associate Director - Manufacturing Operations / Launch Leader

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.

Lilly is currently constructing a cutting-edge facility for the manufacture of new modalities including Gene Therapy in Lebanon, Indiana. This facility will be Lilly’s most technically advanced manufacturing site focused on the delivery of the next wave of innovative products at Lilly. It will include next-generation manufacturing technologies and advanced data collection and analysis platforms that will deliver improvements in safety, quality, and process performance. This is a unique opportunity to be a part of the team for the startup of a greenfield manufacturing site, and the successful candidate will help to start up the facility for both clinical and commercial supply.  

The Manufacturing Operations / Launch Lead will be responsible for two primary areas:

• New Product Introduction (NPI) Launch Leadership: This includes overseeing launch activities for new products and processes from LP2. The role involves leading and influencing cross-functional teams, coordinating resources, and ensuring the timely and successful execution of NPI milestones. The individual will serve as the central point of accountability for driving NPI projects from planning through implementation.

• Manufacturing Operations for the Lipid Nanoparticle (LNP) Platform: Concurrently, the role will act as the Process team leader and focus on ensuring that manufacturing operations are aligned and prepared to support the LNP platform. This includes driving functional inputs such as process design, equipment readiness, documentation, training, and resource planning from the manufacturing operations perspective. The individual will collaborate closely with site operations teams to ensure seamless integration of LNP capabilities into routine production.

Job Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Cross-Functional Collaboration:

• Lead cross-functional teams to develop and execute comprehensive launch and NPI plans for genetic medicines, including scope definition, risk management, timeline development, and best practice implementation.

• Partner with BR&D to build process capability and ensure seamless integration of new technologies.

• Serve as user representative, collaborating with engineering project delivery teams to ensure on-time delivery and successful start-up of new assets.

• Align functional teams and leadership around shared goals, representing the Process Team on the Flow Team and setting clear objectives and metrics.

Project & Resource Management:

• Coordinate resources, assign tasks, and manage team performance to ensure timely and effective execution of launch and LNP projects.

• Provide 24/7 leadership and support for the Process and Operations Teams, ensuring continuity and responsiveness across shifts.

• Monitor progress against goals, implement corrective actions as needed, and ensure compliance with regulatory and quality standards.

Operational Excellence & Continuous Improvement:

• Oversee day-to-day production activities, ensuring adherence to schedules, quality standards, and yield targets.

• Optimize use of plant, personnel, equipment, and materials, requesting technical support when necessary.

• Drive continuous improvement through RCA, FMEA, and OpEx reviews, owning corrective actions and change initiatives.

• Identify improvement opportunities using the manufacturing management process, set targets, and measure progress.

Safety & Compliance:

• Ensure all activities are conducted in compliance with safety, quality, and environmental standards.

• Accountable for managing safety events, attending DRB reviews, and promoting a proactive safety culture across teams.

Communication & Documentation:

• Maintain transparent communication with stakeholders, providing regular updates on project status, risks, and mitigation strategies.

• Document all phases of the launch process, capturing key decisions, actions, and lessons learned.

Team Development & Culture:

• Set clear expectations, foster understanding of team