Senior Director, Explore R&D, Cork

At Lilly, the work is demanding because patients are waiting. We unite caring with discovery to help make life better for people around the world, knowing that every decision, every detail, and every day matters. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, our over 50,000 employees around the globe take on complex challenges to discover and deliver life-changing medicines, strengthen how health is understood and managed, and support the communities we serve. This is hard, urgent, selfless work, but it’s work worth doing. If you’re driven by purpose and ready to bring your best to work that truly matters for patients, we invite you to join us.

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Eli Lilly Cork is made up of a talented diverse team of over 2000 employees across 60 nationalities who deliver innovative solutions that add value across a variety of Business Service functions including Finance, Information Technology, Medical, Clinical Trials and more. Eli Lilly Cork offers a premium workspace across our campus in Little Island, complete with flexible hybrid working options, healthcare, pension and life assurance benefits, subsidised canteen, gym, travel subsidies and on-site parking. Inhouse People Development services, Educational Assistance, and our ‘Live Your BEST Life’

wellbeing initiatives are just some of the holistic benefits that enhance the career experience for our colleagues.

Eli Lilly Cork is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). We cater for all dimensions ensuring inclusion of all ethnicities, nationalities, cultural backgrounds, generations, sexuality, visible and invisible disabilities and gender, with four pillars: EnAble, embRACE, LGBTQ+ & Ally and GIN-Gender Inclusion Network. EnAble, our pillar for people with disabilities and those that care for them, partners with the Access Lilly initiative to make our physical and digital environment accessible and inclusive for all. Together they are committed to promoting awareness to create a disability confident culture both at Eli Lilly Cork and beyond.

Come join our team - Be Creative, Be an Innovator, and most of all, Be Yourself!

Lilly Catalyze360 is Lilly's comprehensive approach to enabling the early-stage biotech ecosystem by modernizing access to infrastructure, expertise, and resources. Through its interconnected pillars, Lilly Ventures, Lilly Gateway Labs, Lilly ExploR&D, and Lilly TuneLabs, Catalyze360 strategically removes barriers that traditionally block bold science from becoming life-changing medicines, providing biotechs with flexible combinations of capital, physical lab space, R&D capabilities, AI/ML tools, and decades of enterprise learning.

Lilly ExploR&D is a team of drug discovery and development experts who partner with biotechs from discovery through clinical proof-of-concept, putting Lilly's industry-leading capabilities behind their missions. We provide flexible support, from strategic consulting to full program execution, making it faster, easier, and more capital-efficient for innovators to transform bold science into life-changing medicines.

Overall purpose

The purpose of the Senior Director ExploR&D for the Cork Organization is to lead a cross-functional team of technical experts, representing ExploR&D from hit generation through to clinical proof of concept. The Senior Director will provide leadership and scientific expertise to support delivery of a diverse portfolio of projects from external biotech partners. The Senior Director will partner with multiple functions, stakeholders, and third parties involved in the design and delivery of preclinical and early phase clinical development programs and will use their scientific expertise to influence strategic decisions and enable delivery of reliable results.

ExploR&D is seeking an initiative-taking Senior Director who is an excellent influencer and enjoys a fast paced, dynamic work environment. The ideal candidate has demonstrated drug development expertise, possesses sound judgment, and can obtain tangible results quickly.

This role leads a team of 8 direct reports, with an additional management layer being added to support growth.

Core Job Tasks

1. Clinical and Scientific Leadership in Cork

Serve as an expert in drug development capable of advising on strategic decisions and directing resources.

Build relationships with external parties relevant to ExploR&D development.

Contribute to identification, prioritisation, and assessment of collaboration opportunities.

Drive global solutions with the broader ExploR&D team and business partners.

Contribute to ExploR&D strategic vision.

Ensure all team activities align with applicable local/international regulations, GCPs, and Lilly policies and standards.

Ability to use modern Artificial Intelligence tools to drive productivity, efficiency, and data insights.

2. People Management and Development

Recruit, develop and retain a capable scientific, clinical, and operational workforce.

Set performance objectives and development plans; evaluate and coach direct reports.

Create and lead an agile organisation responsive to portfolio needs.

Cultivate inclusion and innovation.

Develop organisational talent and leadership capability.

Ensure staffing flexibility and create a positive work environment.

Define and implement staffing strategy for the Cork ExploR&D team.

3. Enterprise Leadership

Identify and drive shared learning across ExploR&D and partner functions.

Enable continuous improvement through process, technology, and automation.

Engage externally to incorporate findings and improve clinical research practices.

Demonstrated comfort operating within a relatively autonomous, externally facing organisation, distinct from traditional, tightly governed pharma line functions

Other information

Leadership

Ability to maintain the ExploR&D brand image with internal and external sponsors.

Ability to exercise sound judgment and defend difficult positions.

Consistent demonstration of leadership behaviours.

Excellent oral and written communication skills.

Strong problem-solving, self-management and organisational skills.

Project & Portfolio Management

Strong project management skills.

Risk management and mitigation planning.

Knowledge of project management tools and processes.

Strong Word, Excel, and PowerPoint skills.

Experience managing cross-functional projects.

Minimum Job Requirements

Advanced degree (MD, PharmD, or PhD) in a scientific or health-related field.

Minimum 10 years of scientific/medical and drug development experience.

Detailed understanding and hands-on experience with clinical trial design and execution,

5 years prior supervisory experience.

Knowledge of FDA, ICH, CHMP, GCPs and principles of medical research.

Strong administrative and leadership skills.

Miscellaneous

Dotted-line collaboration with ExploR&D Head of Global Regulatory Affairs and Quality Assurance.

International and domestic travel required.

Core work hours: Monday–Friday.

Position located in Cork, Ireland.

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 does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, protected veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status.

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