Overview of Role: The Associate Director, Quality Management System (QMS) Process Owner Network Capability and Continuous Improvement will lead the strategic development and maturity of the global process owner network. This role is responsible for balancing our Process Owner Networks (PON) deep technical expertise with supplemental capabilities, establishing a scalable and sustainable model for excellence, and delivering capability to the enterprise through Global Process Owner Leadership norms and standardized tooling. This role is central to ensuring the Process Owner Network is equipped to lead through a Community of Practice, influence key leadership stakeholders, and consistently identify and execute continuous improvement of the QMS across the enterprise. The role will use KPIs and analytics to lead Global Quality and QMS initiatives to drive excellence and innovation through the organization.

High-Level Responsibilities:

• Define and implement a capability maturity model for the global process owner network
• Identify core and supplemental competencies required for process owners
• Assess current state and develop roadmaps to elevate process owner network performance and impact
• Design and deliver targeted training programs, certifications, and mentoring frameworks and partner with HR and L&D to embed capability development into career pathways
• Establish governance, standards, and best practices for process ownership
• Create toolkits and playbooks to support consistent execution across functions and geographies
• Build and sustain a process owner Community of Practice to foster collaboration, peer learning, and innovation across the PON
• Facilitate forums, workshops, and knowledge-sharing platforms to accelerate change and champion a culture of continuous improvement and agility
• Leverage analytics to identify gaps, trends, and opportunities for improvement within Global Quality and the QMS
• Lead Global Quality or QMS initiatives that leverage and integrate Lean, Six Sigma, and digital transformation principles
• Define and monitor KPIs for process health, adoption, and capability effectiveness

Basic Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Science, Engineering, Organizational Development, Business or related field
• 10+ years in process excellence, quality systems, or operational leadership in pharmaceutical industry
• Proven experience in building global capability frameworks and communities
• Strong understanding of process ownership models, maturity assessments, and organizational change management

Additional Skills/Preferences:

• Demonstrated influential leadership expertise and experience engaging with senior-level functional leads in a matrixed organization.
• Exceptional communication, coaching, facilitation, and stakeholder engagement skills with the ability to lead diverse teams and collaborate at all levels through various formats.
• Experience leading major or global process improvements and making strategic decisions by analyzing and interpreting complex data.
• Strong strategic thinking capability with a focus on the ability to execute strategic decisions while balancing conflicting priorities.
• Demonstrated agility in anticipating and leading others through change and ambiguity.
• Familiarity with digital platforms (e.g., SAP, eQMS, eDoc systems) and data governance

Additional Information:

• Available to travel (domestic and international) when required (ca. 10%).
• Fluent in English; additional languages are also recommended.
• Role is based in Indianapolis, IN but may be considered for selected site locations in Lilly.

Actual compensation will depend on a candidate’s education, experience, skills, and geographic location.  The anticipated wage for this position is

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.