Job Position OverviewLilly's product commercialization spans a growing global manufacturing network, dozens of specialized functions, and an expanding portfolio of transformative medicines. The gap: no single leader owns the full picture.
The Value Chain Leader is the single leader that owns the full picture. You are the single point of accountability for a product's entire manufacturing commercialization lifecycle. You own the manufacturing CMC strategy, lead the Value Chain Team, collaborate with development, and serve as the go-to interface for senior executives who need clarity.
This is a strategic leadership role, not a coordination role. It demands deep pharma development and/or manufacturing knowledge, executive presence, and the ability to drive alignment across a powerful, matrixed organization-without direct authority.
What Success Looks Like:
Lilly's commercialization process involves deep, specialized functions-Development, Engineering, Analytical, Quality, TS/MS, Supply Chain, Manufacturing Sites, and CMC Regulatory. Each brings critical experience. The winning Value Chain Leader orchestrates a team: knowing when to convene the full team, and when to engage only who is needed-protecting expert time and driving efficient progress. In year one, and consistently thereafter, you will demonstrate:
- Stakeholder orchestration credibility-functional leaders trust that when you call them in, it matters; when you do not, it is handled.
- A Mfg. Technical Agenda that serves as the true single source of truth-every relevant function's input synthesized into one coherent product strategy.
- At least one major bottleneck resolved through smart, targeted convening-the right people in the room, no one else.
- Senior leaders who say you "always know where the product stands"-earned through disciplined intelligence gathering, not reporting overhead.
- A Value Chain Team operating with more speed and purpose than before-siloed expertise channeled into coordinated, forward momentum.
Key Responsibilities This role leads moderately complex programs. At times, this role may also partner with a Sr Director Value Chain Leader to deliver highly complex program(s).
Manufacturing CMC Strategy and Commercialization Ownership
- Own the Manufacturing CMC Commercialization Strategy across Development, Manufacturing, and the Business Unit(s).
- Lead the Value Chain Team and oversee its technical execution, ensuring clear ownership, milestone accountability, and proactive risk management.
- Drive alignment of launch presentation and commercial image strategy across relevant functional and affiliate stakeholders.
- Ensure gate deliverables are clearly defined, plans are in place, and execution is on track-proactively identifying and resolving gaps.
Governance and Executive Visibility
- Serve as the accountable representative for the product/program at all Governance and Oversight Forums, providing clear, confident updates on progress, risks, and decisions required.
- Act as the primary interface for senior executive seeking visibility into commercialization status-translating technical complexity into concise actionable insight.
- Ensure escalations are surfaced proactively and resolved with appropriate speed and rigor.
Cross-Functional Alignment and Stakeholder Leadership
- Ensure sustained alignment across Development, Manufacturing, and Business Unit stakeholders throughout the product's lifecycle, including global manufacturing site teams and CMC Regulatory.
- Influence without authority across a complex, matrixed organization-building trust, resolving conflict, and driving decisions through collaboration rather than directive.
- Partner closely with Development and CMC Regulatory on submission strategy, ensuring the manufacturing program supports regulatory timelines and requirements.
Post-Launch Technical Agenda
- Lead Post-Launch Technical Agenda strategy for assigned products, influencing pre-submission deliverables and lifecycle management planning.
- Ensure the product(s) long-term commercial and technical sustainability by driving proactive planning for process improvements, line extensions, and continuous manufacturing optimization.
Basic QualificationsEducation Level
- Minimally, a bachelor's degree in chemistry, biology, engineering, or Related Scientific Degree
- Preferred: Advanced Engineering, Scientific Degree (M.S., Ph.D., or MBA with strong technical foundation required).
- Additional Preference: PMP Certification, Masters Project Management
Experience
- Minimum 7 years of progressive pharmaceutical industry experience, with meaningful exposure to development, manufacturing, commercialization, and/or technical program leadership.
- Demonstrated experience leading or significantly contributing to cross-functional programs through key development and commercialization milestones (e.g., tech transfer, process validation, regulatory submission readiness, product launch).
- Proven ability to influence and lead without direct authority across complex, matrixed organizations.
- Track record of operating effectively at the senior leadership level-communicating with confidence, handling ambiguity, and making high-quality decisions under pressure.
Functional Background
- TS/MS, CMC Development, Operations, Supply Chain, or Mfg.
Additional Skills / PreferencesKey Skills and Competencies
- Strategic Leadership: Shapes long-range manufacturing CMC commercialization strategy; translates vision into execution.
- Influence without Authority: Drives alignment and decisions across powerful, matrixed stakeholders without formal reporting relationships.
- Executive Communication: Distills complex technical and operational information into clear, confident narratives for senior audiences.
- Negotiation and Conflict Resolution: Balances competing functional and affiliate priorities with fairness, speed, and strategic judgement.
- Commercial Acumen: Understands the business implications of manufacturing decisions-including supply risk, launch readiness, and lifecycle value.
- Risk Management: Proactively identifies, surfaces, and resolves program risks before they become schedule or quality issues.
- Cross-Cultural and Global Collaboration: Effective working across global manufacturing sites, development organizations, and business units with varying priorities.
- Entrepreneurial mindset: Comfortable operating in an evolving role structure; builds credibility and process from the ground up.
Additional InformationTravel Percentage (%)
Some travel (domestic and international) may be required. (approximately 10-20%)
Actual compensation will depend on a candidate's education, experience, skills, and geographic location. The anticipated wage for this position is
$118,500 - $173,800
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.
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