Full Job Description
The Senior Director, Global Consumer Science Communications owns consumer-facing science storytelling for Lilly, landing the company's scientific leadership at the cultural moments, digital platforms, and public forums that build trust and reach with patients, healthcare professionals, and the broader public. Reporting to the AVP, Scientific Innovation Communications with a dotted line reporting structure to the AVP, Enterprise Storytelling Communicaitons, this leader is responsible for how Lilly's science shows up in consumer-facing platforms and events, tells our Bold Science and other scientific narratives, relevant masterbrand integration, clinical communications, and the scientific data narratives supporting Investor Relations and quarterly earnings milestones. This is where Lilly's science meets culture. The Senior Director will build the strategies and content that make complex science understandable, relatable, and unmistakably Lilly, reaching audiences that traditional pharma communications have historically missed. The role requires a leader who sees scientific storytelling not as a downstream output but as a strategic tool that builds reputation, drives trust, and supports business priorities.
Key Objectives / Deliverables
• CONSUMER SCIENCE STORYTELLING STRATEGY: Own the consumer-facing science communications strategy for Lilly. Develop narratives that connect Lilly's R&D pipeline and scientific leadership to the topics, cultural moments, and platforms that resonate with patients, caregivers, HCPs, and the general public. Ensure consumer science storytelling reinforces the enterprise corporate narrative and masterbrand.
• TENTPOLE SCIENTIFIC CONSUMER STRATEGY: Lead Lilly's science communications presence at high-profile external forums, while also driving who tells our stories and how through pull-through of our Bold Science and Prevention narratives. Develop executive briefings, event strategies, and follow-through content plans that improve narrative impact.
• SOCIAL-FIRST SCIENTIFIC NARRATIVE: Develop and implement social media strategies that bring Lilly's science to life for digital-native audiences. Build content frameworks that translate pipeline landmarks, R&D advances, and scientific leadership into formats designed for social platforms.
• CLINICAL COMMUNICATIONS: Oversee clinical communications through the Associate Director, Clinical Comms, ensuring patient-facing science content, clinical trial awareness, and HCP engagement are strategically aligned with the broader science narrative.
• MASTERBRAND PULL-THROUGH: Ensure all consumer science storytelling reinforces Lilly's enterprise brand positioning. Coordinate with Enterprise Communications and Brand to maintain consistency of voice, visual identity, and message architecture.
• TEAM LEADERSHIP: Lead and develop the Associate Director, Clinical Communications. Set operating standards and creative ambition for consumer science content. Manage agency partners and external resources.
Basic Qualifications
• Bachelor's degree in communications, journalism, science, marketing, or related field
• Minimum 8 years of communications experience, with significant experience in consumer health, science, or healthcare communications
• Qualified applicants must be authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. Lilly will not provide support for or sponsor work authorization or visas for this role, including but not limited to F-1 CPT, F-1 OPT, F-1 STEM OPT, J-1, H-1B, TN, O-1, E-3, H-1B1, or L-1.
Additional Skills / Preferences
• Demonstrated experience developing consumer-facing content strategies that translate complex topics for broad audiences
• Proven experience leading communications for high-profile events, executive visibility, or brand storytelling
• Experience managing teams and cross-functional partnerships
• Ability to translate complex scientific and clinical data into stories that resonate with non-expert audiences, including patients, caregivers, and the general public
• Strong instinct for cultural moments, emerging platforms, and the intersection of science and consumer interest
• Experience with social media strategy, particularly science and health content designed for digital-native audiences
• Familiarity with investor communications and the ability to develop scientific narratives that support financial storytelling
• Creative mindset with a track record of innovative formats, channels, or approaches to science communications
• Strong executive presence and comfort preparing senior leaders for high-profile public engagements
• Experience working at the intersection of communications, brand, and marketing functions
• Understanding of pharmaceutical regulatory constraints on public communications
Additional Information
• Location: Indianapolis, IN preferred. Remote candidates will be considered for the right experience. Hybrid work schedule for Indianapolis-based candidates. Domestic travel expected (20-30%).
Actual compensation will depend on a candidate's education, experience, skills, and geographic location. The anticipated wage for this position is
$154,500 - $226,600
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.