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’s Purpose

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 35,000 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.

Come leverage the power of data to deliver solutions that improve the lives of people around the world!
The Global Data Analytics & AI Organization (DIA) is actively looking for candidates for Associate Director of Data, Analytics & AI position to drive the digital transformation agenda for our Manufacturing operations within the pharmaceutical domain. This role is central to enabling data-driven decision-making, scaling AI solutions, and shaping our data product strategy across sites.

You will lead a cross-functional team of data engineers, data scientists, and analytics professionals to build and operationalize advanced data and AI solutions, ensuring they align with both business value and GxP/data governance standards.

This is a strategic role, instrumental to supporting our manufacturing network expansion, improving operational excellence, and enabling AI-at-scale across production environments.

What You’ll Be Doing

You will help advance the DIA Organization’s Purpose of delivering innovative data analytics and AI solution to accelerate Lilly’s ability to make medicines for today and tomorrow while being compliant. You will drive business value, operate with speed and agility, embody a product mindset, and reward innovation and experimentation. 

How You’ll SucceedLead the Development of Data & AI Products:
You will bring your leadership experience and professional agility to oversee the development and deployment of advanced data analytics and AI products that elevate manufacturing efficiency, compliance, and quality.Drive Strategy with Vision:
You will utilize and expand upon your strategic thinking to shape and execute the vision, roadmap, and long-term strategy for manufacturing data products, advanced analytics, and AI/ML solutions that align with business priorities and operational goals.Define and Deliver High-Value Data Products:
You will own the full lifecycle of manufacturing data products—from ideation and design to delivery and iteration—ensuring they are scalable, governed, and deliver measurable business value across use cases such as batch visibility, site inspections, and equipment performance.Industrialize AI with MLOps:
You will apply your technical acumen to productionize AI models using MLOps best practices—ensuring sustainable, scalable, and monitored deployment of machine learning solutions across manufacturing use cases.Deliver Scalable Data Solutions with DataOps:
You will lead the implementation of high-quality, governed data pipelines and leverage modern DataOps principles to ensure reliable, timely data delivery for downstream analytics and AI applications.Data Governance Leadership:
You will champion and operationalize data governance practices across manufacturing data domains—defining data ownership, stewardship models, data quality standards, and metadata management to ensure trusted, compliant, and business-ready data.Team & Capability Building:
You will manage and mentor a multi-disciplinary team of engineers, data scientists, and analytics professionals—fostering a culture of innovation, agility, accountability, and continuous improvement.Governance & Compliance:
You will ensure that all AI and analytics solutions meet required GxP standards, maintain data integrity and privacy, and adhere to responsible and ethical AI practices throughout their lifecycle.Collaborate for Impact Across the Network:
You will leverage your strong collaboration and relationship-building skills to ensure alignment and successful integration of data and AI solutions across global manufacturing sites, operations, and Quality stakeholders.Advance the M&Q Value Proposition:
You will leverage your prior experiences, networks, and technical depth to inform and accelerate the Manufacturing & Quality (M&Q) data and AI transformation, with a focus on delivering business value and supporting network expansion.Thrive in Complexity and Change:
You should come prepared to thrive in a highly regulated, fast-paced environment—navigating ambiguity, solving complex problems, and influencing senior stakeholders with confidence and agility.

What You Should BringStrong foundation in Data & AI disciplines:
Prior experience in Data Analytics, Artificial Intelligence (AI/ML), Data Product Management, Data/Solution Architecture, or Data Engineering—preferably in a manufacturing or highly regulated environment.Cloud and modern data tech fluency:
Hands-on experience with cloud platforms such as AWS or Azure, and familiarity with modern data tools and frameworks (e.g., Databricks, Snowflake, MLflow, Airflow, Spark).Advanced Analytics & AI at Scale:
Demonstrated ability to design, build, deploy, and support advanced analytics and AI/ML solutions in production, including knowledge of MLOps and lifecycle management.Expertise in Data Governance:
Experience implementing data governance frameworks, including data quality, lineage, ownership models, and stewardship aligned with enterprise policies and regulatory requirements (e.g., GxP).Track record of delivering Data Products:
Ability to define and deliver scalable, reusable data products with measurable business impact, using agile and product-centric approaches.Strong leadership and people development skills:
Proven experience managing and mentoring cross-functional data and analytics teams with a focus on professional growth, innovation, and high performance.Business acumen in manufacturing operations:
Deep understanding of pharmaceutical manufacturing processes and the ability to translate business needs into impactful data and AI solutions.Effective communicator and collaborator:
Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and influencing skills—capable of working across teams, sites, and global functions to drive alignment and value delivery.Commitment to compliance and ethical AI:
Awareness of data privacy, responsible AI practices, and GxP requirements, and ability to embed them into solution design and execution.

Basic QualificationsBachelor's or Master’s in Computer Science, Engineering, Data Science, or related field; PhD a plus.10–12+ years of experience in data, analytics, or AI/ML roles, with at least 5 years in a leadership role.Strong experience in the Pharma or Biotech Manufacturing domain is highly preferred.

About the Organization

Lilly IT builds and maintains capabilities using cutting edge technologies like most prominent tech companies. What differentiates Lilly IT is that we create new possibilities through tech to advance our purpose – creating medicines that make life better for people around the world, like data driven drug discovery and connected clinical trials. We hire the best technology professionals from a variety of backgrounds, so they can bring an assortment of knowledge, skills, and diverse thinking to deliver innovative solutions in every area of our business. 

The Manufacturing and Quality IT team leverages technology and analytics to transform and scale manufacturing to the digital plant of the future and support manufacturing operational excellence and productivity. This team helps produce medicines using machine learning and robotic capabilities with some of the most sophisticated manufacturing technologies and rigorous quality standards. 

Will this position support sponsorship?

No

Travel percentage for this position

0-10%

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 is proud to be an EEO Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, religion, gender identity, sex, gender expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, ancestry, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status.

Our employee resource groups (ERGs) offer strong support networks for their members and are open to all employees. Our current groups include: Africa, Middle East, Central Asia Network, Black Employees at Lilly, Chinese Culture Network, Japanese International Leadership Network (JILN), Lilly India Network, Organization of Latinx at Lilly (OLA), PRIDE (LGBTQ+ Allies), Veterans Leadership Network (VLN), Women’s Initiative for Leading at Lilly (WILL), enAble (for people with disabilities). Learn more about all of our groups.

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

$124,500 - $182,600

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.

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