Associate Vice President, Data Foundry

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 Small Molecule Discovery is an organization purpose-built to create molecules that make life better for people. We focus on using cutting edge science to unlock new approaches that can treat people suffering from diseases with poor treatment options. We continually challenge ourselves to deliver molecules that can provide breakthrough efficacy with the highest possible safety margins. We are dedicated to optimizing our mindset, technology, and processes for faster, more nimble execution. Our success is built on a culture that empowers innovative problem solving through open collaboration and individual accountability.

Position Summary:

The Data Foundry, AVP will lead a multidisciplinary team dedicated to enabling and accelerating molecule discovery through scalable and reproducible data generation, fueled by advanced scientific computing, informatics and automation solutions. The leader will also oversee the design, implementation and validation of AI agent-compatible automation systems.

This leader will be responsible for defining and executing a strategic vision for data generation, informatics systems and lab automation that serve as the foundation for AI-native discovery. They will partner closely with scientists, technologists, and data science teams across Lilly to ensure the right data is generated, captured, structured, and made accessible at scale. This role is critical to enabling the next generation of AI-powered drug discovery through the development of trusted, high-resolution, machine-actionable data.

A key component of this role is the advancement of automation systems that are deeply and natively integrated with Agentic AI solutions. The leader will drive the development of flexible, AI-first laboratory platforms capable of autonomous experimentation, self-optimization, and real-time data feedback, dramatically increasing the speed and quality of discovery insights.

The ideal candidate will bring a unique blend of scientific expertise, computational fluency, and strategic leadership. They will have a proven track record of building high-performing, cross-functional teams and deploying data-centric solutions that accelerate scientific impact.

Responsibilities:

• Lead the Data Foundry organization, including teams focused on scientific computing, informatics, lab automation, and integration with AI systems.
• Define and execute a data generation and management strategy aligned with the needs of an AI-native discovery ecosystem, in partnership with Tech@Lilly and AI/data science teams across discovery.
• Oversee design, implementation and integration of AI agent-compatible automation platforms within the Lilly lab.
• Collaborate closely with discovery scientists, platform leaders, and data science teams to align data generation with program objectives and AI/ML readiness.
• Drive the vision and execution of laboratory automation systems designed for native integration with Agentic AI workflows, enabling closed-loop experimentation and continuous optimization.
• Ensure systems and processes for data capture, contextualization, standardization, and lineage are robust, scalable, and reproducible.
• Champion a culture of data quality, integrity, and continuous improvement.
• Partner with Tech@Lilly to align on architecture, security, and infrastructure needs.
• Build and develop a world-class team, fostering innovation, technical excellence, and career development.

Basic Requirements:

• Ph.D. or equivalent experience in computational biology, bioinformatics, cheminformatics, data science, or a related discipline.
• 15 years of industry experience in drug discovery, with a strong background in scientific data systems and research informatics.
• Demonstrated success leading multidisciplinary teams in a matrixed, global organization.
• Deep understanding of scientific computing, informatics platforms, agentic AI and automation strategies in research environments.

Additional Preferences:

• Experience deploying AI/ML solutions in a discovery or research setting.
• Familiarity with laboratory automation systems and integration with digital platforms.
• Proven ability to translate scientific needs into data and informatics strategies.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills across scientific, technical, and executive stakeholders.
• Track record of driving innovation in data infrastructure and enabling new scientific capabilities.
• Passion for mentoring and empowering teams in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment.
• Commitment to continuous learning and professional growth.
• Highly organized, with excellent analytical, documentation, time management, and multi-tasking skills.
• Self-driven, hard-working, data-driven decision maker with a hands-on, lab-centric mindset.
• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to anticipate challenges and proactively develop solutions.
• Proven ability to lead through empowerment, fostering team ownership and engagement.

Additional Information:

This position will be located at the San Diego, CA, Louisville, CO or Indianapolis, IN site.

Physical Demands/Travel:

The physical demands of this job are consistent with an office environment.

This position will require travel.

The physical demands here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

Work Environment:

This position’s work environment is in an office.

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.

• To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the role and responsibilities satisfactorily. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

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

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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