ExploR&D Program Lead

Eli Lilly and Company

. Lead multiple collaboration teams comprising ExploR&D personnel, LRL subject matter experts, and external biotech collaborators .

Posted 9/28/2026full-timeUnited StatesSenior💰 $175,500 - $257,400 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in leading cross-functional teams and managing external collaborations within the pharmaceutical industry, with a strong focus on project management, resource forecasting, and strategic program execution from discovery through clinical proof-of-concept.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Project Management Certification (PMP)Pharmaceutical Industry ExperienceCross-Functional Program ExecutionScientific Fluency in Drug DevelopmentStakeholder Management and Communication

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Program ExecutionWork Plan DevelopmentContract NegotiationResource ForecastingData SynthesisRisk/Benefit AnalysisBudget ManagementTherapeutic Modalities KnowledgeClinical Data EvaluationProcess Improvement

Soft Skills

Team LeadershipCreative Problem SolvingInfluencing StakeholdersCommunication SkillsAdaptability in Ambiguity

Tools & Technologies

Contemporary Project Management ToolsData-Driven Decision MakingCollaboration Platforms

Certifications & Qualifications

Project Management Professional (PMP)

Industry Keywords

Biotech CollaborationsPreclinical DevelopmentClinical Proof-of-ConceptCell and Gene TherapiesAntibodiesPeptidesOligonucleotidesVaccinesSmall MoleculesTranslational Sciences

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

PMP

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Lead multiple collaboration teams comprising ExploR&D personnel, LRL subject matter experts, and external biotech collaborators
Create high-performing teams and define program scope based on partner needs, available data, and program goals
Translate strategic objectives into clear, executable work plans
Develop work plans and assist with contract negotiation before execution
Execute work plans after signature, delivering projects on time, on budget, and within scope from discovery/preclinical development through clinical proof-of-concept
Forecast resource needs and manage allocated budgets for large-scale, high-risk programs
Identify and synthesize scientific literature, expert input, experimental data, and trial data
Lead internal subject matter experts in essential program elements and guide study design and program strategy
Integrate cross-functional data, synthesize risk/benefit profiles, and drive data-driven decisions across the discovery-to-clinic continuum
Serve as primary liaison between Lilly and external biotech collaborators
Anticipate and resolve barriers, identify roadblocks, and provide innovative solutions
Align strategic plans with Lilly and external partner goals to drive successful alliance outcomes
Integrate input from regulators, vendors, customers, and other external stakeholders into program strategy and key decisions
Contribute to diligence and workplan development
Identify process, tool, and workflow gaps and implement practical solutions
Design and implement process improvements to increase efficiency, effectiveness, and scalability of portfolio delivery
Champion new tools, templates, and working methods for world-class project management
Apply program insights across functions and geographic areas to strengthen portfolio consistency and impact

Requirements

What you’ll need

Bachelor’s degree in biology or a STEM-related field
5+ years of work experience in the pharmaceutical industry, including preclinical-translational sciences and/or clinical-stage drug development
Experience across therapeutic modalities such as cell and gene therapies, antibodies, peptides, oligonucleotides, vaccines, and small molecules
Recognized as an internal subject matter expert within a therapeutic or technical discipline
Deep scientific fluency across the drug discovery and development continuum
Ability to critically evaluate complex technical and clinical data
Experience with science-driven business decisions, asset strategy, portfolio management, and the pharmaceutical landscape
Ability to lead and influence teams and senior stakeholders in a matrixed environment
Exceptional verbal and written communication skills
Experience managing external collaborations and alliances
Ability to translate biotech partners’ needs and constraints into scope of work, workplans, program execution, and deliverables
Ability to anticipate challenges, diagnose root causes, and build stakeholder consensus around creative solutions
Experience leading through ambiguity and uncertainty
Practical experience or certification in project management, such as PMP or equivalent
Experience using contemporary project management tools and methodologies
Proven ability to forecast resource needs, manage budgets, and deliver large-scale cross-functional programs on time, on budget, and within scope
Experience developing work plans and supporting contract negotiation
Operational discipline to execute programs from discovery through preclinical development and clinical proof-of-concept
Preferred: advanced graduate degree (PhD, PharmD, MS, or MBA in combination with a scientific/technical background)

Benefits

Comp & perks

Company bonus depending, in part, on company and individual performance
Company-sponsored 401(k)
Pension
Vacation benefits
Medical benefits
Dental benefits
Vision benefits
Prescription drug benefits
Flexible benefits, including healthcare and/or dependent day care flexible spending accounts
Life insurance and death benefits
Certain time off and leave of absence benefits
Well-being benefits, including employee assistance program and fitness benefits
Employee clubs and activities
Travel requirements typically 10–25%, depending on portfolio and location