Senior Director – Ecosystem Growth, Contributor Partnerships

Eli Lilly and Company

. Lead engagement with the early-stage drug discovery community, including startups, established biotechs, mid-cap pharma, VCs, and emerging model developers .

Posted 9/24/2026full-timeRemote • United StatesSenior💰 $175,500 - $257,400 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in drug discovery and development, with a strong focus on building partnerships and community engagement within the biotech ecosystem. Proven ability to execute strategic initiatives that enhance user activation and collaboration across scientific and academic domains.

Highest-signal resume keywords

PhD In Biology, Chemistry, Or Related Field10+ Years Of Experience In Drug Discovery And Development4+ Years Of Experience In Business DevelopmentStrong Relationship-Building SkillsPublic Speaking And Platform Evangelism

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Drug DiscoveryBusiness DevelopmentScientific PartnershipsEcosystem DevelopmentCommunity Engagement StrategiesContributor IncentivesOpen Innovation FrameworksUser Activation ProgramsPartnerships With Academic InstitutionsTechnical Feasibility Assessment

Soft Skills

Relationship BuildingAutonomous WorkStrategic PlanningCollaborationStorytelling

Tools & Technologies

Self-Service ToolsCommunity ForumsScalable Support MechanismsTraining SessionsDemo Days

Industry Keywords

BiotechPharmaceuticalsLife SciencesVenture CapitalScientific MeetingsAI/ML Community

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Lead engagement with the early-stage drug discovery community, including startups, established biotechs, mid-cap pharma, VCs, and emerging model developers
Serve as the primary interface for TuneLab user activation, feedback, and early-stage partnerships
Shape strategies to grow TuneLab and expand its reach
Develop and execute strategies to identify, attract, and activate biotech users and contributors
Build frictionless onboarding mechanisms, including self-service tools, community forums, and scalable support
Design and implement user activation programs such as training sessions, demo days, and working groups
Build repeatable collaboration models for biotech startups, academic groups, and mission-driven organizations
Collaborate with product and technology teams to ensure contribution processes are technically feasible and supported
Serve as the first point of contact for inbound interest from biotechs, labs, and researchers
Qualify and prioritize leads based on platform strategy and scientific fit
Collaborate with legal, product, and technical teams to formalize engagements and support execution
Support TuneLab partners to ensure technical success
Build partner case studies and champions demonstrating TuneLab’s impact on biotech companies
Identify product improvements from partner discussions and share them with the Product team
Represent the platform at scientific meetings, AI/ML community gatherings, and academic events
Build visibility through storytelling, case studies, and public programming
Cultivate identity and shared purpose among ecosystem participants

Requirements

What you’ll need

Graduate degree (PhD) in biology, chemistry, or a related field
10+ years of experience in drug discovery and/or development
4+ years of experience in business development, scientific partnerships, or ecosystem development
Familiarity with drug discovery in life sciences and using various models and tools to accelerate research
Experience with partnerships with academic institutions, biotech startups, or philanthropic organizations
Understanding of contributor incentives, open innovation frameworks, and community engagement strategies
Strong relationship-building credibility across scientific, academic, and venture ecosystems
Ability to translate scientific and technical value into collaborative opportunities
Confident public speaking and platform evangelism
Ability to work autonomously and execute strategic and tactical plans
Travel requirement: 30%
Regular presence at major industry events, 6–10 conferences per year

Benefits

Comp & perks

Company bonus depending in part on company and individual performance
Company-sponsored 401(k)
Pension
Vacation benefits
Medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug benefits
Flexible benefits, including healthcare and/or dependent day care flexible spending accounts
Life insurance and death benefits
Time off and leave of absence benefits
Well-being benefits, including employee assistance program, fitness benefits, and employee clubs and activities