Sr. Director - Catalyze360 AI/ML Business Strategy

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.

The Catalyze360 AI/ML Business Strategy Lead will drive the business strategy and growth of the Catalyze360 (C360) AI/ML platform. This role is essential in defining the platform’s business model, governance structure, and partnership strategy to ensure its success in transforming drug discovery and development. The individual will collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to design and implement scalable solutions, manage resources, and create new business opportunities, ensuring the platform remains competitive and innovative.

In this role, you will be responsible for designing the platform’s business model, managing key partnerships, overseeing operational excellence, and working closely with various teams across Eli Lilly to ensure alignment with strategic goals. You will also lead efforts to acquire and generate the data required to fuel AI/ML use cases while advancing strategic partnerships with tech, biotech, and service providers.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategy and Business Model

  • Design and implement the platform’s business model, including developing business strategies, identifying legal and operational requirements, and incorporating these into early agreements.

  • Develop and evolve the platform's governance model to ensure robust oversight and ethical AI/ML use, aligning with corporate priorities.

  • Develop a strategy for broader data services offerings to expand the platform’s capabilities and value proposition.

  • Work closely with ExploR&D and Tech @LLY to create integrated and consistent roadmaps, ensuring cross-functional alignment and scalability of the platform.

• Partnerships and Collaboration

  • Evaluate and advance partnership opportunities across multiple domains:

    • Tech Bio: Engage with tech bio companies to access and build next-generation AI/ML models.

    • Biotech: Identify data contributions that fit specific use cases, facilitating collaborations that align with platform needs.

    • VC Funds: Foster portfolio participation from VC-backed companies, from inception through growth stages.

    • Service Providers (CROs): Develop standardized and streamlined services for platform participants to ensure seamless integration into their workflows.

  • Collaborate with the transactions lead to execute partnership deals that align with platform and roadmap requirements.

  • Monitor the competitive landscape, keeping track of technological advances and trends in AI/ML applications in drug development.

  • Continuously evolve the platform’s strategy by understanding how AI/ML resources are being developed, both in commercial and open-source environments, to ensure differentiation of offerings.

• Data Acquisition and Generation

  • Work closely with the Product Lead to identify specific data needs for each use case.

  • Identify and evaluate opportunities to acquire or generate data that supports the platform's AI/ML models and use cases.

  • Establish partnerships or in-house capabilities to ensure access to high-quality data necessary for driving drug discovery outcomes.

• Operational Excellence

  • Collaborate with Tech @Lilly and LRL leaders to ensure the operational capabilities meet both technical and business objectives.

  • Implement operational frameworks and governance structures to support growth and scalability while driving continuous improvement initiatives.

• Financial Management and Reporting

  • Develop and manage the platform’s budget, ensuring resources are allocated efficiently across business development, operations, and technology needs.

  • Monitor financial performance and report regularly to senior leadership on platform milestones, key metrics, and return on investment.

  • Ensure cost optimization and efficient use of resources to support high-impact initiatives aligned with the platform’s business goals.

• Performance Metrics and Impact

  • Define and track key performance indicators (KPIs) that measure the platform’s success, including operational efficiency, partnership growth, and business outcomes.

  • Regularly assess the impact of the platform on drug discovery and development workflows, recommending adjustments to strategy as necessary to optimize results.

Functional and Technical Expertise

• Business Strategy and Operations: Proven experience in designing and executing business models, managing large-scale operations, and leading cross-functional teams.

• Drug Discovery Knowledge: Strong understanding of pharmaceutical R&D processes, particularly how AI/ML can be applied to accelerate drug discovery.

• Partnership Development: Experience in evaluating and advancing partnerships with a diverse range of stakeholders, including biotech, tech bio, CROs, and venture capital firms.

• Project and Financial Management: Skilled in developing business cases, managing budgets, and overseeing large-scale projects.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Ability to leverage data to inform strategic decisions, particularly in the context of platform operations and partnership development.

Influence and Leadership

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Demonstrated ability to collaborate across internal teams (Tech, R&D, business development) and external partners to drive platform growth.

• Strategic Thinking: Capable of developing long-term business strategies while managing day-to-day operations and ensuring alignment with corporate goals.

• Stakeholder Management: Strong skills in building and maintaining relationships with senior leaders and external partners.

• Team Leadership: Ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and foster a culture of innovation, accountability, and collaboration.

Basic Qualifications

• Advanced degree (MBA, PhD, or similar) with at least 6 years of experience in business operations, strategy, or a related field in the pharmaceutical or life sciences industry.

• Experience in AI/ML platforms and understanding their application in drug discovery.

• Strong financial acumen, with experience in budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis.

• Exceptional communication and leadership skills, with the ability to influence and present to senior leadership.

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 an EEO/Affirmative Action Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, 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 help our company develop talented individuals for future leadership roles. Our current groups include: Africa, Middle East, Central Asia Network, African American Network, Chinese Culture Network, Early Career Professionals, Japanese International Leadership Network (JILN), Lilly India Network, Organization of Latinos at Lilly, PRIDE (LGBTQ + Allies), Veterans Leadership Network, Women’s Network, Working and Living with Disabilities. Learn more about all of our groups.

#WeAreLilly