Director / Senior Director, Small Molecule External Innovation
Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, IN, United States
About the Team
Lilly Small Molecule Discovery (LSMD) exists to create molecules that make life better for people — using cutting‑edge science to open new doors for diseases with limited treatment options.
Small Molecule External Innovation (SM E&I) identifies, evaluates, secures, and integrates transformative external technologies, capabilities, and assets that strengthen Lilly’s small molecule discovery. The team works across three pillars: transformative assets accessed through license or acquisition, emerging platforms and technologies accessed through research collaborations, and capability built through integrated discovery partnerships. These pillars address real and pressing strategic needs: difficult targets, unconventional chemical space, and compressed competitive timelines.
What You’ll Do This is a high‑impact, high‑autonomy role at the intersection of science and strategy. You’ll be SM E&I’s primary connector to the external biotech, venture, and academic ecosystems — guiding opportunities from first contact through due diligence, governance, deal finalization, and internal adoption.
Sourcing & Evaluation
Source and evaluate external capabilities, technologies, and assets across all three pillars, drawing on your drug discovery expertise and understanding of LSMD’s strategic needs.
Maintain a structured pipeline of external opportunities — including potential asset acquisitions, research collaborations, and discovery partnerships — with clear status tracking, strategic fit assessment, and next steps.
Relationship Building & Ecosystem Engagement
Build and sustain relationships across the biotech, venture capital, academic, and CRO ecosystems to surface opportunities aligned with LSMD’s priorities.
Represent SM E&I at partnering events (JPM, BIO, BioEurope), venture showcases, and scientific conferences.
Due Diligence & Governance
Lead cross‑functional scientific due diligence by coordinating input from LSMD experts across medicinal chemistry, computational chemistry, automation, pharmacology, biophysics, and AI/ML.
Author structured evaluation reports, investment theses, and governance presentations for senior leadership.
Competitive Intelligence & Strategy
Own and maintain a living competitive landscape across SM E&I’s key technology domains — tracking partnership activity, asset licensing transactions, technology acquisitions, and emerging science that may shift LSMD’s priorities.
Translate landscape intelligence into clear, actionable strategic recommendations for LSMD leadership.
Cross‑Functional Collaboration
Partner closely with Therapeutic Area Search & Evaluate teams, Lilly Research Labs, Lilly’s venture ecosystem (Catalyze360), and Corporate BD to ensure portfolio coherence and execution quality.
Basic Qualification
PhD (with 7+ years of experience) or Master’s degree (with 10+ years of experience) in pharmaceutical or biotechnology R&D, with a foundation in drug discovery or translational science.
3+ years of experience in external innovation, search and evaluation, business development scouting, or a similar function involving systematic evaluation of external scientific opportunities.
Additional Skills / Preference
Broad scientific literacy across drug discovery fields—chemistry, biology, pharmacology, AI/ML, automation, and translational science—with the ability to coordinate and synthesize specialist input.
Experience conducting or leading structured scientific due diligence for licensing, collaboration, or investment opportunities.
Strong written communication skills, with experience preparing evaluation reports or governance materials for senior leadership.
Familiarity with the external biotech and health‑tech ecosystem, including experience engaging venture‑backed and early‑stage companies.
Familiarity with at least two technology areas such as macrocyclic drug design, targeted protein degradation, AI/ML‑driven drug discovery, automation, protein–protein interaction modulators, or DNA‑encoded libraries.
Exposure to deal structures (research collaborations, licensing, option agreements, asset acquisitions) sufficient to contribute meaningfully to strategic deal discussions.
Strong business sense with demonstrated ability to persuade and influence across internal and external partners.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with a track record of building trust and influencing across functions and seniority levels.
Ability to manage multiple concurrent evaluations in a dynamic environment.
Collaborative personality well‑suited to a small, high‑autonomy team.
Additional Information
This role supports work across Lilly’s core therapeutic areas: Diabetes/Obesity/Cardiometabolic, Neuroscience, Immunology, Oncology, Genetic Medicines, and Advanced Modalities.
Up to 40% travel (domestic and international).
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.
Actual compensation will depend on a candidate’s education, experience, skills, and geographic location. The anticipated wage for this position is $148,500 - $217,800.
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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Small Molecule External Innovation (SM E&I) identifies, evaluates, secures, and integrates transformative external technologies, capabilities, and assets that strengthen Lilly’s small molecule discovery. The team works across three pillars: transformative assets accessed through license or acquisition, emerging platforms and technologies accessed through research collaborations, and capability built through integrated discovery partnerships. These pillars address real and pressing strategic needs: difficult targets, unconventional chemical space, and compressed competitive timelines.
What You’ll Do This is a high‑impact, high‑autonomy role at the intersection of science and strategy. You’ll be SM E&I’s primary connector to the external biotech, venture, and academic ecosystems — guiding opportunities from first contact through due diligence, governance, deal finalization, and internal adoption.
Sourcing & Evaluation
Source and evaluate external capabilities, technologies, and assets across all three pillars, drawing on your drug discovery expertise and understanding of LSMD’s strategic needs.
Maintain a structured pipeline of external opportunities — including potential asset acquisitions, research collaborations, and discovery partnerships — with clear status tracking, strategic fit assessment, and next steps.
Relationship Building & Ecosystem Engagement
Build and sustain relationships across the biotech, venture capital, academic, and CRO ecosystems to surface opportunities aligned with LSMD’s priorities.
Represent SM E&I at partnering events (JPM, BIO, BioEurope), venture showcases, and scientific conferences.
Due Diligence & Governance
Lead cross‑functional scientific due diligence by coordinating input from LSMD experts across medicinal chemistry, computational chemistry, automation, pharmacology, biophysics, and AI/ML.
Author structured evaluation reports, investment theses, and governance presentations for senior leadership.
Competitive Intelligence & Strategy
Own and maintain a living competitive landscape across SM E&I’s key technology domains — tracking partnership activity, asset licensing transactions, technology acquisitions, and emerging science that may shift LSMD’s priorities.
Translate landscape intelligence into clear, actionable strategic recommendations for LSMD leadership.
Cross‑Functional Collaboration
Partner closely with Therapeutic Area Search & Evaluate teams, Lilly Research Labs, Lilly’s venture ecosystem (Catalyze360), and Corporate BD to ensure portfolio coherence and execution quality.
Basic Qualification
PhD (with 7+ years of experience) or Master’s degree (with 10+ years of experience) in pharmaceutical or biotechnology R&D, with a foundation in drug discovery or translational science.
3+ years of experience in external innovation, search and evaluation, business development scouting, or a similar function involving systematic evaluation of external scientific opportunities.
Additional Skills / Preference
Broad scientific literacy across drug discovery fields—chemistry, biology, pharmacology, AI/ML, automation, and translational science—with the ability to coordinate and synthesize specialist input.
Experience conducting or leading structured scientific due diligence for licensing, collaboration, or investment opportunities.
Strong written communication skills, with experience preparing evaluation reports or governance materials for senior leadership.
Familiarity with the external biotech and health‑tech ecosystem, including experience engaging venture‑backed and early‑stage companies.
Familiarity with at least two technology areas such as macrocyclic drug design, targeted protein degradation, AI/ML‑driven drug discovery, automation, protein–protein interaction modulators, or DNA‑encoded libraries.
Exposure to deal structures (research collaborations, licensing, option agreements, asset acquisitions) sufficient to contribute meaningfully to strategic deal discussions.
Strong business sense with demonstrated ability to persuade and influence across internal and external partners.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with a track record of building trust and influencing across functions and seniority levels.
Ability to manage multiple concurrent evaluations in a dynamic environment.
Collaborative personality well‑suited to a small, high‑autonomy team.
Additional Information
This role supports work across Lilly’s core therapeutic areas: Diabetes/Obesity/Cardiometabolic, Neuroscience, Immunology, Oncology, Genetic Medicines, and Advanced Modalities.
Up to 40% travel (domestic and international).
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.
Actual compensation will depend on a candidate’s education, experience, skills, and geographic location. The anticipated wage for this position is $148,500 - $217,800.
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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