Associate Director - Operational Readiness

Company: Eli Lilly and Company
Location: Richmond
Posted on: January 21, 2026

Job Description:

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 is currently constructing an advanced manufacturing facility for monoclonal antibodies, bioconjugates, and aseptic drug product manufacturing in Goochland County, Virginia. This facility is intended to provide capacity for current and future products. This is a unique opportunity to be a part of the leadership team for the startup of a manufacturing site, and the successful candidate will help to build the organization, the facility and the culture to enable a successful startup into GMP manufacturing operations. Position Overview The Associate Director – Operational Readiness is a key site leader responsible for developing and managing an integrated project plan to prepare the manufacturing facility for operational readiness. Reporting through site operations, this role works closely with project managers and the Site Lead Team to align all workstream deliverables. The Associate Director ensures clear communication between the GFD project team and stakeholders (e.g., Ops, TSMS, Engineering, QA, QCL, Maintenance, Logistics, IT), navigates complex project linkages, and resolves barriers to ensure a safe, timely, and successful startup. This role also leads the site’s Operational Excellence group, establishing Lean principles and a continuous improvement framework. Key Responsibilities Identify essential pre-manufacturing elements for facility readiness with input from cross-functional stakeholders. Collaborate with the GFD project team and site functions to develop an integrated startup plan, addressing dependencies, timelines, and resource needs. Serve as the main liaison between the GFD project and site teams to ensure clear communication and aligned priorities. Lead a cross-functional team to implement the plan, foster collaboration, and build team morale. Align scope, goals, and timelines with stakeholders to meet project objectives. Drive timely decision-making under tight deadlines. Manage communications and relationships with internal and external stakeholders. Proactively resolve issues and implement corrective actions. Forecast and manage resource needs to avoid project delays. Report key metrics to site and network governance forums. Apply lean management practices to streamline meetings, communication, and escalation. Build a culture of operational excellence and embed Lean principles into site governance. Basic Qualifications Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline (STEM degree preferred) and experience in a functional or operational leadership role within the pharmaceutical industry. 5 years of experience supporting GMP operations Additional Preferences Proven experience leading large, cross-functional projects from initiation to successful delivery Ability to thrive in dynamic environments and adapt quickly to shifting priorities Skilled in influencing decisions on complex technical challenges Strong organizational and self-management skills; able to prioritize and adjust workload effectively Effective collaboration across diverse functions (e.g., Technical Services, Engineering, Quality, QC, IT, Operations) with ability to integrate workstreams Demonstrated ability to influence peers and business partners Strong interpersonal and team-building skills; fosters effective collaboration among diverse styles Track record of delivering high-performance projects on time and within budget Proficient in continuous improvement methodologies (Lean, Six Sigma, etc.) Familiarity with documentation, deviation, and change management systems (e.g., TrackWise, Veeva, QualityDocs, Kneat) 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 $123,000 - $198,000 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. WeAreLilly

Keywords: Eli Lilly and Company, Portsmouth , Associate Director - Operational Readiness, Manufacturing , Richmond, Virginia