Associate Director, IT Contracts & Business Operations

About the role

The Associate Director, IT Contracts & Business Operations is responsible for the contracting strategy and business operations framework for IT engagements across Lilly Catalyze360. This role involves leading and structuring contract negotiations for complex IT service agreements, SaaS contracts, AI/ML platform agreements, custom IT solution development contracts, and data licensing agreements. The role requires a deep understanding of IT security requirements, compliance frameworks, and data governance in regulated industries.

Responsibilities

• Lead and structure contract negotiations for the most complex IT service agreements, SaaS contracts, AI/ML platform agreements, custom IT solution development contracts, and data licensing agreements across Catalyze360, setting negotiation strategy and risk tolerance for the function.
• Serve as the business operations advisor and primary point of escalation between Catalyze360 and IT organizations, translating technical requirements into contractual terms and shaping vendor relationship strategy to advance business objectives.
• Partner directly with legal, finance, and IT technical leadership to structure and govern IT agreements that balance business needs, risk mitigation, and cost optimization, and represent Catalyze360's contracting interests in cross-functional meetings.
• Own risk identification and mitigation strategy across the IT contracting portfolio, including protection of sensitive confidential information and privacy.
• Identify and advocate for new opportunities to enhance contracting processes, tools, and the overall business operations model, anticipating organizational change and helping the function adapt ahead of it.
• If needed, provide guidance, coaching, and technical/functional direction to other contracting professionals and contractors supporting the IT contracting workstream, building capability and consistency across the team.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in a related field required; advanced degree (JD, MBA, or related) preferred.
• 6+ years of experience in IT contract negotiations in the biotechnology or pharmaceutical industry, or related IT business functions, including demonstrated experience independently negotiating and managing complex IT service agreements, SaaS contracts, or software licensing agreements.
• Qualified applicants must be authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.

Additional Skills/Preferences

• Direct experience working with IT solution building teams, software engineering, DevOps, or technical product management organizations.
• Deep understanding of IT security requirements, compliance frameworks including privacy regulations, and data governance in regulated industries.
• Communication skills with the ability to engage and influence diverse senior stakeholders including technical, legal, and finance leadership; strong analytical and strategic problem-solving capabilities; and an entrepreneurial mindset with a bias toward building scalable process.
• Strong fluency with IT architecture, cloud infrastructure, software development lifecycle, and enterprise technology solutions.
• Track record of operating with a high degree of independent judgment and autonomy, including making strategic trade-off decisions on risk, cost, and business priority with limited oversight.
• Ability to influence and build credibility with senior stakeholders and leadership, and to lead through ambiguity and competing priorities across a highly collaborative, matrixed environment.
• Experience designing, leading, or scaling pilot programs, proof-of-concept initiatives, or technology evaluations.
• Experience leading or providing direction to others (direct reports, contractors, or cross-functional partners), including coaching and developing contracting capability in a team.