Senior Director - Medical Science Liaison - Neuroscience Medical Affairs - Central Region

About the Role

At Lilly, the work is demanding because patients are waiting. We unite caring with discovery to help make life better for people around the world, knowing that every decision, every detail, and every day matters. This role involves leading and managing a team of Medical Science Liaisons (MSLs), providing national field strategic leadership, and leveraging scientific and clinical expertise to ensure impactful interactions with Scientific and Clinical Experts (SEs/CEs). The Sr. Director will build and maintain strong working relationships with internal and external business partners specific to the therapeutic area.

Responsibilities

• People Leadership & Development:
  • Provide clarity of vision and expectation for the MSL team.
  • Coach performance and development of team members, fostering personal accountability.
  • Recruit, hire, develop, and promote top talent.
  • Develop and coach personnel through scheduled interactions (e.g., field visits), providing scientific and MSL role-specific feedback.
  • Contribute to succession planning and talent development activities.
  • Enable the Field Medical Qualification process through coaching, including gaining and executing qualification if necessary.
• Field Coaching:
  • Partner effectively with internal medical, development, and commercial partners across the therapeutic area.
  • Engage in Regional Health Care Market (RHM) forums, upskill cross-functional teammates, and lead by example.
  • Meet and exceed field coaching expectations, providing progressive coaching and competency upskilling to the MSL team.
  • Engage in RHM forums and partner cross-functionally to maximize medical-commercial interactions.
• Therapeutic Area Expertise, Strategy Integration & Execution:
  • Develop and implement regional field medical strategies aligned with business unit and medical affairs strategies.
  • Draft, communicate, and implement strategic plans to align MSLs with organizational clinical and scientific objectives.
  • Guide MSLs to engage and support evidence generation efforts (e.g., registration trials, observational studies).
  • Collaborate and participate in planning activities and shared learning with other MSL leadership across the business unit and enterprise.
  • Support medical affairs staffing at congresses and ensure clinical insights are communicated back to Lilly appropriately.
  • Oversee MSL congress activities, including developing strategies, coordinating with internal stakeholders, and ensuring alignment with organizational objectives.
• Operational Excellence:
  • Oversee quality, compliance, accountability, and effectiveness of the team.
  • Partner with business units, Ethics & Compliance, Legal, Medical Affairs, and other capabilities to drive operational efficiency and compliance.
  • Actively engage in relevant forums (e.g., FMSO, FMSS, GMAO).
  • Ensure alignment and compliance with all applicable policies, laws, regulations, and guidelines.
  • Ensure appropriate documentation processes are employed.
  • Analyze data on MSL activities to improve performance.
  • Manage and monitor team finance and HR-related issues appropriately.
  • Identify and participate in process improvement initiatives.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Minimum 3 years of people leadership experience.
• Minimum 5 years of industry, clinical, and/or medical experience.
• Authorization to work in the United States on a full-time basis (Lilly will not sponsor work authorization or visas for this role).

Qualifications

• Master’s in health sciences (e.g., RN, RPh, PA, NP) or advanced degree (e.g., PharmD, M.D., Ph.D.) in a medically related field (preferred).
• Prior experience with scientific or field medical strategy, demonstrating strong business acumen and strategic thinking.
• Demonstrated learning agility for acquiring scientific and technical knowledge.
• Ability to provide effective feedback on verbal and written technical communications and documentation.
• Leadership ability to achieve results through people.
• Experience motivating people, creating positive team experiences, and coaching/developing technical personnel.
• Ability to partner, influence, and work successfully within and across business units, functions, and leadership levels.
• Strong interpersonal skills and experience building professional relationships and networking.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, adapt to new learning, and implement real-time solutions.
• Demonstrated decision-making ability to problem-solve and develop creative solutions.

Additional Information

Role requires up to 50-75% travel. This is a field-based U.S. role, with preference for residence in the central region of the U.S.

Pay

The anticipated wage for this position is $195,000 - $314,600. Full-time equivalent employees are also eligible for a company bonus (depending on company and individual performance).

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefit program, including eligibility to participate in a company-sponsored 401(k) and 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.
• Well-being benefits (e.g., employee assistance program, fitness benefits, and employee clubs and activities).