Technical Product Lead
About the role
Lilly’s product commercialization spans a growing global manufacturing network, dozens of specialized functions, and an expanding portfolio of transformative medicines. The gap: no single leader owns the full picture.
The Product Leader fills that gap. You are the single point of accountability for a product’s entire commercialization lifecycle — from post-Phase 2 through launch and beyond. You own the manufacturing CMC strategy, lead the Product Core Team, collaborate with development and serve as the go-to interface for senior executives who need clarity, not noise.
Responsibilities
Own the Manufacturing CMC Commercialization Strategy across Development, Manufacturing, and the Business Units.
Lead the Product Core Team and oversee its technical execution, ensuring clear ownership, milestone accountability, and proactive risk management.
Drive alignment of launch presentation and commercial image strategy across relevant functional and affiliate stakeholders.
Ensure gate deliverables are clearly defined, plans are in place, and execution is on track — proactively identifying and resolving gaps.
Serve as the accountable representative for the product at all Governance and Oversight Forums, providing clear, confident updates on progress, risks, and decisions required.
Act as the primary interface for senior executives seeking visibility into commercialization status — translating technical complexity into concise, actionable insight.
Ensure escalations are surfaced proactively and resolved with appropriate speed and rigor.
Ensure sustained alignment across Development, Manufacturing, and Business Unit stakeholders throughout the product’s lifecycle, including global manufacturing site teams and CMC Regulatory.
Influence without authority across a complex, matrixed organization — building trust, resolving conflict, and driving decisions through collaboration rather than directive.
Partner closely with Development and CMC Regulatory on submission strategy, ensuring the manufacturing program supports regulatory timelines and requirements.
Lead Post-Launch Technical Agenda (PLTA) strategy for assigned products, influencing pre-submission deliverables and lifecycle management planning.
Ensure the product’s long-term commercial and technical sustainability by driving proactive planning for process improvements, line extensions, and continuous manufacturing optimization.
Qualifications
Education: Advanced engineering, scientific degree (M.S., Ph.D., or MBA with strong technical foundation) required.
Experience: Minimum 10 years of progressive pharmaceutical industry experience, with meaningful exposure to development, manufacturing, commercialization, and/or technical program leadership.
Demonstrated experience leading or significantly contributing to cross-functional programs through key development and commercialization milestones (e.g., tech transfer, process validation, regulatory submission readiness, product launch).
Proven ability to influence and lead without direct authority across complex, matrixed organizations.
Track record of operating effectively at the senior leadership level — communicating with confidence, handling ambiguity, and making high-quality decisions under pressure.
Functional Background (one or more areas preferred): TS/MS, CMC development, Operations, Supply Chain, or Mfg.
Skills & Competencies
Strategic Leadership: Shapes long-range manufacturing CMC commercialization strategy; translates vision into execution.
Influence Without Authority: Drives alignment and decisions across powerful, matrixed stakeholders without formal reporting relationships.
Executive Communication: Distills complex technical and operational information into clear, confident narratives for senior audiences.
Negotiation & Conflict Resolution: Balances competing functional and affiliate priorities with fairness, speed, and strategic judgment.
Commercial Acumen: Understands the business implications of manufacturing decisions — including supply risk, launch readiness, and lifecycle value.
Risk Management: Proactively identifies, surfaces, and resolves program risks before they become schedule or quality issues.
Cross-Cultural & Global Collaboration: Effective working across global manufacturing sites, development organizations, and business units with varying priorities.
Entrepreneurial Mindset: Comfortable operating in an evolving role structure; builds credibility and process from the ground up.