Associate Director - Catalyze360 External Partnering

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. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, our over 50,000 employees around the globe take on complex challenges to discover and deliver life-changing medicines, strengthen how health is understood and managed, and support the communities we serve. This is hard, urgent, selfless work—but it’s work worth doing. If you’re driven by purpose and ready to bring your best to work that truly matters for patients, we invite you to join us. 

Overview

Lilly Catalyze360 is Lilly's comprehensive approach to enabling the early-stage biotech ecosystem by democratizing access to infrastructure, expertise, and resources. Through its interconnected pillars—Lilly Ventures, Lilly Gateway Labs, Lilly ExploR&D, and Lilly TuneLabs—Catalyze360 strategically removes barriers that traditionally block bold science from becoming life-changing medicines, providing biotechs with flexible combinations of capital, physical lab space, R&D capabilities, AI/ML tools, and decades of enterprise learning.

Lilly ExploR&D is a team of drug discovery and development experts who partner with biotechs from discovery through clinical proof-of-concept, putting Lilly's industry-leading capabilities behind their missions. We provide flexible support—from strategic consulting to full program execution—making it faster, easier, and more capital-efficient for innovators to transform bold science into life-changing medicines

Job Summary

We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Associate Director in the External Partnering team to expand and strengthen early company outreach across the biotechnology ecosystem. This strategic role will focus on identifying high-potential emerging companies, building trusted relationships with founders and scientific leaders, and shaping engagements that help early-stage innovators accelerate bold science toward value-creating milestones and to medicines for patients. The ideal candidate will have strong drug discovery and development knowledge, business acumen, and demonstrated ecosystem connectivity.

Key Responsibilities

• Expand Catalyze360 collaborations by finding, cultivating, and converting opportunities with early-stage biotechnology companies

• Develop and execute outreach strategies that increase awareness of ExploR&D and TuneLab capabilities among founders, venture-backed companies, incubators, accelerators, and emerging biotech networks

• Build and maintain a robust pipeline of qualified early-company prospects through proactive outreach, ecosystem mapping, venture and incubator relationships, industry events, and referrals across Catalyze360

• Lead early conversations with prospective companies to understand scientific objectives, development constraints, resource gaps, and opportunities for Catalyze360 solutions

• Shape customized engagements that connect company needs with ExploR&D expertise and digital solutions

• Collaborate closely with Lilly Ventures, Lilly Gateway Labs, Lilly TuneLab, scientific SMEs, and operational teams to deliver coordinated support for promising companies in the early innovation ecosystem

• Monitor biotech ecosystem trends, founder needs, funding dynamics, and emerging areas of science to identify new outreach opportunities and inform Catalyze360 strategy

• Represent Catalyze360 at industry conferences, founder forums, incubator events, and networking venues to build visibility and generate high-quality consulting leads

• Provide regular pipeline updates, outreach metrics, company intelligence, and market insights to leadership to guide prioritization and resourcing

Basic Qualifications/Requirements

Education:

• Advanced degree (MS, PhD, PharmD) required in a relevant scientific field (Biology, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, or related discipline)

Experience:

• 7+ years of progressive experience in client services, consultative business development, external innovation, biotech partnering, venture ecosystem engagement, pharmaceutical services, or related roles

• 3+ years of experience working with early-stage biotech companies, founders, venture-backed organizations, incubators, accelerators, or external innovation networks

• 3+ years of hands-on knowledge of drug discovery and development, including the key scientific, translational, operational, and financing challenges faced by early companies

Additional Skills/Preferences

• MBA or equivalent is preferred

• Proven track record of building external relationships, generating qualified opportunities, and growing consultative service offerings

• Strong scientific acumen with ability to understand early-stage programs, diagnose strategic needs, and translate complex technical concepts into clear engagement opportunities

• Excellent relationship-building skills with ability to establish trust and credibility with founders, venture investors, C-level executives, and scientific leaders

• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills

• Strategic thinking with ability to identify companies and engagement models aligned with ExploR&D and Catalyze360 priorities

• Self-motivated with ability to work independently, manage multiple company conversations, and advance opportunities in a fast-paced environment

• Proficiency with CRM systems, pipeline management, outreach tracking, and business development analytics tools

• Demonstrated success in consultative selling, needs assessment, and complex solution development

• Established network within the U.S. biotechnology, venture, incubator, accelerator, or founder ecosystem

• Experience working with early-stage biotech companies and understanding of their unique scientific, operational, and capital-efficiency challenges

• Familiarity with consulting, fee-for-service, sponsored research, milestone-based, or other flexible engagement structures

Additional Information

• Remote option may be available based on business needs

• Travel: Up to 30% travel required for client meetings, conferences, and site visits

• Lilly may provide support for or sponsor work authorization or visas for this role for internal applicants only

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 (AMECA), Black Employees at Lilly (BE@Lilly), Chinese Culture Network (CCN), EnAble, Evolve, Lilly Indian Network (LIN), Organization of Latinx at Lilly (OLA), Pride (LGBTQ+ Allies), Veterans Leadership Network (VLN) and Women’s Initiative for Leading at Lilly (WILL).

Actual compensation will depend on a candidate’s education, experience, skills, and geographic location.  The anticipated wage for this position is

$150,000 - $220,000

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.

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