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Associate Director - External Engagement & Global Medical Affairs Thought Leader Center Of Excellence

3+ years
Not Disclosed
10 Nov. 17, 2025
Job Description
Job Type: Full Time Education: B.Sc/M.Sc/M.Pharma/B.Pharma/Life Sciences Skills: Causality Assessment, Clinical SAS Programming, Communication Skills, CPC Certified, GCP guidelines, ICD-10 CM Codes, CPT-Codes, HCPCS Codes, ICD-10 CM, CPT, HCPCS Coding, ICH guidelines, ICSR Case Processing, Interpersonal Skill, Labelling Assessment, MedDRA Coding, Medical Billing, Medical Coding, Medical Terminology, Narrative Writing, Research & Development, Technical Skill, Triage of ICSRs, WHO DD Coding

Associate Director – External Engagement & Global Medical Affairs Thought Leader Center of Excellence

Category: Medical
Job Type: Full-Time, Regular
Job ID: R-91346
Locations: (2 locations available)


About Lilly

Lilly is a global healthcare leader headquartered in Indianapolis. The company focuses on discovering life-changing medicines, improving disease management, and supporting communities through philanthropy and volunteerism. The culture prioritizes scientific excellence, patient outcomes, integrity, and people-first values.

Lilly’s mission depends on effective, compliant engagement with Thought Leaders (TLs), External Experts, and Healthcare Professionals (HCPs) globally.
To support this, the Thought Leader External Engagement (TLEE) Center of Excellence establishes global standards and best practices for compliant, impactful external engagement across:

  • Global Medical Affairs

  • Global Marketing

  • Clinical Development

  • Corporate Affairs

  • Health Outcomes

  • PRA (Patient & Real-World Evidence)


Role Purpose

The Associate Director leads enterprise-wide capability building for Thought Leader & External Engagement (TL/EE).
This includes compliance, process clarity, capability training, innovation, and cross-functional partnership to ensure high-impact, customer-centric engagement.


Key Responsibilities

1. Lead TL/External Engagement Capability Across the Enterprise

  • Serve as global subject matter expert for TL/EE processes, compliance, and platform utilization.

  • Provide onboarding, training, and train-the-trainer sessions for roles involved in external engagement.

  • Drive international consistency by creating and implementing TL/EE playbooks, process guidelines, and capability tools.

  • Build strong cross-functional relationships and lead assigned teams.

  • Lead capability innovation projects to improve operational efficiency and external impact.

  • Remove barriers and simplify ways of working so BU teams remain strategic and customer-focused.

  • Support TLEE needs across forums with training, content, and solutions.

  • Lead adoption of TLEE platforms and processes to enable accelerate, reach, and scale.

  • Work closely with Privacy, Legal, Ethics & Compliance on policy development and modifications.

  • Benchmark industry practices and share learnings across the organization.


2. Drive & Deliver Operational Excellence

  • Lead communications with diverse stakeholders regarding external engagement requirements and updates.

  • Design and support a global standardized approach for compliant TL/EE planning and execution.

  • Improve utilization of key TL/EE solutions (e.g., H1, TL Map through 2025, Dragonfly).

  • Assess data needs and influence reporting/analytics to measure engagement impact.

  • Ensure comprehensive onboarding for all EE roles enterprise-wide.

  • Enhance TL identification, planning, and tracking processes while reducing administrative burden.

  • Communicate legal, compliance, and privacy risks associated with contracted engagements.


Minimum Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree

  • Minimum 3 years pharmaceutical or medical device industry experience

  • Must be authorized to work in the U.S. (no visa sponsorship)


Preferred Qualifications

  • 5+ years in field-based TL activities and/or External Engagement

  • Experience in:

    • Business process documentation

    • Content development (training, SOPs, onboarding materials)

    • CRM systems and documentation platforms

    • Cross-functional coordination and IT/business interface

  • Strong learning agility & proactive problem-solving

  • Ability to negotiate and resolve complex technical issues

  • Experience leading change management

  • Understanding of drug development lifecycle

  • Ability to work across multiple time zones and cultures

  • Vendor/agency partnership experience

  • Indianapolis-based preferred (relocation offered)


Skills & Competencies

  • Strategic thinking

  • Compliance & ethical mindset

  • Cross-functional influence

  • Strong communication & interpersonal skills

  • Training and capability-building expertise

  • Process design and optimization

  • Stakeholder management

  • Adaptability and resilience


Compensation & Benefits

Expected salary range: $122,250 – $179,300

Additional benefits include:

  • Performance-based annual bonus

  • 401(k) + pension

  • Medical, dental, vision insurance

  • Prescription drug benefits

  • FSAs (healthcare & dependent care)

  • Life insurance

  • Paid time off & leave programs

  • Employee assistance programs

  • Fitness and wellness benefits

  • Employee clubs and activities


EEO Commitment

Lilly is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on age, race, gender, identity, disability, veteran status, or any legally protected characteristic.

Accommodations are available during the application process via the official request form.


Employee Resource Groups (ERGs)

Lilly offers inclusive ERGs, including:

  • Africa, Middle East, Central Asia Network

  • Black Employees at Lilly

  • Chinese Culture Network

  • Japanese ILN

  • Lilly India Network

  • OLA (Latinx)

  • PRIDE (LGBTQ+ Allies)

  • Veterans Leadership Network

  • WILL (Women’s Initiative)

  • enAble (Disability inclusion)