Executive Medical Director - Physician -Early Clinical Development, Immunology

Executive Medical Director, Early Clinical DevelopmentAt 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.We are seeking a high-impact physician scientist and emerging industry leader to join our Immunology team as Executive Medical Director, Early Clinical Development. This role is designed for a clinical translational leader ready to step into enterprise influence, bridging the critical gap between discovery science and clinical application, driving the development of transformational medicines for patients with autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.The successful candidate will serve as a strategic and scientific leader, connecting discovery scientists, translational/biomarker experts, early clinical physicians, clinical pharmacologists, and late-stage clinicians to craft compelling therapeutic hypotheses and efficiently test them in early clinical development with line of sight to full development and approval. This role requires strong matrix leadership, executive presence, and the ability to inspire high-performing teams, influencing cross-functional partners and advancing both internal and external portfolio opportunities to bring transformational treatments to patients with autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.This position is ideal for a proven industry Director/Sr Director seeking broader leadership scope, enterprise visibility, and the opportunity to help build a dynamic and growing Immunology organization at Lilly.Primary ResponsibilitiesCollaborate with discovery, translational medicine, and clinical teams to develop and refine therapeutic hypotheses for autoimmune and inflammatory diseasesParticipate in prioritization of target and modality selection, integrating scientific rigor with clinical feasibility, unmet needs, and commercial potential, with particular attention to transformational potential of proposed programsEvaluate and diligence external discovery and early clinical opportunities for potential partnerships or acquisitionsProvide scientific and clinical expertise to portfolio strategy to ensure a robust pipeline of transformational medicines in autoimmunity and inflammationAct as a visible strategic leader within the immunology portfolio, influencing direction, investment decisions, and development prioritiesClinical Development ExcellenceIn collaboration with stakeholders, design early clinical studies that efficiently test therapeutic hypothesesCollaborate with clinical pharmacology, biostatistics, regulatory affairs, operations, and other stakeholders to optimize study design and executionIntegrate translational endpoints and biomarker strategies to accelerate and maximize learning from early clinical studies and enable early decision-makingContribute to regulatory interactions, including pre-IND, IND submissions, interactions to ex-US health authorities, as well as regulatory strategy developmentMonitor patient safety and ensure compliance with GCP, FDA, ICH guidelines, and company policiesDrive innovative experimental medicine approaches and accelerate progression from first-in-human through proof-of-conceptCross-Functional Leadership & InfluenceServe as scientific and medical expert across multiple therapeutic programs simultaneouslyLead early clinical strategy in cross-functional teams through matrix influence, aligning diverse stakeholders around common objectivesFacilitate decision-making processes across discovery, development, and commercial functionsMentor and develop junior team members while building scientific capabilities across the organizationOperate as a culture-shaping leader who elevates performance, accountability, and collaboration across teamsExternal Partnerships & Scientific ExchangeEstablish and maintain relationships with key opinion leaders and scientific experts in autoimmunity and inflammationRepresent Lilly at scientific conferences, advisory boards, and industry forumsSupport business development activities through clinical scientific due diligenceAs appropriate, identify, evaluate, and execute strategic partnerships with CROs, biotech companies, academic institutions, and research organizations to enable the discovery and early development portfolio and strategyEnhance Lilly's external scientific presence as a thought partner and collaborator in immunology innovationRegulatory & Medical Affairs SupportPartner with regulatory colleagues on IND strategy, FDA interactions, and global development planningContribute medical expertise to regulatory submissions and agency communicationsSupport risk management planning and safety signal evaluationParticipate in data analysis, scientific publications, and medical communicationsHelp shape development strategy and regulatory positioning for early-stage immunology assetsMinimum QualificationsMedical Doctor or Doctor of Osteopathy. Must be board eligible or certified in Rheumatology, Dermatology, Gastroenterology, Allergy/Immunology, or related specialty or have completed the comparable level of post-medical school clinical training relevant to the country of hiring. US trained physicians must have achieved board eligibility or certification. Physicians trained outside the US who are not US board eligible or certified may be hired directly for employment in the US at the discretion of the Chief Medical Officer.Non-US trained physicians must have completed education and training at a medical school that meets the requirements of the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME).Preferred QualificationsMinimum 3–5+ years of pharmaceutical/biotechnology industry experience with progression to Director or Sr Director responsibilities in early clinical developmentPhD in Immunology, Molecular Biology, or related field strongly preferredDemonstrated experience in early-phase clinical trial design and executionStrong background in translational medicine and biomarker development or applicationTrack record of successful cross-functional collaboration and matrix leadershipDeep understanding of immunology, autoimmune disease pathophysiology, and current therapeutic landscapeExperience with novel immunomodulatory approaches (biologics, small molecules, cell therapies, genetic medicines)Knowledge of regulatory requirements for early clinical development (IND strategy, FDA interactions, global regulatory agencies)Familiarity with target identification/prioritization through causal human biology in areas of high unmet need, translational endpoints, biomarker strategies, precision medicine approaches, clinical pharmacology, and pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic modelingPrevious experience in autoimmune therapeutic areas (autoimmune, inflammatory, and allergic diseases within gastroenterology, rheumatology, dermatology, and respiratory specialties)Publication record in peer-reviewed journals demonstrating scientific leadershipExperience with business development, licensing, or partnership activitiesPrevious regulatory interactions and FDA or other health authority meeting experienceAdvanced degree or fellowship training in clinical research or pharmaceutical medicineExperience with innovative experimental medicine trial designs and adaptive study approachesDemonstrated ability to lead programs, influence strategy, and operate effectively in a fast-moving, high-visibility portfolio environmentKey CompetenciesScientific Leadership:Ability to synthesize complex scientific data and translate into actionable clinical strategiesStrategic thinking and hypothesis generation capabilitiesCritical evaluation of competitive landscape and market opportunitiesMatrix Leadership & Influence:Exceptional communication and interpersonal skillsDemonstrated ability to influence without authority and build consensus across diverse teamsStrong negotiation and conflict resolution capabilitiesCultural sensitivity and ability to work effectively in global environmentExecutive presence with the ability to engage senior stakeholdersExecution Excellence:Autonomous work style with strong project management capabilitiesResults-oriented mindset with focus on patient impact and business objectivesAdaptability and resilience in fast-paced, evolving environmentStrong analytical and problem-solving skillsExternal Engagement:Ability to build and maintain relationships with external scientific and clinical communityStrong presentation and public speaking capabilitiesProfessional network within autoimmune/inflammatory disease research communityCredibility