Associate Director - Global Leadership Development Strategic Business Partner

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, self‑less 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.

Role Purpose

The GLD Strategic Business Partner (SBP) serves as a trusted advisor to senior business leaders, HRBPs, and leadership teams within a designated business area. This role sits at the intersection of business strategy and leadership development, diagnosing capability gaps, crafting development priorities, and ensuring Global Leadership Development’s work is directly aligned to what the business needs to win. The SBP develops a deep understanding of the business and translates that insight into clear leadership development priorities. They partner closely with the Portfolio Lead and the broader GLD team to ensure the right experiences are delivered to the right leaders at the right moments.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Consulting & Business Partnership

Serve as the primary leadership development advisor to senior leaders and HRBP's operating as a trusted, embedded partner and integral member of the HR team. Diagnose leadership capability gaps through a deep understanding of the business area’s strategy, performance challenges, talent profile, and people agenda. Translate business needs into clear, prioritized development requirements, crafting the ask before solutions are developed. Influence and inform succession planning, talent reviews, organizational efficiency, and mentor culture as a credible thought partner. Represent the voice of the business back into Global Leadership Development, ensuring the Learning Architect, Portfolio Lead, and Learning Impact Strategist are designing and measuring against the right outcomes.

Leadership Development Delivery: Selective and Strategic

Facilitate high-stakes leadership experiences where the facilitator relationship is part of the intervention, including Lead Team conversations, transition support, and team efficiency sessions. Partner with the Portfolio Lead on the delivery of nomination‑based and transition programs. Operate selectively, employing external partners and vendors where appropriate, and reserving SBP involvement for moments where internal presence is irreplaceable. Contribute to GLD design and implementation efforts, ensuring new programs, tools, and platforms reflect the day‑to‑day realities of the leaders they support.

Insight Generation & Business Intelligence

Provide regular insights to HR and business leaders on leadership pipeline health, readiness, and capability gaps. Use leadership assessments, including 360s, psychometrics, and readiness tools, to inform individual and cohort development plans. Surface patterns and themes from the business area to inform Global Leadership Development portfolio decisions, design priorities, and measurement focus.

Collaborator Engagement & Ecosystem Navigation

Build and maintain relationships with global and regional HR teams, the Inclusion Office, and external development partners. Champion leadership development and coaching as drivers of culture, performance, and business outcomes. Collaborate across Global Leadership Development, partnering with the Portfolio Lead on program delivery, the Learning Architect on content needs, and the Learning Impact Strategist on measurement priorities.

Innovation & Continuous Evolution

Stay current on leadership development trends, digital learning, and AI‑enabled development approaches, including the practical application of generative AI in learning design and delivery. Pilot and champion innovative solutions that address the needs of the business area. Contribute to Global Leadership Development thought leadership and cross‑team knowledge sharing.

Basic Qualifications

Bachelor's degree Minimum 3 years experience in leadership development, talent management or OD experience and at least 5 years overall relevant experience. Qualified applicants must be authorized to work in the United States on a full‑time basis. Lilly will not provide support for or sponsor work authorization or visas for this role, including but not limited to F‑1 CPT, F‑1 OPT, F‑1 STEM OPT, J‑1, H‑1B, TN, O‑1, E‑3, H‑1B1, or L‑1 Preferences Master’s degree in Organizational Psychology, HR, Business. Coaching certification is a strong asset. Demonstrated experience operating as a strategic consultant to senior leaders, rather than primarily as a program facilitator or content developer. Consulting orientation: Leads with diagnosis before solution; asks sharper questions than most leaders have considered. Executive credibility: Operates confidently with VPs and SVPs; advises with insight, courage, and cultural fluency across geographies and levels. Business insight: Understands how the business works, where it is going, and what leadership capability is required to get there. Data fluency: Uses data and storytelling to surface insights and influence decisions. AI and digital learning proficiency: Proficient with modern development tools and platforms. Systems thinking: Sees how individual development connects to team performance, succession health, and organizational capability over time. Facilitation (when it counts): Brings craft and presence to critical leadership moments; does not default to facilitation as the primary contribution. Commitment to inclusion: Actively designs for equity in access, voice, and development opportunity. Language skills: Fluent in English; additional languages are a strong asset in a global role.

Additional Information

Flexible role in Indianapolis (on site the majority of the time) US working hours required, with flexibility to meet with global colleagues as needed outside of those hours Up to 30% business travel 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 ( 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 (View email address on click.appcast.io), 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 $127,500 - $187,000 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.

#WeAreLilly At Lilly we strive to ensure our employees are part of a team that cares about them and our shared purpose of making life better for those around the world. How do we do this? We continue to look for ways to include, innovate, accelerate and deliver while maintaining integrity, excellence and respect for people. We hope that you seek to join us on our journey as we create medicine and deliver improved outcomes for patients across the globe! #WeAreLilly