Associate Vice President, External Innovation – Immunology

Purpose

External Innovation is a critical growth lever for Lilly's portfolio strategy and long-term company success. The AVP, External Innovation, Immunology owns external innovation strategy across the full Immunology portfolio — covering all indications of interest within Immunology, plus accountability for whitespace and adjacency expansion in immunology-related areas. This role sets external innovation strategy with senior management, supervises and leads partnering projects end-to-end from opportunity identification through deal completion, ensures timely execution of the external innovation agenda for Immunology, and may originate new strategic areas for Lilly.

This role will be an active driver of the Immunology portfolio, and will be the single point of contact with Corporate Business Development (CBD), Business Unit, and other senior Lilly Research Labs leadership for Immunology External Innovation activities. This role also leads and develops the broader External Innovation team for Immunology.

Key Responsibilities

• Cover all indications of interest within Immunology, including accountability for whitespace and adjacency development in immunology-related areas. Infectious Disease is not in scope for this role.
• Own and develop therapeutic area (TA) external portfolio and innovation strategy for Immunology — originating new areas and interacting independently with senior management and a broad range of stakeholders to combine deep scientific knowledge with strategic insight.
• Own delivery of external innovation priorities and deals for Immunology.
• Stay at the forefront of external innovation and bring new approaches into Lilly.
• Help define and frame landscapes; build the investment thesis and necessary concept sheets, competitive frame, and go/no-go criteria from scratch.
• Identify and search external innovation and/or collaboration opportunities including but not limited to portfolios and platforms; identify partners and lead early assessment of opportunities and triage.
• Lead and be responsible for initial technical evaluations, including leveraging TA-specific and cross-functional expertise where appropriate.
• Own in-depth scientific due diligence for Immunology to assess scientific, technical, and business judgment and identify key opportunities and risks; resolve conflicts and align stakeholders.
• Consolidate assessment and feedback into clear recommendations, prepare management decks, and collaborate with Corporate Business Development and the Due Diligence team on evolution of deal structure and progression to close.
• Apply strong business acumen across research and development, portfolio strategy, and commercialization to build organizational conviction behind priority opportunities.
• Translate the scientific and strategic thesis into an initial deal construct — including structure, scope, and value rationale — and lead early commercial conversations with partners.
• Maintain deep scientific and competitive knowledge across internal portfolio projects, external opportunities, and emerging assets — spanning discovery through clinical development and platforms — and represent Lilly's strategic and external innovation priorities externally.
• Represent external innovation for Immunology in relevant lead team meetings; maintain a forum to discuss external innovation priorities and tactics with TA and CBD/EI stakeholders.
• Lead the entire External Innovation team for Immunology — supervising, coaching, and developing team members in both professional and personal growth.

Basic Requirements

• Bachelor's and/or higher degree in a relevant area of Science and/or healthcare.
• 8+ years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, biotech, or ventures, including 5+ years of experience in external innovation across multiple areas.
• 2+ years supervisory experience is required.
• Proven track record of successfully leading a high-performing team.
• Strong scientific background in the area of interest, with a track record of accomplishments in drug discovery or development; understanding of unmet need, target landscape, emerging technologies, competition, and portfolio trends.

Additional Skills/Preferences

• Ph.D. or equivalent in a relevant area of science is highly preferred.
• MBA degree is a plus.
• Strong understanding of the strategic and financial considerations underlying deal priorities and partner considerations; working knowledge of a wide variety of deal structures.
• Proven ability to define and develop new strategic areas, using scientific insight and the external environment as guidance.
• Proven track record of leading and driving high-value deals and the respective transaction teams across a range of deal structures and external partners.
• Strong business acumen across drug development, portfolio strategy and commercialization.
• Ability to drive deals in a matrix environment, partnering effectively with colleagues across science, business, finance, legal, and Corporate Business Development.
• High ability in managing stakeholders across levels and functions and high influence on people and organization.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to set strategy and progress a portfolio of deals with minimal guidance.
• Experience in new company creation, venture capital interactions, healthcare consulting, or spinout management.
• Experience and knowledge in Immunology and other relevant areas.

Additional Information

Travel: 30% - 50%, including OUS.