Director - T cell strategy, Novel Platforms

Position Summary

This role leads Lilly's biology strategy for novel platform projects across immunology diseases, with a focus on co-creating and implementing next-generation therapeutic platforms that can be applied across multiple high-value targets and disease-relevant mechanisms. The leader will help shape internal platform efforts from early design through biological validation, ensuring that new technologies are not only scientifically compelling in concept, but also meaningfully effective in target-relevant systems.

This person will bring deep expertise in autoimmune and broader immunology disease biology, along with experience helping build and implement new platform technologies to enable novel therapeutics. The role requires strong scientific and strategic judgment, including the ability to define the key experiments needed to validate both the platform itself and its application across different targets. This leader will own broader biological validation, particularly where in vivo data are needed to determine whether a platform can deliver meaningful therapeutic potential.

Success in this role will depend on strong leadership and close cross-functional partnership, particularly with molecule maker colleagues. The platform will be co-created across disciplines, with molecule maker partners generating test articles and contributing limited biology validation, such as in vitro characterization, while this role owns broader biological validation and interpretation of platform performance in more integrated systems. The role also requires decisive judgment about where Lilly should place focused bets, using data to determine which newer technologies are worth advancing. In addition to leading internal efforts, this leader will evaluate and monitor external programs, technologies, and emerging approaches to inform adoption, competitive positioning, and potential partnership opportunities.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead biology strategy for novel platform-related projects across immunology diseases to enable next-generation therapeutics through emerging modalities and technologies
• Build the biological strategy by integrating disease biology, target context, platform requirements, and the experimental evidence needed to validate platform potential
• Define strategic priorities, key decision points, and focus areas for platform co-creation, target implementation, and broader internal and external opportunities
• Evaluate external programs, technologies, and partnership opportunities to inform adoption, differentiation, and decisions about where Lilly should place focused platform bets
• Align cross-functional stakeholders, including molecule maker colleagues and other partners, around platform design, biological validation plans, and the path forward across multiple targets
• Lead biological validation of the platform and its application to selected targets, including integrated in vivo studies that extend beyond limited in vitro characterization
• Drive disciplined execution through clear scientific judgment, go/no-go recommendations, and a focused team environment that supports rigor, urgency, collaboration, and data-driven decision-making

Basic Qualifications

PhD in immunology, pharmacology, cell biology, bioengineering, or a related scientific discipline with 5-10 years of experience.

Additional Preferences

• Significant experience in autoimmune disease research and drug discovery
• Experience helping build, co-create, and implement new platform technologies to support development of novel therapeutics
• Demonstrated ability to design and interpret key biology experiments that validate platform performance and support go/no-go recommendations
• Strong experience with in vivo biological validation in target-relevant settings
• Demonstrated direct people management experience leading internal, lab-facing scientists in a research environment
• Track record of scientific leadership in a matrixed research organization
• Experience working cross-functionally to advance complex therapeutic or platform strategies
• Experience assessing external science, competitive programs, or partnering opportunities
• Strong and effective communication skills, with the ability to translate complex science into clear strategic direction
• Demonstrated ability to connect platform innovation to therapeutic and portfolio strategy
• Strong judgment in prioritizing opportunities in areas with rapid scientific and competitive movement
• Ability to make decisive platform and portfolio calls in areas of high uncertainty and high opportunity
• Comfort working at the interface of technology creation, biological validation, and target application
• Ability to lead through influence across functions and levels
• High sense of ownership, pace, and accountability