Scientific Director — Incretin & Peptide Process Chemistry

Position Summary

An exciting opportunity is available for a skilled and experienced scientist with expertise in synthetic process chemistry to join SMDD's incretin and peptide process chemistry team at Eli Lilly and Company. You will be part of a dynamic, cross-functional department supporting a highly productive peptide portfolio, spanning through Commercial phase, at the forefront of sustainable peptide development and commercialization.

Our core commercial strategy centers on traditional Liquid Phase Peptide Synthesis (LPPS) — applying small molecule-inspired fragment condensation chemistry to manufacture complex peptides like those found in Mounjaro® and Zepbound® at global scale. In this role, you will lead peptide commercialization projects built on this proven platform, championing greener process design at every stage. You will work closely with a growing team of chemists, analysts, and engineers to design synthetic routes, optimize condensation chemistry, and set a new standard for responsible peptide manufacturing.

This is primarily a scientific leadership role, with the expectation that the successful candidate will periodically engage at the bench to guide, troubleshoot, and mentor their team. Technology developed in this role will feed directly into Lilly's Medicines Foundry, a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility coming online in Lebanon, Indiana within the next two years.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a scientific leader providing technical direction on LPPS and condensation chemistry development, and leading and mentoring a team of peptide chemists across commercial and pipeline programs.
• Lead internal technology development and coordinate the transfer of early-phase processes to Lilly's Medicines Foundry (Lebanon, Indiana).
• For late-phase programs, collaborate with Lilly's internal and external Manufacturing groups to transfer processes for validation at internal facilities or external CMO partners.
• Educate and guide CMO partners in best practices for greener peptide development and manufacture.
• Engage with Lilly's Development and Manufacturing organizations to drive continuous improvement in existing scientific processes.
• Implement green chemistry and engineering solutions across all stages of process development, from solvent selection and reagent optimization to PMI benchmarking, and publication of sustainability innovations.
• Present research findings at internal forums and external conferences; publish in high-quality, peer-reviewed journals.
• Communicate technical and business-related implications of your work effectively to both scientific and non-scientific audiences.

Basic Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Chemistry with 7+ years of pharmaceutical industry experience in peptide or synthetic process chemistry; or Ph.D. in Chemistry with 15+ years of combined pharmaceutical industry and academia experience; or M.S. with 15+ years of equivalent industry experience in peptide or synthetic process chemistry.
• Demonstrated leadership in managing scientists and cross-functional project teams.
• Experience with solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS), liquid-phase peptide synthesis (LPPS), and/or hybrid peptide synthesis strategies at scale.
• Track record of external publication and presentation in the peptide or synthetic chemistry field.
• Strong communication skills, including the ability to present to both technical and business audiences.

Additional Preferences

• Experience with tech transfer of processes into manufacturing operations, including CMOs.
• Excellence in multiple modes of peptide synthesis, including hybrid SPPS/LPPS and Tag-Assisted Liquid Phase Peptide Chemistry (TA-LPPS).
• Experience with continuous flow chemistry, process intensification, or novel coupling reagent platforms.
• Familiarity with regulatory CMC requirements for peptide drug substances.
• Experience working with global CMO partners in Asia and/or Europe.
• Strong interpersonal skills and a collaborative working style.
• Demonstrated initiative, appropriate risk-taking, and ability to lead through ambiguity.
• Active participation in or awareness of professional societies and industry consortia relevant to pharmaceutical process chemistry and sustainability.