Senior Director, Oncology Communications
Eli Lilly and Company
Summary
The Senior Director drives Lilly Oncology's above-brand strategy and execution, a core focus of the Oncology Communications team. This role will be actively shaping the Oncology story – both externally and internally – as this franchise continues to grow. This role requires strategic vision, scientific fluency, speed and agility. The Senior Director must be as comfortable working across the enterprise to launch a bold consumer campaign as they are managing a pipeline readout. Reporting to the AVP, Oncology Communications, this role will own the overall Oncology narrative, media and audience ecosystem, emerging data and congress storytelling and priority initiatives. This role leads external media strategy and engagement for approved and investigational Oncology assets, working in close partnership with disease area leads and across the full Communications team. This position requires a communicator who can flex across workstreams to actively contribute to the broader Oncology and Communications teams as priorities shift and evolve.
Job description
Key Objectives / Deliverables
- Oncology Narrative Strategy: Develop and bring to life overarching Oncology narrative with an audience-first, channel-optimized mindset. Lead creative, impactful above-product storytelling across portfolio and pipeline. Maintain pulse on Oncology landscape and competitive space to bring forward breakthrough communications strategies. Ensure enterprise connection and pull-through.
- Priority Above-Brand Initiatives: Develop and lead high-impact initiatives, including partnering across the enterprise and with Lilly Masterbrand, by bringing depth in Oncology together with a bold, consumer mindset.
- Oncology Media Relations and Issues Management: Own Global media strategy across portfolio, partnering with disease area leads and affiliates. Develop and nurture media relations with key media and influencers, across trade and top-tier outlets. Partner with enterprise media team to amplify Oncology news moments. Work with Issues & Crisis team to ensure communications readiness. Support and develop internal and external spokespeople.
- Congress and Data Communications: Own strategy for top-tier Congresses, as well as key data moments as needed, bringing best-in-class scientific storytelling to readouts and disclosures. Contribute and collaborate across broader organization, with a focus on best practices and bold approaches to how Lilly shows up at top-tier Oncology meetings.
- Digital and Channel Strategy: Own and optimize Oncology channel ecosystem and digital, LLM and social content strategy. Effectively partner cross-functionally across business and enterprise to amplify priority oncology narratives, build share of voice and thought leadership in channels that matter. Work with Intelligence and Analytics partners to measure and report impact.
- Oncology Internal and Executive Communications: Lead internal and executive communications strategy to keep employees connected to Oncology portfolio progress and priorities. Partner closely with Internal Communications team to reflect enterprise priorities across Oncology and drive share of voice for Oncology across the enterprise.
- Team and Cross-Functional Leadership: Operate as an active and flexible member of the Oncology Communications team and Global Corporate Communications team contributing to pipeline, internal, and enterprise projects as the workload demands. Partner closely with marketing, medical affairs, regulatory, legal, and investor relations teams to align communications with business objectives.
Basic Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree
- 10 years of communications experience in pharmaceutical, biotech, or healthcare environments
Additional Skills / Preferences
- Experience in the oncology space
- Experience with scientific or clinical data communications
- Demonstrated ability to translate complex scientific information into clear, compelling content for diverse audiences
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple workstreams and shift priorities rapidly
- Collaborative mindset with comfort operating across projects and functional boundaries
- Proactive, solutions-oriented approach
- Impeccable attention to detail
- Experience working in a matrixed organization with complex stakeholder dynamics
- Deep understanding of traditional and emerging communication approaches and channels, including digital and social media platforms
- Strong digital and social acumen, with experience developing content strategies for owned digital channels
- Experience developing portfolio-level communications narratives that connect across multiple products and programs
- Executive and leadership communications experience, including message development for senior leaders
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree
- 10 years of communications experience in pharmaceutical, biotech, or healthcare environments
- Experience in the oncology space
- Experience with scientific or clinical data communications
- Demonstrated ability to translate complex scientific information into clear, compelling content for diverse audiences
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple workstreams and shift priorities rapidly
- Collaborative mindset with comfort operating across projects and functional boundaries
- Proactive, solutions-oriented approach
- Impeccable attention to detail
- Experience working in a matrixed organization with complex stakeholder dynamics
- Deep understanding of traditional and emerging communication approaches and channels, including digital and social media platforms
- Strong digital and social acumen, with experience developing content strategies for owned digital channels
- Experience developing portfolio-level communications narratives that connect across multiple products and programs
- Executive and leadership communications experience, including message development for senior leaders
Benefits
- 401(k) Matching
- Pension
- Vacation Benefits
- Medical, Dental & Vision
- Prescription Drug Benefits
- Flexible Spending Accounts
- Life Insurance
- Death Benefits
- Employee Assistance Program
- Fitness Benefits
- Employee Clubs & Activities
- Company Bonus
Company overview
Eli Lilly and Company, commonly known as Lilly, is a leading American multinational pharmaceutical corporation headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. Founded in 1876 by Colonel Eli Lilly, the company has grown into one of the world's most valuable pharmaceutical enterprises, with operations in approximately 125 countries. Lilly specializes in developing and manufacturing innovative medicines across multiple therapeutic areas, including diabetes, oncology, neuroscience, immunology, and cardiometabolic diseases. The company is renowned for its groundbreaking work in insulin production, having been the first to mass-produce insulin and later developing the first commercially available insulin product in the U.S. Lilly's current portfolio includes blockbuster medications such as Mounjaro and Zepbound (tirzepatide) for diabetes and obesity, Trulicity (dulaglutide) for type 2 diabetes, Verzenio (abemaciclib) for breast cancer, and Taltz (ixekizumab) for autoimmune conditions. With approximately 47,000 employees worldwide, Lilly maintains a strong commitment to research and development, investing heavily in scientific innovation to address some of the world's most significant health challenges. The company operates with a mission to make life better for people around the world through the discovery and delivery of innovative medicines.