Associate Vice President - Architecture4Insight, Data Foundry

Lilly • Indianapolis, IN

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About The Position

At Lilly, we unite caring with discovery to make life better for people around the world. We are a global healthcare leader headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. Our employees around the world work to discover and bring life-changing medicines to those who need them, improve the understanding and management of disease, and give back to our communities through philanthropy and volunteerism. We give our best effort to our work, and we put people first. We’re looking for people who are determined to make life better for people around the world.
Position: Associate Vice President of Architecture4Insight, Data Foundry
Reports to: Head of Data Foundry, Discovery Technology and Platforms, LSMD
Overview:
At Lilly, we serve an extraordinary purpose. We make a difference for people around the globe by discovering, developing and delivering medicines that help them live longer, healthier, more active lives. Not only do we deliver breakthrough medications, but you also can count on us to develop creative solutions to support communities through philanthropy and volunteerism.
Lilly Small Molecule Discovery is an organization purpose-built to create molecules that make life better for people. We focus on using cutting edge science to unlock new approaches that can treat people suffering from diseases with poor treatment options. We continually challenge ourselves to deliver molecules that can provide breakthrough efficacy with the highest possible safety margins. We are dedicated to optimizing our mindset, technology, and processes for faster, more nimble execution. Our success is built on a culture that empowers innovative problem solving through open collaboration and individual accountability.
Discovery Technology and Platforms is a newly established function within this organization. Its mission is to accelerate molecule discovery by building highly optimized foundational platforms, streamlining lab operations through advanced technologies and data connectivity, and intentionally investing in novel technologies and capabilities.
About Data Foundry:
Data Foundry is a multidisciplinary team dedicated to enabling and accelerating molecule discovery through scalable and reproducible data generation, fueled by advanced scientific computing, informatics, and automation solutions. Data Foundry operates through four integrated pillars: Architecture4Insight (data infrastructure and scientific software), Methods4Insight (analytical and computational methods), Automation & Scale4Insight (lab automation and agentic workflows), and Preparedness4Insight (data governance and readiness). Together, these pillars empower every Lilly scientist to make optimal decisions by providing seamless access to data, insights, and AI-driven capabilities at scale.
Position Summary:
The AVP of Architecture4Insight will lead the data architecture and scientific software infrastructure pillar within Data Foundry, directing a team of data architects, data engineers, and scientific software developers. This leader will build the foundational systems that enable AI-native molecule discovery for both human scientists and autonomous AI agents.
This role combines strategic vision with hands-on technical leadership. You will own the enterprise data architecture strategy for small molecule discovery—including ontologies, schema design, APIs, metadata frameworks, FAIR-compliant data infrastructure, and data capture workflows—while working closely with all Data Foundry pillars to enable their success. You will partner with Methods4Insight to ensure data and software systems support cutting-edge analytical methods, with Automation & Scale4Insight to integrate real-time data capture from laboratory automation, and with Preparedness4Insight to embed data governance and quality standards into systems by design.
The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in data architecture and governance, proven success building enterprise data platforms in pharma/biotech, and the ability to translate complex scientific needs into scalable technical solutions.

Requirements

• Bachelor degree in Computer Science, Bioinformatics, Data Science, Biomedical Engineering, or related STEM field
• 15+ years of progressive experience in data architecture, scientific software development, or research informatics, with significant pharma/biotech industry experience.

Nice To Haves

• Experience deploying AI/ML solutions or supporting AI agent workflows in a discovery or research setting.
• Experience building or implementing LIMS, ELN, or enterprise data ecosystems in biotech/pharma.
• Demonstrated success leading large, multidisciplinary teams in a matrixed, global organization.
• Deep expertise in data modeling, data governance frameworks, FAIR principles, metadata management, and modern data integration patterns.
• Proven ability to translate scientific needs into data and informatics strategies.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills across scientific, technical, and executive stakeholders.
• Track record of driving innovation in data infrastructure and enabling new scientific capabilities.
• Strategic thinking with demonstrated ability to balance long-term architecture vision with pragmatic, iterative delivery.
• Passion for mentoring and empowering teams in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Architecture4Insight team, including data architects, data engineers, scientific software developers, and data integration specialists.
• Define and implement the enterprise data architecture strategy for small molecule discovery, ensuring data is FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) and AI/ML-ready.
• Establish and own critical architectural components: ontologies, schema design, metadata frameworks, controlled vocabularies, and data models for chemical, biological, and automation-generated data.
• Lead strategy for evolving data capture systems (LIMS, ELNs, instrumentation integration) to support AI-native discovery workflows with real-time, machine-actionable data.
• Lead a scientific software engineering team that rapidly prototypes custom applications, workflow tools, and interfaces to support discovery scientists’ evolving needs.
• Collaborate closely with Methods4Insight, Automation & Scale4Insight, and Preparedness4Insight to ensure Architecture4Insight serves as the enabling foundation across all Data Foundry pillars.
• Establish and maintain a clear operating model with Tech@Lilly defining roles, responsibilities, and handoff criteria for transitioning prototypes to production-grade enterprise systems.
• Partner with the Frontier AI team to ensure data infrastructure and APIs robustly support autonomous agent workflows and laboratory automation control.
• Champion a culture of data quality, integrity, and continuous improvement across all systems and workflows.
• Build and develop a world-class team, fostering innovation, technical excellence, and career development.

Benefits

• 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).

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive