Senior Director, Emerging + Portfolio Scientific Communications

Lilly • Indianapolis, IN

2d • $154,500 - $226,600 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Director, Emerging + Portfolio Scientific Communications leads two connected areas of work: building the communications strategy for Lilly's next-generation science platforms and helping to tell the stories that define how Lilly's science is understood at the highest levels. On the emerging science side, this role owns the narrative for Lilly's genetic medicines (siRNA, gene therapies, in vivo genome editing), novel modalities, platforms, new focus areas and white-space scientific exploration. This is category-creation work: architecting how the world understands Lilly's emerging science capabilities, not as a pipeline segment, but as a defining feature of the company's identity. On the portfolio storytelling side, this role partners with the AVP, Scientific Innovations Communications, Chief Scientific Officer, BU Leaders, and LRL Leadership Team to develop the speeches, presentations, and storytelling modules that travel across the enterprise and shape how Lilly's early and current scientific portfolios are perceived externally. This is not a design execution role. Design and creative production resources will come through partnership with the Global Comms Strategy, Innovation and Operations team. This is a strategic communications leader who is passionate about science and thrives in shaping how it is presented to the world, ensuring that every high-stakes external engagement reflects both scientific rigor and narrative clarity. Reporting to the AVP, Scientific Innovation Communications, this leader serves as a critical integrator across the Scientific Innovation Communications function. The role requires a rare communicator who combines deep scientific fluency with the strategic instinct to build platform-level narratives and the editorial judgment to shape how Lilly’s senior leaders present the science externally.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in communications, science, public relations, or related field
• 10+ years of communications experience in pharmaceutical, biotech, or healthcare environments
• Qualified applicants must be authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. Lilly will not provide support for or sponsor work authorization or visas for this role, including but not limited to F-1 CPT, F-1 OPT, F-1 STEM OPT, J-1, H-1B, TN, O-1, E-3, H-1B1, or L-1.

Nice To Haves

• Demonstrated expertise in emerging science, genetic medicines, new modalities, and other related communications
• Experience developing executive presentations, speeches, and narrative frameworks for senior R&D or C-suite leaders
• Proven experience navigating high-stakes communications in emerging or novel therapeutic spaces
• Experience providing strategic counsel to senior R&D executives
• Deep understanding of the scientific landscape
• Exceptional ability to translate highly complex scientific concepts into compelling narratives for diverse audiences
• Proven record of building platform-level or category-creation narratives, not just asset-specific messaging
• Strong editorial judgment and the ability to shape how science is presented at the executive level, from narrative arc to final content
• Experience developing reusable storytelling frameworks and modules for enterprise-wide use
• Familiarity with the evolving regulatory, investor, and payer perspectives on genetic and regenerative medicines, infectious diseases, oncology and other interesting scientific topics
• Strong media relations skills, particularly with science and biotech journalists
• Proactive, anticipatory attitude capable of building narratives years ahead of late-stage readouts
• Content with ambiguity and the rigor to communicate emerging science responsibly without overcommitting on timelines
• Strong executive presence and credibility across R&D, commercial, and corporate collaborator audiences

Responsibilities

• Help to develop the overarching communications strategy for Lilly's emerging science portfolio. Build platform-level narratives (e.g., 'genetic medicines,' platform/new modalities,' infectious disease,’ etc.) that establish Lilly's scientific leadership independent of any single asset.
• Support the development of executive speeches, presentations, and storytelling modules for the Chief Scientific Officer, BU Leaders, and LRL Leadership Team. Partner with the Global Comms Strategy, Innovation and Operations team for design and creative production.
• Develop reusable storytelling modules that travel across the enterprise, equipping leaders and communicators across Global Communications with the building blocks to tell Lilly's science story consistently and compellingly. Support storytelling for LRL and R&D achievements, building narrative modules that can be adapted for media, scientific, and other external audiences.
• Drive communications strategy for emerging science at key scientific forums. Develop early-stage narrative to build awareness and credibility.
• Monitor the competitive landscape across new areas of our scientific interest and focus. Develop proactive positioning and messaging frameworks that define the category on Lilly's terms.
• Develop media strategy for emerging science landmarks and platform stories. Build relationships with journalists covering genetic medicines, biotech innovation, and the future of drug development.
• Work closely with the Global Data Storytelling Communications and Global Consumer Science Communications pillars to ensure emerging science narratives and executive storytelling are grounded in the latest data and aligned with consumer-facing narrative strategy.
• Lead and develop the Associate Director, Emerging + Portfolio Science, the cross-pillar Scientific Innovations Manager (P1-P3) and Associate Director, LRL Internal Communications. Manage agency partners and external resources. Supply to the talent pipeline for the broader Scientific Innovation Communications team.

Benefits

• company bonus (depending, in part, on company and individual performance)
• company-sponsored 401(k)
• pension
• vacation benefits
• 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
• 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: Senior