Sr. Director - Central Estimating & Planning - GFD

Lilly • Indianapolis, IN

6d • $163,500 - $239,800 • Onsite

About The Position

The Sr. Director, Central Estimating & Planning sits within the Capital Portfolio Operations (PortOps) team in Global Facilities Delivery (GFD), part of Manufacturing & Quality, and reports to the AVP, Capital Portfolio Operations. The role owns the capital estimate from initial concept through project closeout for GFD’s capital portfolio of approximately $65 billion and establishes the estimating and planning strategy to deliver predictable, accurate cost outcomes. Scope includes basis of estimate and schedule, estimate and schedule validation, contingency and allowance setting, and benchmarking.

The role builds the Central Estimating & Planning function, including defining its structure and hiring plan, recruiting and onboarding estimators, and establishing operating processes and ways of working. It works across senior stakeholders, including Network AVPs, program directors, Finance, and GPCO, and influences decisions where it does not hold direct authority. Estimating strategy is aligned with the project controls framework and tools established by the Global Portfolio Controls Office (GPCO). The position is based in Indianapolis, Indiana, with 30% travel.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management, or a related field.
• 10+ years of experience in cost estimating on large capital projects, including estimating individual projects with a total installed cost greater than $1 billion.
• Experience managing a team with direct reports.
• Strong analytical and communication skills.
• Authorization to work in the United States on a full-time basis; Lilly will not support or sponsor work authorization or visas for this role.

Nice To Haves

• Experience estimating individual projects or programs with a total installed cost of $5 billion or greater.
• Demonstrated ability to influence decisions through others and manage multiple senior stakeholders with competing demands.
• Experience standing up or scaling an estimating or project controls function, including hiring and onboarding staff.
• Previous experience in pharmaceutical manufacturing or pharmaceutical capital project delivery.
• Proficiency in cost estimating and scheduling methods and tools, such as AACE methodology, Primavera P6, and Oracle Unifier.
• Certified Cost Professional (CCP), Certified Estimating Professional (CEP), or PMP certification.
• Ability to operate effectively within GMP-regulated pharmaceutical environments.

Responsibilities

• Own the capital estimate from initial concept through project closeout, maintaining estimate continuity across each project phase and funding gate.
• Establish and maintain the estimating and planning strategy for the capital portfolio, define targets for estimate accuracy and cost predictability, and report performance against those targets.
• Own the basis of estimate, estimate plan, and estimate validation across the capital portfolio.
• Own the basis of schedule, schedule design plan, and schedule validation across the capital portfolio.
• Own contingency and allowance setting (CSRA) for the capital portfolio.
• Validate cost and schedule changes escalated to the executive level.
• Benchmark estimates and schedules against industry and internal data.
• Build the Central Estimating & Planning function by defining the hiring plan and recruiting, hiring, and onboarding a team of estimators; plan for surge-capacity contract estimating support.
• Establish team structure, operating processes, and ways of working consistent with GPCO methodology and tools.
• Align estimating strategy and practice with the project controls framework and tools established by GPCO.
• Manage estimate and schedule positions with senior stakeholders who have competing priorities, including Network AVPs, program directors, and Finance, and defend those positions in governance forums (CPMO, PASC, and SteerCos).
• Engage subject matter experts from GPCO and other PortOps functions as needed to support estimate and schedule development.

Benefits

• Company bonus, depending in part on company and individual performance.
• Company-sponsored 401(k) participation eligibility.
• Pension.
• Vacation benefits.
• Medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug benefits eligibility.
• Flexible benefits, including 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, including an employee assistance program, fitness benefits, and employee clubs and activities.

What This Job Offers

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