Sr. Principal Associate – Environmental – Global HSE

Eli Lilly and Company • Us, IN

14h • Hybrid

About The Position

The Global Waste Management role provides strategic and technical waste management expertise within Global HSE, supporting global manufacturing, research, and office operations. The position advances company standards and long-term strategies for waste compliance, waste minimization, resource recovery, and remediation oversight, while translating emerging regulatory and industry developments into practical, risk-based global solutions that support evolving business and organizational needs. The role provides senior-level expertise for complex and high-risk waste management issues and contributes to enterprise policy, capital planning, and long-term environmental risk reduction through technical judgment, governance, and cross-functional leadership.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a related technical discipline
• 10+ years of progressive experience in waste management, environmental compliance, and related risk management in complex regulated environments.
• Deep expertise in hazardous and non-hazardous waste regulations, including RCRA, EPA, TSCA, HMR/DOT, and applicable international requirements.
• Strong working knowledge of remediation and corrective action processes, including CERCLA, state voluntary cleanup programs, or equivalent international frameworks.
• Demonstrated ability to influence senior leaders and cross-functional stakeholders through technical credibility, sound judgment, and collaboration.
• Experience using data, metrics, and digital tools to assess performance, communicate risk, and support environmental decision-making.
• Demonstrated success evaluating complex environmental risks and developing pragmatic, business-aligned solutions for ambiguous or high-impact issues, with judgment suited to enterprise-level decision-making.
• Demonstrated ability to build credibility, align diverse stakeholders, and deliver results across a global, multi-site organization.
• 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

• Experience in pharmaceutical, chemical, or another highly regulated industry, including site-based operational experience.
• Recognized expertise in waste treatment technologies, incineration, vendor strategy, and long-term liability and risk reduction.
• Advanced understanding of waste minimization, circularity, recycling, and resource recovery concepts.
• Experience establishing standards, governance, or enterprise-wide waste management programs in a global, multi-site organization.
• Experience engaging with regulatory agencies, industry associations, and third-party environmental service providers.
• Advanced ability to translate technical and regulatory complexity into clear recommendations for diverse audiences, including senior leadership.

Responsibilities

• Define and advance global waste management strategies, programs, requirements, and standards aligned with Lilly's HSE priorities, sustainability commitments, and evolving business needs.
• Provide advanced technical expertise on waste handling, storage, treatment, disposal, and transportation across global manufacturing, research, and office operations, including support for complex, high-risk, and novel issues.
• Drive enterprise-wide waste minimization and resource recovery strategies by identifying opportunities to reduce waste generation at the source and increase recycling, reuse, and recovery rates.
• Establish and evolve global waste management data, tools, and metrics to track performance, benchmark progress, and inform decision-making.
• Anticipate and interpret evolving regulations, industry standards, and best practices related to waste management, translating them into actionable internal requirements and guidance.
• Advance governance frameworks and compliance expectations to promote consistent, risk-based waste management practices across Lilly sites and operations.
• Partner with site and functional HSE teams, as well as other internal experts, to strengthen capability by providing consultation on complex, high-risk, or novel waste management issues.
• Provide technical leadership for Lilly's legacy remediation obligations and related external engagements, with responsibilities that may evolve based on business priorities, team capabilities, and portfolio needs.
• Influence Engineering, Manufacturing, Procurement, Sustainability, Legal, and other functions to integrate waste management considerations into business decisions, capital projects, and operations, consistent with enterprise priorities.
• Provide waste and remediation expertise for environmental due diligence related to mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, and site closures.
• Provide guidance for global waste management audits, assessments, and inspections to evaluate compliance, identify systemic risk, and drive sustainable improvement.
• Develop technical guidance, training, and communications that strengthen organizational capability and execution of waste management best practices.
• Promote a culture of long-term risk reduction through sound waste treatment and disposal strategies, vendor qualification, and ongoing performance oversight of waste service providers.
• Represent Lilly, as appropriate, in external industry groups, regulatory forums, and trade associations related to waste management strategy, treatment technologies, and emerging regulatory developments in alignment with business needs and team responsibilities.

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