Associate Director - Clinical Development - Neuroscience

About Eli Lilly

Eli Lilly and Company is a global leader in healthcare, committed to improving lives worldwide through innovative medicines. Based in Indianapolis, Indiana, Lilly focuses on discovering and delivering transformative treatments while supporting communities through philanthropy and volunteerism.

The Cork location hosts a vibrant team of over 2000 employees from 60 nationalities, delivering excellence across multiple business services including Finance, IT, Medical, and Clinical Trials. The site at Little Island offers premium workspaces with flexible hybrid options, healthcare benefits including pension and life assurance, subsidized catering, an onsite gym, travel subsidies, and parking. They support career development through inhouse people development, educational assistance, and wellbeing initiatives under the ‘Live Your BEST Life’ program.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are central to Eli Lilly Cork’s culture, with focused pillars including EnAble (supporting people with disabilities), embRACE, LGBTQ+ & Ally, and the Gender Inclusion Network. The company promotes a disability confident culture and accessible environments.

Note: This opening is an 18-month fixed term role within the Neuroscience therapeutic area.

Role Overview

The Associate Director of Clinical Development leads and directs a team supporting clinical trials within the Clinical Development organization. The role is accountable for high performance team culture, delivering on strategy through cross-functional collaboration, and ensuring clinical trials meet operational and regulatory standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Collaborate with leadership and cross-functional teams to assess feasibility and resource needs aligned with clinical plans.
• Provide strategic direction to Clinical Trial Project Managers (CTPMs) to drive enrollment strategies and milestone achievement, escalating issues as necessary.
• Engage with Medical Sourcing, Procurement, and Team Management for sourcing decisions.
• Ensure clinical project planning databases are current and accurate.
• Align and manage team resources according to study priorities and regional participation.
• Manage workload distribution for study personnel based on portfolio demands and expertise.
• Facilitate team discussions to address unplanned demands and priorities.
• Recruit, retain, and develop top talent fostering a high-performance culture.
• Support problem-solving and decision-making across clinical functions.
• Participate in risk assessments and implement cross-functional risk management plans at the trial level.
• Ensure inspection readiness and oversee documentation of deviations and issues.
• Address compliance concerns promptly, involving appropriate personnel.
• Collaborate with training groups to maintain and develop curriculum and training programs for staff.
• Ensure team compliance with Good Clinical Practice (GCP), SOPs, and best practices.
• Evaluate capabilities of team leads and coach consultants and associates to proficiency.
• Monitor and enforce training completion for all team members.
• Drive continuous improvement by introducing new processes and sharing learnings across clinical functions.
• Encourage use of metrics to monitor clinical program progress and identify opportunities for enhancement.
• Lead reviews of new clinical trial processes and assess their impact on project goals.
• Facilitate resolution of clinical trial operational issues in partnership with cross-functional leaders.
• Engage in high-level vendor discussions as required.
• Manage performance including setting objectives, providing feedback, talent assessment, succession planning, and salary administration.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor's degree or university qualification in a scientific or health-related field preferred; advanced degree is favorable.
• At least 5 years of experience in clinical research with a comprehensive understanding of the clinical trial process.
• Demonstrated expertise in clinical trial development and knowledge of drug development processes and interdependencies across functions.
• Effective communication skills across organizational levels while maintaining confidentiality.
• Proven leadership and coaching capabilities in managing clinical teams.
• Strong interpersonal, teamwork, negotiation, and organizational skills.
• Experience managing diverse, virtual, and geographically distributed teams with cultural sensitivity.
• Prior supervisory and global clinical trial experience.
• Experience managing business plans and facilitating planning processes.

Additional Information

• Some travel may be required.

Eli Lilly is committed to equal employment opportunity and provides accommodations for applicants with disabilities during the hiring process. They maintain a non-discriminatory practice covering all protected statuses.