Associate Director, GQMLD Functions Learning Lead
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.
Job Position Overview:
The Global Manufacturing and Quality Learning and Development (GMQLD) organization is dedicated to delivering learning solutions and strategies that empower Lilly's Manufacturing and Quality organizations to achieve our mission: making medicine with safety first and quality always. The Functions Learning Leader is the recognized internal expert in learning and capability development for site and central functions — driving excellence through a team of L&D professionals and serving as the critical connector between platform execution and the global Center of Excellence. This role operates at the intersection of global strategy and platform and site-specific needs — ensuring that learning priorities, governance frameworks, and compliance standards are consistently and effectively delivered across every site the platform serves. The Functions Leader balances global direction with the on-the-ground realities of site and central functions, ensuring audit and inspection readiness, workforce development, and capability-building are executed with precision at the local level.
Responsibilities:
Leadership & High-Performance Team Development
Build and lead a high-performing global functions team by setting a clear standard of excellence, holding accountability to outcomes with directness and care, and addressing performance gaps — and talent gaps — without hesitation.
Bring high emotional intelligence to team leadership — reading individual motivators, team dynamics, and organizational pressure accurately to coach effectively, sustain cohesion through change, and create an environment where strong performers thrive.
Translate strategic priorities into clear team direction and execution rhythm — removing blockers, maintaining momentum, and closing the gap between what leadership asks for and what the team delivers.
Develop team members across craft, stakeholder influence, and leadership capacity — coaching individuals to frame problems well, bring solutions, and operate with increasing independence and confidence.
Operate as a skilled problem-solver and credible cross-functional partner — navigating complex, matrixed relationships across platforms, sites, and senior leadership with substance, influence, and a clear line of sight to business outcomes.
Strategic Leadership & Governance
Serve as the primary L&D Leader across site and central functions, ensuring alignment with global L&D strategies, policies, and procedures while meeting local operational needs.
Partner with the global CoE, LA and LEPs to implement future-facing learning solutions that drive performance, compliance, and operational excellence.
Ensure global governance frameworks are executed for site and central functions, in partnership with M2 Platform Lead, maintaining inspection and audit readiness in real time.
Act as a champion for a modern learning culture, shifting away from site-based traditional document-based training toward interactive, digital, and experiential global, network and platform-based learning solutions.
Learning Strategy & Execution
Support the team providing function-specific L&D initiatives that enable compliance, manufacturing excellence, and employee development.
Drive learning effectiveness measurement using real-time data and analytics to ensure programs deliver measurable business impact.
Partner cross-functionally with stakeholders to embed a learning mindset across the site.
Ensure audit and inspection readiness, proactively addressing training gaps and regulatory expectations.
Advocate for technology-enabled learning, including AI, immersive simulations, digital academies and just-in-time learning solutions.
Learning Effectiveness & Performance Measurement
Ensure implementation of the GMQLD strategy for measuring learning program effectiveness across functions — including evaluation frameworks, assessment design, and business impact methodologies.
Stakeholder Engagement & Cross-Functional Influence
Operate as a strategic partner to Senior Director, COE, COE, LAs, Site LEPs, Quality, Operations, HR, and Tech@Lilly — influencing decisions and driving alignment across a complex, matrixed global organization.
Lead without authority across a global network, driving results through collaboration, influence, and a clear line of sight to business outcomes.
Basic Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree required.
8+ years of demonstrated experience in Learning & Development, Talent Development, Instructional Design, or Manufacturing Training, with a focus on regulated pharmaceutical or biotech manufacturing 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.
Additional Skills/ Preferences:
Master's degree in Learning Sciences, Instructional Systems Technology, Performance Technology, Organizational Development, Data Analytics, or related fields.
Recognized internal expert in manufacturing quality learning strategy, workforce readiness, and/or qualification program design — with demonstrated ability to influence senior management, regulators, or external partners on key decisions.
Deep understanding of GxP, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), regulatory requirements, and compliance training across global manufacturing networks.
Expertise in modern learning methodologies including competency-based training, AI-driven learning platforms, simulation-based learning, digital academies, and performance consulting.
Demonstrated ability to make complex technical and business decisions within general functional, company, and industry guidelines — operating with strategic autonomy.
Strong business acumen with the ability to anticipate, identify, and solve complex capability problems that affect the functional or business area — linking learning and workforce readiness outcomes to operational and quality performance.
Proficiency in data visualization and business intelligence tools (e.g., Power BI, Tableau) with the ability to translate data into executive-level insights and strategic action.
Experience setting strategy and governing network or enterprise scale — building frameworks, standards, and governance models that multiple teams execute against.
Demonstrated ability to influence internal and external customers and partners to identify opportunities for improving technologies, processes, and learning services across a global network.
Experience leading large-scale programs or initiatives with significant complexity, resource requirements, and strategic risk — managing across functions, geographies, and organizational layers.
Track record of staying abreast of regulatory and policy developments in GMP manufacturing and playing a direct role in influencing qualification and training regulations or organizational strategies.
Experience leading learning transformation initiatives in a manufacturing environment, including adoption of next-generation technologies and evidence-based learning design.
Proficiency in Microsoft Power Platform (Power BI, PowerApps) and/or enterprise learning analytics infrastructure.
Familiarity with OJT program design and on-the-job performance verification approaches common in pharma manufacturing.
Exceptional executive communication skills — verbal, written, and data storytelling — with the ability to simplify complexity for senior audiences and drive decisions.
Certifications in performance improvement (CPT), learning evaluation, or related disciplines (CPTD, ATD, HPI) are a plus.
Change management experience in a global, matrixed organization.
Additional Information:
Position Location: Indianapolis
Language Requirements: English primarily and any local language requirements.
Travel Percentage: 25% - 30%
Shift Information: Supports manufacturing sites globally.
Lilly is dedicated to helping individuals with disabilities to actively engage in the workforce, ensuring equal opportunities when vying for positions. If you require accommodation to submit a resume for a position at Lilly, please complete the accommodation request form (https://careers.lilly.com/us/en/workplace-accommodation) for further assistance. Please note this is for individuals to request an accommodation as part of the application process and any other correspondence will not receive a response.
Lilly is proud to be an EEO Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, religion, gender identity, sex, gender expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, ancestry, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status.
Our employee resource groups (ERGs) offer strong support networks for their members and are open to all employees. Our current groups include: Africa, Middle East, Central Asia Network, Black Employees at Lilly, Chinese Culture Network, Japanese International Leadership Network (JILN), Lilly India Network, Organization of Latinx at Lilly (OLA), PRIDE (LGBTQ+ Allies), Veterans Leadership Network (VLN), Women’s Initiative for Leading at Lilly (WILL), enAble (for people with disabilities). Learn more about all of our groups.
Actual compensation will depend on a candidate’s education, experience, skills, and geographic location. The anticipated wage for this position is
$127,500 - $187,000Full-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).Lilly reserves the right to amend, modify, or terminate its compensation and benefit programs in its sole discretion and Lilly’s compensation practices and guidelines will apply regarding the details of any promotion or transfer of Lilly employees.
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