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About the Role

Eli Lilly and Company is seeking an experienced and innovative Director/Senior Director with a strong background in synthetic macrocycles and macrocyclic peptides to join the Advanced Molecule Design (AMD) Medicinal Chemistry organization. This individual will contribute across all four therapeutic areas, applying deep expertise in macrocyclic peptide design and small molecule ADME/DMPK to advance high-quality drug candidates. The AMD Medicinal Chemistry team operates as an integrated, multi-site organization, offering exposure to a broad portfolio with opportunities to shape program strategy and influence molecule quality.

Responsibilities

Design and synthesize macrocyclic small molecules and macrocyclic peptides in support of drug discovery programs across multiple therapeutic areas.
Apply structure-activity relationship (SAR) knowledge to drive iterative DMTA cycles, balancing potency, selectivity, and drug-like properties.
Leverage ADME/DMPK principles to optimize oral bioavailability, metabolic stability, permeability, and pharmacokinetic profiles of macrocyclic and peptidic modalities.
Serve as a recognized subject matter expert whose compound design and SAR insights resolve critical scientific challenges and advance programs through key milestones.
Collaborate closely with Biology, DMPK, Computational Chemistry, and other cross-functional partners to develop and execute efficient molecule design strategies.
Contribute to program strategy discussions, including target product profile (TPP) development and go/no-go decision frameworks.
Proactively identify capability gaps in tools, methods, or synthetic approaches, and champion new strategies — including AI/ML-enabled design — that improve cycle times and design quality across the portfolio.
Effectively communicate scientific findings to internal stakeholders at all levels, including program teams, portfolio boards, and leadership.
Maintain thorough and timely documentation in electronic laboratory notebooks (ELN) in accordance with IP and regulatory requirements.
Lead or contribute to continuous improvement initiatives and coaching efforts that strengthen the broader team's scientific rigor and impact.

Requirements

Ph.D. in Medicinal Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Peptide Chemistry, Chemical Biology, or a related field with a minimum of 8+ years of drug discovery experience in the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry; or BS/MS with 15+ years equivalent experience.
Demonstrated hands-on experience in the design and synthesis of macrocyclic peptides or macrocyclic small molecules.
Strong foundation in ADME/DMPK principles and their application to drug design, including oral bioavailability, metabolic stability, and PK/PD relationships.
Track record of productive multi-disciplinary collaboration in a pharmaceutical or biotechnology research environment.
Experience across multiple therapeutic areas or modalities, including both macrocyclic peptides and small molecules.
Experience with challenging or undrugged targets requiring non-traditional modality approaches.
Track record of advancing programs to candidate selection.
Track record of publications, patents, or scientific contributions.
Excellent written and oral communication skills; ability to present complex scientific data clearly to diverse audiences.

Skills

Macrocycle Chemistry
Advanced Molecule Design (AMD)
Synthetic macrocycles
Macrocyclic peptides
Small molecule ADME/DMPK
Structure-activity relationship (SAR)
DMTA cycles
Oral bioavailability
Metabolic stability
Permeability
Pharmacokinetic profiles
AI/ML-enabled design

Location

Indianapolis, Indiana
San Francisco, CA

Work Type

Full-time

Experience Level

Director/Senior Director
8+ years of drug discovery experience
15+ years equivalent experience (BS/MS)

Education Level

Ph.D. in Medicinal Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Peptide Chemistry, Chemical Biology, or a related field
BS/MS

Salary/Compensations

$163,500 - $281,600

Benefits

Company bonus (depending, in part, on company and individual performance)
Company-sponsored 401(k)
Pension
Vacation benefits
Medical benefits
Dental benefits
Vision benefits
Prescription drug benefits
Flexible benefits (e.g., healthcare and/or dependent day care flexible spending accounts)
Life insurance
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)

About the Company

At Lilly, we unite caring with discovery to help make life better for people around the world.
Headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, our over 50,000 employees around the globe take on complex challenges to discover and deliver life-changing medicines, strengthen how health is understood and managed, and support the communities we serve.
We offer a competitive compensation and benefits package, a collaborative and innovative work environment, and meaningful opportunities for career development and scientific growth within one of the most productive pipelines in the industry.

Equal Opportunity

Lilly is an EEO/Affirmative Action Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status.
Lilly is dedicated to helping individuals with disabilities to actively engage in the workforce, ensuring equal opportunities when vying for positions.
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.