Director – Discovery PKPD Project Leader, Novel Modalities

Company: Eli Lilly and Company
Location: Indianapolis
Posted on: March 27, 2026

Job Description:

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. Eli Lilly and Company is committed to using its innovation-based strategy to discover, develop and deliver innovative medicines that help improve the lives of people. In support of this goal, the Pharmacokinetics/ Pharmacodynamics and Pharmacometrics, (PMx) organization provides leadership and technical expertise to support the discovery and development of new medicines from preclinical lead molecule identification to clinical post-drug approval, with the goal of identifying and developing the right drug with the right dose for the right patient using model-informed drug research and development (MIDD) approaches. To further advance the science in this field, we are seeking a scientific director who is experienced in mechanistic PK, PK/PD, and/or PBPK modeling of novel modalities. We are passionate about making an impact in the lives of our patients, developing people to their full potential, and pushing the boundaries of science. Consider joining Team Lilly to contribute to Lilly’s drug discovery and development efforts. Key Responsibilities: Serve as the Discovery PKPD project leader for genetic medicines programs, including ASOs, siRNA, LNP-mediated delivery, gene therapy (AAV and non-viral vectors), and antibody-siRNA conjugates (ARC). Develop and implement modeling strategies that enhance decision-making for genetic medicines inform translational research strategies. Design, analyze, and interpret quantitative pharmacology and PK/PD studies. Collaborate effectively with scientists within and outside the functional area to integrate PK/PD into team strategy and contribute to project team discussions, guiding key go/no-go decisions with quantitative approaches. Communicate quantitative findings both internally and externally through scientific publications, conference presentations, and cross-functional forums. Mentor junior scientists and contribute to the growth of PKPD modeling capabilities within the genetic medicines space and neuroscience space. Basic Qualifications: PhD in Pharmacokinetics/Pharmacodynamics, Pharmacology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Biomedical engineering, or a related subject area with experience applying quantitative approaches, with at 5 or more years of relevant industry or CRO experience in translational and/or mechanistic PKPD modeling. Experience with empirical or mechanistic PK/PD modeling to support drug discovery and/or development. Experience with translational PK/PD modeling to support interspecies scaling, human dose projections, and first-in-human study design. Experience with relevant modeling and simulation software such as NONMEM, mrgsolve, MATLAB, Monolix, SimCYP, PKSim, or equivalent platforms. Strong interpersonal communication skills, including demonstrated experience working effectively in a cross-functional, matrixed collaborative environment. Make a purposeful impact with real patient outcomes – See your scientific contributions translate directly into better medicines for patients, with the opportunity to influence strategy and decisions that meaningfully improve lives worldwide. Visible commitment to mentorship, sponsorship, and career growth – You will mentor and be mentored within a culture that actively invests in scientific leadership development, sponsorship, and progression for diverse talent across technical and people?leader tracks. Additional Skills/Preferences: Therapeutic area expertise within neuroscience. Experience with PKPD or PBPK modeling applied to oligonucleotide therapeutics (ASO, siRNA), LNP delivery platforms, gene therapy (AAV or non-viral), and/or antibody-siRNA conjugates (ARCs). Understanding of the outstanding disposition, intracellular delivery, tissue distribution, and Pharmacodynamics and durability of nucleic acid-based therapeutics. Excellent self-management, organizational skills, and ability to manage multiple programs simultaneously. Publication record in peer-reviewed journals in quantitative pharmacology, genetic medicines, or related fields. Eli Lilly and Company, Lilly USA, LLC and our wholly owned subsidiaries (collectively “Lilly”) are committed to help individuals with disabilities to participate in the workforce and ensure equal opportunity to compete for jobs. If you require an accommodation to submit a resume for positions at Lilly, please email Lilly Human Resources (Lilly_Recruiting_Compliance@lists.lilly.com) for further assistance. Please note This email address is intended for use only to request an accommodation as part of the application process. Any other correspondence will not receive a response. 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. 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 $177,000 - $259,600 Full-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. WeAreLilly

Keywords: Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis , Director – Discovery PKPD Project Leader, Novel Modalities, Science, Research & Development , Indianapolis, Indiana