Okay, I've searched for Senior Director IT leadership roles in pharmaceutical manufacturing in Indianapolis, IN, requiring 10+ years of experience and skills in MES and data integration. I have found 27 positions for you.

Sure. Here's the analysis:

Job Analysis:

The Sr Director Tech@Lilly Manufacturing and Quality role is fundamentally about leading and orchestrating the digital and IT transformation for a new, state-of-the-art pharmaceutical manufacturing site. This position operates at the strategic intersection of advanced technology deployment, regulatory compliance, and operational excellence in a highly regulated cGMP environment. The core focus is ensuring seamless integration and readiness of manufacturing IT systems—such as MES, data historians, LIMS, CAPA, and security systems—aligned with Lilly's vision of leveraging cutting-edge automation and analytics for manufacturing excellence. Success in this role requires a leader who can handle complex cross-functional coordination involving IT, manufacturing, quality, and logistics teams, while dynamically adapting to shifting priorities during site build-out and go-live phases. Given the scale and innovation focus, deep knowledge of pharma IT/OT systems and regulatory frameworks is critical, enabling the director to foresee and mitigate risks, and spearhead digital innovation. Strong leadership skills are essential, ranging from talent development and culture building to leading through ambiguity and driving operational and technical excellence. This role will demand not only technical acumen but a creative and analytical mindset to troubleshoot novel challenges inherent in building a new, highly integrated manufacturing site from scratch. Early success will be demonstrated by achieving operational IT readiness milestones, smooth system integrations, robust infrastructure setup, and a high-functioning, motivated IT team aligned with site and global strategies.

Company Analysis:

Eli Lilly stands as a venerable leader in global healthcare with a nearly 150-year legacy grounded in scientific innovation and patient-centric mission. Positioned at the forefront of biotechnology, chemistry, and genetic medicine, Lilly balances a heritage of stable operational excellence with bold transformative investments, such as the multi-billion-dollar expansion in advanced manufacturing sites. This strategic growth trajectory positions the company as both an established healthcare powerhouse and a disruptor pushing the boundaries of digital and manufacturing technologies. Consequently, this environment demands leaders who thrive in high-impact, dynamic settings—people who embrace innovation but respect rigorous regulatory and quality standards typical in pharma. Lilly’s culture reflects a deep commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and community engagement, and it cultivates collaborative, purpose-driven teams that put people first. The Sr Director role sits prominently within the site leadership team, ensuring it has significant visibility and influence, especially as the company navigates complex site start-up challenges and digital transformations. Candidates joining Lilly should be ready for a mission-oriented, ethically anchored culture that values creativity, agility, and operational rigor. The role’s strategic alignment with Lilly’s broader goals—to revolutionize patient care via next-generation manufacturing capabilities—offers a unique and inspiring opportunity to make an enduring impact on both the company and global health outcomes.

Absolutely. Here are some mock interview questions that could come up:

• Behavioral: Tell me about a time you led a cross-functional team through a complex IT systems integration, particularly within a regulated environment. What challenges did you face and how did you overcome them?
• Behavioral: Describe a situation where you had to adapt quickly to changing priorities while managing multiple high-stakes projects. How did you ensure your team remained focused and effective?
• Behavioral: Give an example of how you have cultivated a positive, inclusive team culture that supports operational excellence and continuous improvement.
• Behavioral: Can you share an experience where you identified a significant risk in an IT/OT system related to manufacturing and how you addressed it strategically?
• Technical/Role-Specific: How would you approach developing and implementing a site IT strategic plan to align with both local operational needs and global Lilly digital goals?
• Technical/Role-Specific: What is your experience with MES system implementations, and how do you ensure data integrity and compliance throughout the deployment lifecycle?
• Technical/Role-Specific: Walk me through how you would integrate data historian and real-time floor tracking systems to optimize manufacturing performance and decision-making.
• Technical/Role-Specific: Describe your familiarity with cGMP compliance requirements related to pharmaceutical IT systems and how you ensure these standards are met during digital transformations.
• Situational: Imagine the site is two weeks from going live but an unforeseen IT infrastructure issue arises that threatens operational readiness. How would you manage this crisis?
• Situational: If a key cross-functional stakeholder disagrees with your recommended IT solution that impacts manufacturing processes, how would you handle that conflict to reach alignment?
• Situational: Suppose you discover that the current IT team lacks certain critical skills needed for the evolving digital roadmap. What steps would you take to close these gaps effectively?
• Company Fit/Motivation: What excites you most about the opportunity to lead IT at a brand new manufacturing site within Eli Lilly?
• Company Fit/Motivation: How do your personal values align with Lilly’s mission of uniting caring with discovery to make life better for people worldwide?
• Company Fit/Motivation: Lilly invests heavily in diversity and inclusion. Can you provide an example of how you have supported equitable recruitment and development practices?
• Questions for the Candidate to Ask the Interviewer: What are the immediate strategic priorities for the IT function at this new site over the next 12 months?
• Questions for the Candidate to Ask the Interviewer: How does Lilly’s IT leadership envision balancing innovation with strict regulatory compliance in manufacturing environments?
• Questions for the Candidate to Ask the Interviewer: Can you describe how cross-functional collaboration typically works between IT, manufacturing, and quality teams at this site?