Manager – Discovery Operations, Early-Stage Oncology

Eli Lilly and Company

Manager of Discovery Operations focused on external contract enablement within Oncology at Lilly. Overseeing procurement processes and vendor relationships to support drug discovery efforts.

Posted 6/3/2026full-timeRemote • 🇺🇸 United StatesMid-LevelSenior💰 $65,250 - $161,700 per yearWebsite

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

facilitate ideation to planning and lead execution of external contractual enablement requests for Oncology
establish and operate as a critical liaison (manage communications) between scientific teams and key cross-functional partners
review contracts and agreements to ensure alignment with scientific request requirements, proactively monitor renewal timelines, and identify and resolve discrepancies in collaboration with cross-functional partners
manage and execute diverse contractual requests tied to complex modalities within the broader Oncology discovery portfolio
develop comprehensive knowledge and expertise of the ARAVO third-party (TP) qualification and other Lilly TP systems
proactively identify operational risks and propose practical, long-term solutions that account for team dynamics and cross-functional dependencies
contribute to building connections and forging partnerships and alliances within Oncology and Lilly’s external partners for smooth operations
manage licensed biological material requests (MLRs) end-to-end, including evaluating vendor license terms and MTAs; maintaining procurement records across multi-vendor sources
execute procurement transactions in Ariba, including managing purchase requisitions for licensed biological materials
provide indirect and on-demand consultancy support to international shipments of biological materials, including managing country-specific import/export permit requirements

Requirements

What you’ll need

BS/MS in a scientific discipline and a minimum of 5-7 years of experience in the pharmaceutical or biotech industry
demonstrated experience in project and/or operational management
cross-functional collaboration, ideally with exposure across areas of early-stage R&D functions in Oncology
experience managing domestic and international shipments of biological or pharmaceutical materials
demonstrated ability to manage vendor relationships and execute contracts, work orders, or agreements (MSAs, CDAs, SOWs) in collaboration with legal and business operations teams
excellent written and verbal communication skills; comfortable interacting with senior leaders
able to work within a fast-paced environment, adept at juggling multiple tasks and priorities and prioritizing independently
enthusiastic, self-motivated, and keen to improve processes and overcome inefficiencies
conscientious, detail-oriented, well-organized and takes initiative to anticipate and address needs
able to bring a “can do” proactive and creative approach to problem solving
proficient in Microsoft Office suite, Smartsheet and procurement platforms such as Ariba as well as other operational applications.

Benefits

Comp & perks

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
well-being benefits (e.g., employee assistance program, fitness benefits, and employee clubs and activities)

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills & Tools

project managementoperational managementcontract managementvendor managementbiological materials managementprocurement transactionsimport/export regulationsOncology expertisethird-party qualificationcross-functional collaboration

Soft Skills

communication skillsorganizational skillsproblem solvingself-motivateddetail-orientedinitiativeability to prioritizeadaptabilityrelationship buildingprocess improvement