Senior Director International Public Policy

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.

About the Role

As a Senior Director of International Public Policy, you will play a key strategic role in shaping and advancing Eli Lilly’s policy priorities outside the United States. Reporting to the Vice President, Head of International Public Policy, you will support the development and execution of policy strategies across multiple geographies to protect and enable Lilly’s business, with a focus on innovation, access, and sustainability.

A central dimension of this role is to act as a connector between the above country level and the affiliate/Hubs’ dimensions. This includes staying closely attuned to evolving affiliate/Hubs’ policy priorities, monitoring national developments, facilitating the “localization” of global policy strategies, and ensuring coordinated execution of policy projects. You will also foster a culture of collaboration across affiliates by enabling the sharing of policy learnings, tools, and best practices.

This role requires extensive cross-functional collaboration, thought leadership, and engagement with public policy (IPP) stakeholders. You will work closely with the international government affairs and corporate affairs teams at regional and affiliate level, supporting functions, business partners, and senior leaders to assess risks, seize opportunities, and develop policy responses that enable Lilly to thrive in a dynamic international landscape.

Key Responsibilities

Affiliate Coordination and Connector Role

• Serve as the primary liaison and policy coordinator between the International policy team and affiliates.
• Understand affiliate-specific policy challenges and opportunities, and ensure they are reflected in global and regional policy strategies.
• Support affiliates in the localization and adaptation of global policy positions to fit national contexts.
• Facilitate the sharing of best practices, tools, and successful policy approaches among affiliates.
• Coordinate the implementation of key policy initiatives that require affiliate execution.
• Maintain regular contact with affiliate teams to ensure alignment, awareness, and mutual support on policy efforts.

Policy Strategy and Execution

• Support the development and execution of Lilly’s international public policy strategy across regions outside the United States.
• Lead and/or contribute to cross-functional policy workstreams and task forces to address critical issues, including cost containment, pricing and reimbursement frameworks, HTA, industrial policies, intellectual property protection, trade, environmental and sustainability, and innovation readiness for our therapeutic areas.
• Draft and present timely policy analyses and recommendations to support internal decision-making and external engagement.

Policy Intelligence, Horizon Scanning, and Early Warning

• Monitor emerging policy, legislative, and regulatory trends across key international markets, especially those relevant to IBU affiliates.
• Conduct risk assessments and develop mitigation strategies to address policy uncertainty and evolving external pressures.
• Proactively identify external threats and opportunities and translate them into actionable business insights for affiliates and corporate teams.

Stakeholder Engagement and Advocacy

• Represent Lilly in international and regional policy discussions through global policy organizations, industry platforms, think tanks, and other stakeholder groups.
• Support the engagement with policy stakeholders, think tanks, and multilateral institutions to advance Lilly’s policy objectives.

Internal Partnership and Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Act as a strategic advisor and connector between policy, government/corporate affairs, business functions, and affiliate teams—promoting consistent, locally informed, and coordinated advocacy.
• Partner with legal, access, and regulatory colleagues to ensure policy alignment across jurisdictions.

Required Skills and Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in political science, international relations, public policy, law, public health, or a related field; advanced degree (e.g., MPP, JD, MPH) strongly preferred.
• At least 12–15 years of experience in public policy, government affairs, or external affairs, preferably within the pharmaceutical or healthcare sector.
• Demonstrated expertise in shaping international public policy in support of corporate or sectoral goals.
• Deep understanding of global and regional policy and regulatory environments, particularly in Europe, UK, and Canada.
• Experience working in complex, matrixed, and multinational organisations, ideally with direct exposure to senior leadership and affiliate engagement.
• Proven ability to manage and execute projects independently in a fast-paced, high-stakes environment.
• Strong interpersonal skills and a collaborative mindset, with a track record of building trust and alignment across dispersed teams.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey complex ideas to diverse audiences.
• Strong analytical and synthesis skills, with experience translating policy developments into business-relevant insights.
• Fluency in English is required; other languages are a plus.

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 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 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.

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