Hiring: Director - Oligonucleotide Chemistry Company: Eli Lilly and Company Location: Indianapolis, IN Job Posted Time: 2026-09-03 14:41:45 Employment Type: Full-time Target Skills & Keywords : Agile About the job Experience: •5+ years of experience (oligonucleotide synthesis experience, solid phase synthesis preferred) Required Skills: •Lead the Lilly Genetic Medicines discovery oligosynthesis scale-up team to accelerate Lilly RNAi Therapeutics from pre-clinical to clinical development •Utilize comprehensive expertise in oligonucleotide synthesis methodologies to support Lilly Genetic Medicines and further develop internal capabilities and team growth through effective coaching, mentorship, and leadership •Partner cross-functionally with members of the RNAi discovery chemistry teams to validate and execute requirements for oligonucleotide synthesis from 150umol to 6mmol scales including communication of relevant information and results to project leads and/or cross functional organizations within Lilly to ensure seamless operation of the scale-up team •Lead at the interface with our CMC and Development teams to provide essential material planning for key studies as projects move from discovery to development and effectively communicate technical insights to the development team to appropriately resource efforts either within our organization or outside based on capacity and capability constraints •Demonstrate expertise in modern synthetic organic and nucleic acid chemistry, striving to improve methods, develop new technologies, and address synthetic oligonucleotide challenges across a diverse portfolio of oligonucleotide modalities •Communicate regularly with LGM leadership and cross-functional partners to address resource or timeline gaps for material generation and ensure on-time delivery of portfolio critical material •Oversee and prioritize the work of LGM scale-up team members to most efficiently meet critical timelines •Value diverse perspectives and experiences for effective solutions. Motivate team members to take initiative, own outcomes, and share expertise on complex technical challenges Qualifications: •PhD degree in Chemistry, Biochemistry or a relevant scientific discipline with 5+ years of experience (oligonucleotide synthesis experience, solid phase synthesis preferred) •Strong organic chemistry expertise with excellent track record of problem-solving synthetic challenges, preferred expertise in oligonucleotide and nucleotide/nucleoside design, synthesis and purification. Expertise in conjugation strategies for tissue selective delivery of oligonucleotide therapeutics is preferred •Strong laboratory skills and experience with analytical instrumentation such as AKTA, Agilent LC-MS and UPLC, Vanquish LTQ, Water’s QDA, etc •Demonstrated capacity to function within a highly interdisciplinary environment •Excellent written and oral communication skills, good organizational skills, the ability to multitask, and lead a team to deliver on tight deadlines •Confident, execution-focused, and team oriented with a desire to thrive in a fast-paced growing environment is a plus. •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. Compensation: •$153,000 - $264,000 / year •Full-time equivalent employees also will be eligible for a company bonus (depending, in part, on company and individual performance) Interested candidates, please apply directly through the job posting on company's career page or try via AI auto apply on this platform. Don't miss this opportunity to join a forward-thinking team!