Associate Director Production Planning

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.

Are you passionate about shaping the future of supply chain operations in a company that saves lives every day? Join us as Associate Director – Planning Manager and play a key role in a pharmaceutical organization committed to delivering life-saving medicines to patients around the world.

In this role, you’ll report directly to the Senior Director, Supply Chain and lead a team of 5–6 planners, providing strategic direction, mentorship, and development opportunities. You’ll be part of a company that lives by the values of Respect for People, Integrity, and Excellence—where your work truly makes a difference.

BROAD FUNCTION:

Lead and Develop the Planning. Provide strategic direction, mentorship, and performance management to ensure team effectiveness and growth.

Optimize Manufacturing Plans. Drive the development and execution of manufacturing plans aligned with both local and global strategies, ensuring efficient material management.

Contribute to Strategic Planning. Actively participate in the preparation of business and strategic plans, offering insights and recommendations to support long-term goals.

Support the External Warehouse Strategy. Support the development and execution of strategies for external warehouse operations to enhance supply chain performance.

Manage the Local Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) Cycle. Coordinate and lead the S&OP process to ensure alignment between demand, supply, and financial planning.

Facilitate Cross-Functional Communication. Serve as a key liaison between the Global Supply Chain, Global Logistics, and the local site to ensure seamless information flow and collaboration.

Drive Local Supply Chain Transformation. Lead initiatives to transform the local supply chain and actively support continuous improvement efforts across other departments.

Standardize and Align Supply Chain Practices. Promote convergence toward standardized supply chain archetypes to improve consistency, efficiency, and scalability.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES:

Support End-to-End Supply Chain Transformation. Drive modernization initiatives across supply planning, logistics, distribution, and warehousing to enhance overall supply chain performance.

Identify and Implement Improvement Opportunities. Leverage expertise in supply chain best practices, procedures, and technologies to pinpoint transformation opportunities and collaborate with IT to design and deploy effective solutions.

Team Leadership and Development. Manage, coordinate, and develop the Planning and Purchasing team in partnership with the Material Manager. Provide supervision, performance evaluation, and coaching to team members.

Ensure Compliance with Policies and Standards. Ensure full team adherence to local and global company policies, particularly regarding quality, safety, and environmental standards.

Manage Manufacturing Planning Activities. Lead the manufacturing planning process from order creation through to backflush, ensuring alignment with production goals and timelines.

Contribute to Packaging and Parenteral Flow Teams. Actively participate in cross-functional teams, delivering business-critical information and leading the respective Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) processes.

Departmental Budget Ownership. Manage and monitor the department’s budget, ensuring alignment with strategic and operational objectives.

Facilitate Site-to-Network Communication. Maintain accurate and timely information flow between the local site and the broader Parenteral Network, leveraging deep knowledge of manufacturing processes.

Implement Global Sourcing Strategies. Collaborate with the Parenteral Network to execute sourcing strategies and global processes, such as bulk allocation.

Coordinate SOP Development. Oversee the creation and maintenance of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the department to ensure consistency and compliance.

Perform Additional Duties as Assigned. Take on other responsibilities delegated by the supervisor or manager to support departmental and organizational goals.

RELATIONSHIPS

• All company functions

• Global Supply Chain, Global Logistics, External MFG

• API Network, Dry Network, Parenteral Network and Device Network

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Engineering Management or an Economics Master's Degree preferred

Fluent in English

Knowledge of SAP R/3, APO, Excel, Trackwise, etc

APICS certification preferable

Managerial Finance knowledge is preferable

Previous experience in people management, preferably with cross-functional groups within a matrix organization

Previous experience in a Pharmaceutical Company or in the Food Industry is preferred.

SOFT SKILLS:

Demonstrated ability to manage/own multiple tasks or projects simultaneously.

Strong oral and written communication, interpersonal skills

Fundamental understanding of Supply Chain basics

Strong organizational skills and demonstrated ability to work in a Team environment.

Problem solving, good attitude, results oriented

Excellent attitude and passion for leadership and people development

This position requires working on-site, and includes 4 days of remote work per month.

What we offer:

Step into a role where your expertise is recognized, appreciated, and rewarded. As a member of our team, you can expect:

Competitive Salary: We offer a competitive base salary supplemented by an annual variable component based on achieving objectives.

Relocation Package: You will be eligible for a relocation package based on your location.

Comprehensive Benefits: Enjoy a well-rounded welfare package, including an extensive insurance plan.

Annual Salary Review: We recognize and reward your continued effort with an annual salary review, providing opportunities for advancement based on your performance. As part of our commitment to your future, you may also be eligible to receive a stock option package, aligning your success with the company's growth.

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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