Senior Director - Neuroscience Communications

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 FunctionLilly's Global Corporate Communications function exists to amplify what matters, shape global perception, and protect Lilly's reputation. Every role in our function contributes to four core responsibilities: Establish Our Story & Thought Leadership, Amplify Business Impact, Brand Protection, and Workforce Engagement.About Lilly NeuroscienceNeuroscience is one of the most ambitious and fastest-growing businesses in our portfolio, pursuing major therapeutic areas across Alzheimer's disease, psychiatry, sleep-wake medicine, and pain — and building a pipeline that will define the next era of brain health. Our communications needs are evolving alongside the business, requiring modern, innovative, and agile approaches that match the scale and pace of what we are building.Role SummaryThe Sr. Director, Neuroscience Communications is accountable for building and delivering integrated communications strategies across the neuroscience portfolio and pipeline — with the US as the primary market and meaningful global reach. This person works at the intersection of science, business, and storytelling, moving fluidly between setting the long-range narrative architecture and producing polished, deadline-driven work as the business requires.Working closely with the AVP, this role serves as the day-to-day Center of Excellence (COE) partner for the Neuroscience team — briefing, aligning, and holding COE functions accountable to the global strategy. Key relationships span the broader Global Communications function, Medical, Marketing, Corporate Affairs, and IBU affiliate teams.ResponsibilitiesEstablish Story & Thought LeadershipBuild and maintain the overarching neuroscience communications narrative, connecting Lilly's therapeutic focus areas into a coherent, credible platform story across media, patients, HCPs, and the publicEnsure brand narrative credibility for Lilly's approved Alzheimer's treatment and future pipeline assets, keeping the story grounded in science and consistent across audiencesWork alongside the Scientific Communications & Innovation team to shape the scientific narrative architecture underpinning all external neuroscience communicationsShape the external environment ahead of clinical data releases and regulatory events, building stakeholder understanding before the moment arrivesSupport the visibility and thought leadership of senior Neuroscience leaders, building Lilly's standing as a credible and trusted voice in brain health and neurological disease.Amplify Business ImpactBuild and deliver integrated global communications strategies for the neuroscience portfolio and pipeline, with the US as the primary marketSupport brand and treatment communications in close coordination with marketing and cross-functional teams, ensuring programs are coherent and well-amplifiedBring deep expertise in clinical data releases and regulatory communications, working alongside Medical, Scientific Communications, and COE functions to shape rigorous external narrativesTranslate neuroscience communications strategy into clear briefs for COE functions — Earned Media, Content, Digital, and Consumer — ensuring integration and accountability across channelsServe as a trusted communications adviser to senior NBU leadership, supporting their visibility, credibility, and effectiveness in high-stakes situationsBrand ProtectionAnticipate and prepare for issues that could affect Lilly's neuroscience portfolio and reputation, spanning competitive dynamics, policy, access, and safety challengesDevelop issues frameworks, holding statements, and rapid-response playbooks well in advance; coordinate across Legal, Regulatory, Government Affairs, and COE functions when issues ariseBuild proactive preparedness into all major programs, clinical data releases, and campaigns — getting ahead of risk before it arrivesWorkforce EngagementWork closely with the AVP and the broader Neuroscience Communications team to ensure strategic alignment, coherent execution, and a unified direction across all programsCoordinate with the Sr. Director, International Neurology & AD Communications to ensure global strategy pulls through consistently across marketsProvide day-to-day direction and performance oversight for PR agencies of recordCultivate a team environment built on agility, collaboration, and shared commitment to the people this work servesBasic QualificationsBachelor's degree in journalism, communications, public relations, or a related field6 or more years of professional experience in pharmaceutical, biotech or healthcare communications in a corporate, agency, or journalism settingQualified applicants must be authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. Lilly will not provide support for or sponsor work authorization or visas for this role, including but not limited to F-1 CPT, F-1 OPT, F-1 STEM OPT, J-1, H-1B, TN, O-1, E-3, H-1B1, or L-1Additional Skills & PreferencesDemonstrated experience supporting external communications around clinical data releases, regulatory submissions, or product approvalsExperience directly handling or leading a communications team or functionProven track record building and delivering multi-channel, multi-audience communications plans with measurable outcomesDepth working alongside medical, scientific, and regulatory teams to develop rigorous external narratives around clinical data releases and regulatory eventsDemonstrated abil