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 Katwijk Site
Eli Lilly is investing €2.6 billion in a new state‑of‑the‑art manufacturing facility in Katwijk, Netherlands. This facility will produce oral medicines for cardiometabolic health, neuroscience, oncology, and immunology, incorporating next‑generation manufacturing technologies including dock‑to‑dock automation, paperless manufacturing, and process analytical technology while achieving carbon neutrality and zero waste to landfills.
Position Overview
The Senior Director – Quality Control is accountable for defining and leading the site Quality Control strategy, ensuring reliable, compliant, and timely analytical testing to support manufacturing, release, and supply commitments. This role provides executive leadership for laboratory operations, analytical governance, and regulatory readiness, while building a high‑performing Quality Control organization aligned with Lilly’s global quality strategy.
Key Responsibilities
Executive QC Leadership & Governance
Define and own the site Quality Control strategy, ensuring alignment with global quality standards and business objectives
Serve as the senior authority for laboratory operations, analytical governance, and data integrity
Provide executive leadership to ensure scientific excellence, compliance, and continuous improvement
Laboratory Operations & Analytical Excellence
Ensure Quality Control laboratories deliver accurate, reliable, and timely results to support manufacturing and product release
Establish and oversee analytical governance, metrics, and performance management across all QC operations
Drive standardization, digitalization, and continuous improvement of laboratory systems and processes
Quality Systems & Regulatory Accountability
Ensure full compliance with cGMPs, regulatory requirements, and laboratory quality systems
Act as a senior QC representative during regulatory inspections and audits
Ensure robust oversight of specifications, methods, reference standards, and documentation
Leadership, Talent & Organizational Effectiveness
Build, lead, and develop a strong Quality Control leadership team and succession pipeline
Ensure adequate resourcing, capability, and organizational design to support current and future site needs
Foster a culture of accountability, scientific rigor, and quality excellence
Strategic Planning & Site Partnership
Serve as a senior member of the site leadership community, contributing to site strategy and long-term planning
Partner with Manufacturing, Quality Assurance, Technical Services, and Engineering to enable efficient, compliant operations
Influence enterprise analytical strategy through collaboration with global quality and technical networks
Environmental Health & Safety
Demonstrate executive accountability for safe laboratory operations and environmental compliance
Ensure strong EHS culture and performance within Quality Control operations
Qualifications and Requirements
Education
Master's degree or PhD in Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Biochemistry or a related life sciences discipline strongly preferred; Bachelor's degree minimum.
Experience
Extensive experience leading Quality Control or laboratory operations in regulated industries
Proven senior‑level accountability for analytical governance, regulatory inspections, and laboratory compliance
Experience with EMA, FDA, or other major regulatory inspections (given the new facility context). Familiarity with Dutch regulatory environment and EMA expectations is preferred.
Experience establishing or scaling QC laboratory operations in a new or expanding facility is strongly advantageous
Experience with oral solid dosage and/or Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) manufacturing
Technical & Leadership Expertise
Deep understanding of pharmaceutical laboratory operations, cGMPs, and regulatory expectations
Familiarity with modern analytical techniques and laboratory digitalization platforms (e.g., LIMS, ELN)
Strong executive leadership, communication, and decision-making skills
Ability to influence at site, regional, and enterprise levels
Fluency in English required; Dutch language proficiency strongly preferred
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 (https://careers.lilly.com/us/en/workplace-accommodation) 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.
#WeAreLillySkills Required
- Master's degree or PhD in Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Biochemistry, or related life sciences discipline
- Extensive experience leading Quality Control or laboratory operations in regulated industries
- Proven senior-level accountability for analytical governance and laboratory compliance
- Experience with EMA, FDA, or other major regulatory inspections
- Experience establishing or scaling QC laboratory operations in a new or expanding facility
- Experience with oral solid dosage and/or Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) manufacturing
- Deep understanding of pharmaceutical laboratory operations and cGMPs
- Familiarity with modern analytical techniques
- Strong executive leadership, communication, and decision-making skills
- Ability to influence at site, regional, and enterprise levels
- Fluency in English
- Dutch language proficiency
Eli Lilly and Company Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Eli Lilly and Company and has not been reviewed or approved by Eli Lilly and Company.
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Strong & Reliable Incentives — Pay is considered competitive with annual increases, bonuses, and equity programs that link rewards to contributions and business performance. Incentive structures and stock opportunities strengthen total compensation.
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Retirement Support — Retirement programs combine a matched savings plan, a pension, and company equity options. Financial advising and retiree health coverage reinforce long-term security.
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Parental & Family Support — Parental leave is generous for all parents, with additional paid time for birth mothers and financial support for adoption or surrogacy. Backup care services, childcare options, and caregiver concierge support further aid families.
Eli Lilly and Company Insights
What We Do
Eli Lilly and Company engages in the discovery, development, manufacture, and sale of products in pharmaceutical products business segment. For more than a century, we have stayed true to a core set of values – excellence, integrity, and respect for people – that guide us in all we do: discovering medicines that meet real needs, improving the understanding and management of disease, and giving back to communities through philanthropy and volunteerism.
