Senior Director – Patent Counsel

Company: Eli Lilly and Company
Location: Indianapolis
Posted on: March 15, 2026

Job Description:

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. Role Overview Lilly is seeking a solutions-focused Patent Attorney role supporting the discovery, development, and commercialization of small molecule pharmaceutical products. This position reports to Associate VP – Assistant General Patent Counsel for Lilly’s Small Molecule area and requires close collaboration with scientists, other members of the Lilly Legal Patent team as well as business leadership. Key Responsibilities Draft and prosecute globally pharmaceutical patent applications comprising large number of embodiments that are part of a complex IP strategy for small molecule therapeutics, in accordance with business requirements, patent laws, and Lilly policies and procedures. Participate and contribute to overall patent portfolio strategy established through departmental guidance forums related to patent procurement or litigation strategies. Analyze risks and develop sound tactical strategies/approaches/solutions with appropriate consideration of business objectives and the environment. Advise teams and senior management about exclusivity, freedom to operate, contract management, and litigation risks in a manner consistent with the law, ethics, and Lilly policies. Communicate advice in a manner understandable to a lay person. Lead with a continuous improvement mindset by remaining well versed in global laws, court precedents, and regulations pertinent to pharmaceutical products; apply knowledge appropriately in carrying out individual responsibilities as well as opportunities within the team and organization. Prioritize and manage projects. Contribute to the implementation of new policies and procedures Lead task-directed teams; Embrace efficient but prudent use of AI to improve daily work product. Contribute to efficiency, collegiality, and collaboration. Basic Qualifications Bachelor's degree (chemistry, medicinal chemistry, pharmacology or related), with a background strong enough to engage credibly with scientists and leadership on small molecule therapeutics. Juris Doctor (J.D.) Minimum 5 years post-JD experience as a patent attorney in a law firm or industry setting — with small molecule expertise. Licensed to practice law in at least one of the 50 States and licensed to represent clients in patent matters before the USPTO Qualified 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-1. Additionial skills/Preferences: 5 years of technical experience in pharmaceutical drug discovery or development and/or with patent litigation relating to pharmaceutical products Proactive problem-solver who seeks creative, innovative solutions High learning agility: curious, adaptable, open to feedback, able to make the complex understandable Resilient under pressure; able to manage challenging priorities and deadlines Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders Able to adjust communication style to suit different audiences (technical and non-technical) Additional Information Role located at Lilly (Louisville, CO) or Lilly Corporate Center (Indianapolis). Exceptional US remote candidates will be considered. Travel is usually not significant (0-5%), but travel could become more significant (10-20%) intermittently for internal/external requirements. Primarily supporting Lilly Research Labs globally, including sites in the US (Colorado and San Diego), Spain (Alcobendas) and Lilly Corporate Center (Indianapolis). 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 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. Our employee resource groups (ERGs) offer strong support networks for their members and are open to all employees. Our current groups include: Africa, Middle East, Central Asia Network, Black Employees at Lilly, Chinese Culture Network, Japanese International Leadership Network (JILN), Lilly India Network, Organization of Latinx at Lilly (OLA), PRIDE (LGBTQ Allies), Veterans Leadership Network (VLN), Women’s Initiative for Leading at Lilly (WILL), enAble (for people with disabilities). Learn more about all of our groups. Actual compensation will depend on a candidate’s education, experience, skills, and geographic location. The anticipated wage for this position is $154,500 - $226,600 Full-time equivalent employees also will be eligible for a company bonus (depending, in part, on company and individual performance). In addition, Lilly offers a comprehensive benefit program to eligible employees, including eligibility to participate in a company-sponsored 401(k); pension; vacation benefits; eligibility for medical, dental, vision and prescription drug benefits; flexible benefits (e.g., healthcare and/or dependent day care flexible spending accounts); life insurance and death benefits; certain time off and leave of absence benefits; and well-being benefits (e.g., employee assistance program, fitness benefits, and employee clubs and activities).Lilly reserves the right to amend, modify, or terminate its compensation and benefit programs in its sole discretion and Lilly’s compensation practices and guidelines will apply regarding the details of any promotion or transfer of Lilly employees. WeAreLilly

Keywords: Eli Lilly and Company, Bloomington , Senior Director – Patent Counsel, Science, Research & Development , Indianapolis, Indiana