Associate Vice President – Global Communications Innovation & Operations

Company: Eli Lilly and Company
Location: Indianapolis
Posted on: January 26, 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. This role reports directly into the Chief Communications Officer and leads the development of a bold, data-driven communications strategy that drives measurable business outcomes and stakeholder influence. This leader operates at the intersection of creativity and analytics—using insights to unlock innovation, push creative boundaries, and ensure our communications cut through in a rapidly evolving media landscape. The AVP operationalizes the communications function through scalable frameworks, measurement systems, and strategic planning processes while challenging the team to think differently about how we communicate. This role oversees creative output for Lilly's owned enterprise channels, partnering closely with the Lilly Social Media Center of Excellence to translate marketing best practices into compelling corporate storytelling. The AVP ensures our content strategy is informed by trust data, audience insights, and reputational intelligence. The ideal candidate is a forward-thinking, operationally minded leader with a passion for creativity, strong understanding of modern communications disciplines, and vision to transform insights into action. Key Objectives/Deliverables Strategy & Innovation Lead development of a multi-year communications strategy that is visionary and actionable, grounded in enterprise goals and measurable outcomes Challenge conventional thinking and introduce innovative approaches—from emerging platforms to new storytelling formats Drive creative excellence across owned enterprise channels, ensuring content is strategically informed, audience-centric, and optimized for impact Leverage trust data, audience research, and reputational insights to guide creative strategy and content development Partner with the Lilly Social Media Center of Excellence to adopt marketing innovations and translate learnings into corporate communications Oversee the team of creatives responsible for enterprise storytelling, pushing for breakthrough work aligned with data-driven insights Facilitate priority setting among communications leadership, balancing strategic ambition with operational realities Identify white space opportunities where Lilly can lead in the communications profession Measurement & Insights Build and lead an industry-leading measurement program connecting communications activities to business outcomes and stakeholder behavior Translate data into actionable insights that inform strategy and optimize creative output. Drive understanding of key audiences—who we need to reach, where they are, what they trust, and how to engage them Strengthen team data literacy, ensuring insights drive decisions across all communications Operational Excellence Operationalize the communications function through scalable planning, collaboration, and resource allocation processes Standardize frameworks that enhance efficiency without stifling creativity or agility Oversee budget planning, contract negotiations, and agency management to optimize spending Lead a team of project managers aligned to business priorities Drive cross-team collaboration and milestone tracking that connects the dots across communications disciplines Implement AI-driven tools and platforms that capture efficiencies and enhance creative capabilities Lead strategic agenda creation for leadership and all-staff meetings Team Development & Culture Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, and creative excellence Develop talent through opportunities to experiment with new approaches Elevate the team's profile through speaking engagements and awards Create an environment where data informs creativity and creativity is measured for impact Basic Qualifications Bachelor's degree in journalism, communications, public relations, marketing Minimum 12 years of communications experience, with time spent in a global, matrixed organization 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 and/or visas for this role. Additional Information Significant experience managing teams and leading cross-company initiatives Proven track record of driving creative innovation informed by data and insights Strong understanding of modern communications disciplines including digital, social, content, media relations, and measurement Some international and domestic travel expected as conditions and business need arise Located in Indianapolis or telecommute from other US location Additional Skills/Preferences Strategic & Creative Excellence: Visionary thinker who translates data into compelling creative direction and understands trust dynamics, and communications trends. Communications Expertise: Strong knowledge of communications disciplines including owned channels, media relations, crisis management, and creative team oversight. Operational & Analytical Strength: Problem-solver who builds frameworks, architects AI-powered tools, and connects communications metrics to business outcomes. Leadership & Collaboration: Proven leader who builds relationships at all levels, provides counsel to senior leaders, and fosters global collaboration and innovation. 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 $232,500 - $341,000 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

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