Innovation Strategy Associate Director

Job Description SummaryThe Innovation Strategy Associate Director (ISAD) will join the Program Innovation team in Strategy, Program and Portfolio Operations (SPPO). The role will include both internally and externally facing activities. The successful candidate will be responsible for developing and maintaining a strong understanding of the external competitive landscape in those innovation and indication domains for which s/he is responsible, including identifying and screening vendor opportunities of relevance to the portfolio.The role will be a core member of the Program Innovation team working internally with drug program teams across multiple therapeutic areas, to identify and support a broad range of data science/AI and digital initiatives to impact medicines in development and increase their overall value to patients and Novartis.Your responsibilities include:Identify and assess external vendors, technologies and new trends and provide competitive insights and recommendations on vendor/technology suitability to address identified needs of drug programs.Lead the identification of unmet needs and opportunities where innovation through diverse data science and digital solutions can positively impact drug development.Bring strong project management expertise and a strategic mindset to drive the overall process and coordinate multi-disciplinary partners.Act as a data science/AI and/or digital expert and lead specific solution deep-dives with specialist teams and multi-disciplinary partners.Find opportunities to scale new and existing innovations across the portfolio.Develop a comprehensive business case, implementation plan and recommendations for identified solutions.Lead solution tracking to identify and communicate risks and issues, formulate mitigation plans, and report to the Development Leadership Team.Contribute to effective team dynamics, performance, communication, collaboration, prioritization, standardization and quality of deliverables within and between projects.Minimum requirements:Advanced degree in engineering/computer science or other technical degrees or equivalent experience in life scienceFluent English (oral and written) and very strong communication skills4+ years data science and digital/technology industry or consulting experience with 2+ years project/program leadership experience and 2+ years pharmaceutical or healthcare experienceAdvanced understanding and direct relevant experience with one or more data science and/or digital technology domains, and pharmaceutical developmentExperience developing and leading projects/programs within a complex matrix environmentExperience of working with large scale and complex multidisciplinary teamsDemonstrable experience of problem definition and problem solvingDemonstrated experience of scenario development and evaluation, and contingency planningComfortable with, and enjoys working in uncertain environments, and navigating uncharted territory.Why Novartis?Our purpose is to reimagine medicine to improve and extend people's lives and our vision is to become the most valued and trusted medicines company in the world. How can we achieve this? With our people. It is our associates that drive us each day to reach our ambitions. Be a part of this mission and join us!Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion:Novartis is committed to building an outstanding, inclusive work environment and diverse teams' representative of the patients and communities we serve.EEO Statement:The Novartis Group of Companies are Equal Opportunity Employers and take pride in maintaining a diverse environment. We do not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion or other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status.

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