Business Solutions International (BSI) is a newly established team within international CLS with the objective of providing gold standard business solutions to drive excellence in delivery and innovation for the Division. The Consulting and Program Management team within BSI work across International to support and enable delivery of the highest priority programs/projects.
The Associate Director will lead the scoping and delivery of priority programs and initiatives to empower the international Business Unit to achieve commercial and operational excellence. The execution-focused role will solve complex business challenges and deliver outcomes for International. This role will drive value for International through scoping, shaping, leading and delivering Process Excellence oriented projects. The project work is likely to include defining problem statements, mapping processes, identifying improvements, designing and deploying solutions and sustaining and measuring improvements.
The Associate Director will bring a strong track record of delivering large global programs and initiatives, preferably in a commercial and pharma setting. This is an opportunity to make a significant impact, at scale, across the international Business Unit.
Key Responsibilities
Support the scoping and design of priority programs and key initiatives within the broader BSI Consulting and Program Management portfolio.
Lead cross-functional teams to deliver high-impact programs aligned with international business priorities, driving commercial growth and operational excellence
Drive Process Excellence initiatives using Lean Six Sigma, digital technologies, data management, and domain expertise to improve efficiency and effectiveness of business processes.
Collaborate with cross-functional and global stakeholders to scope, design, and execute priority programs, ensuring alignment with organizational goals.
Act as a champion for AI/GenAI adoption, identifying opportunities to leverage advanced tools and technologies across programs and projects.
Contribute to capability building initiatives, strengthening expertise in functional/commercial domains, Lean Six Sigma, and core consulting & program management capabilities.
Proactively manage and strengthen stakeholder relationships across international markets, ensuring delivery aligned with BSI’s “gold standard” of excellence and innovation.
Coach and mentor Senior Consultants and Consultants, fostering a culture of collaboration, learning, and continuous improvement.
Role model Novartis values — Inspired, Curious, Unbossed, and Integrity-driven — while promoting a “One Team, Shared Impact” mindset.
Essential Requirements
Extensive experience managing end-to-end project lifecycles, including planning and execution of complex programs, preferably within commercial and/or pharmaceutical environments
10+ years of experience in Process Excellence, ideally within pharmaceutical, life sciences, or healthcare industries, with exposure to consulting and/or program management.
Proven ability to operate in a consulting-led, matrixed, and global environment, engaging and influencing diverse stakeholders.
Demonstrated success in applying consulting methodologies and tools, including the use of AI/GenAI to solve complex business challenges.
Bachelor’s degree (minimum), preferably in Science, Engineering, Business Administration, or Economics
Desirable Requirements
Master’s degree in a relevant business-related discipline
Additional certifications such as Lean Six Sigma (Black Belt/Master Black Belt), Agile, Change Management, Enterprise Communications, Project Management, Product Management, Facilitation/Coaching, Design Thinking, or ITIL are highly preferred.
Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion / EEO paragraph:
Novartis is committed to building an outstanding, inclusive work environment and diverseteams’representative of the patients and communities we serve.
Why Novartis:Helping people with disease and their families takes more than innovative science. It takes a community of smart, passionate people like you. Collaborating, supportingand inspiring each other. Combining to achieve breakthroughs that change patients’ lives. Ready to create a brighter future together? https://www.novartis.com/about/strategy/people-and-culture
Benefits and Rewards:Read our handbook to learn about all the ways we’ll help you thrive personally and professionally: https://www.novartis.com/careers/benefits-rewards
Skills Desired
Business Development, Business Networking, Business Partners (Inactive), Business Strategies, Collaboration, Corporate Development, Curious Mindset, Diversity and Inclusion (D&I), Finance, Go-to-Market Strategies, Influencing Skills, Key Account Management, Leadership, Lean Six Sigma (LSS), Management Consulting, Pmp (Project Management Professional) (Inactive), Strategic Planning, Transformation Programs
Novartis is an innovative medicines company. Every day, working to reimagine medicine to improve and extend people’s lives so that patients, healthcare professionals and societies are empowered in the face of serious disease. Our medicines reach more than 250 million people worldwide.
Find out more at https://www.novartis.com
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