Director Medical AI & Innovation

Director Medical AI & Innovation at Novartis

The Director, Medical AI & Innovation is accountable for translating key medical challenges into scalable innovation opportunities solved by AI, including accountability for GMA AI products throughout their product lifecycle. Solutions may range from off‑the‑shelf options (e.g., Copilot Studio) to co‑development of use cases endorsed in the Dev AI strategy.

This role owns and advances individual GMA AI product(s) as needed, ensuring strategic fit and realization of business benefits. It is a dedicated functional partner for GMA AI use cases & products, striving to maximise value and adoption in alignment with GMA objectives, business priorities, and medical subject‑matter experts (SMEs).

The Director is a dynamic thought‑leader for applied artificial intelligence in the medical affairs domain, drawing on external insights and internal subject‑matter expertise to identify and translate AI opportunities that generate significant impact for medical affairs. Success requires a strong ability to develop, defend, and deliver business case value. Value‑adding products should simplify and streamline medical affairs practices in close alignment with Global Process Owners, helping Novartis GMA become the leading Medical Affairs organization in the industry, systematically enabled by artificial intelligence.

• Accountable for translating key medical challenges into scalable AI solutions, including overseeing GMA AI products throughout their lifecycle and co‑developing use cases in line with the Dev AI strategy.
• Own and advance individual GMA AI product(s), ensuring strategic fit and realization of business benefits, in collaboration with GMA Business Owners.
• Operate as a dedicated functional partner for GMA AI use cases & products, maximizing value & adoption in alignment with GMA objectives and business priorities.
• Collaborate and actively align with medical subject‑matter experts (SMEs), GMA Business Owners, and technical counterparts (DDIT).
• Drive cross‑functional alignment with partners such as the AI & Innovation Product Manager (SPPO, Dev AI), ensuring continual alignment between MA AI and Dev AI product roadmaps and leveraging best practices & products scaled outside the medical affairs domain.
• Engage and partner with AI and Innovation Lead (SPPO, Dev AI), providing medical external insights and expertise to ensure synergy with the Dev AI CCE strategy and to drive user adoption of MA AI products.
• Establish effective relationships with business stakeholders, DDIT, change management, and enabling functions to ensure a robust operating model for the MA AI portfolio.
• Promote a collaborative and entrepreneurial culture, acting as an agent for change and engaging support for innovative ideas, methods, technologies, partnerships, and solutions to maximize value for Novartis.

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, engineering, life sciences, or related field required; advanced degree (MSc, MBA, etc.) preferred or relevant business experience.
• Fluent English (oral and written).
• Minimum 8 years of experience in technology & business solutions, digital transformation, or related fields (ideally in healthcare, drug development, or life sciences).
• Experience in drug development and/or medical affairs and/or commercial functions (R‑D‑C continuum), including demonstrated innovation & transformation at a functional scale.
• Proven track‑record in leading high‑performing, multidisciplinary teams with diverse profiles.
• Proven ability to conceptualize, develop, and lead initiatives to drive change within organizations, supported by excellent written and interpersonal communication skills.

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. We achieve this through our people – our associates drive us each day to reach our ambitions. Be a part of this mission and join us!

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