Associate Director, Solution Architect Innovation & Delivery

Job Description Summary

As a Solution Architect in Innovation & Delivery, you are responsible for designing and planning, and actively guiding the execution of end-to-end solution architectures that enable scalable, integrated, and high-impact digital systems supporting Biomedical Research. Working at the intersection of delivery segment teams and engineering teams, you translate business, scientific, and portfolio strategy into clear, actionable architectural direction that informs design, engineering, and delivery outcomes.

Leveraging strong domain awareness and architectural expertise, you oversee the landscape of scientific and informatics capabilities and how they map to digital solutions. You ensure these capabilities are consistently represented across data platforms, AI solutions, and shared services, and that they integrate into cohesive, scalable ecosystems serving thousands of users. Operating as an expert individual contributor, you bridge domain intent with technical implementation, delivering solution design, ensuring alignment with enterprise standards as well as data and AI strategies, and driving consistent adoption of architectural patterns across the organization.

This role is based in Basel, Switzerland. Novartis is unable to offer relocation support for this role: please only apply if this location is accessible for you.

Innovation Discovery & Evaluation

Continuously identify and prioritize emerging technologies across Software & Workflows that enable future outcomes and strengthen Portfolio, Data and AI strategies. Assess innovation opportunities using structured criteria including value, feasibility, maturity, risk, and strategic fit. Contribute to vendor assessments, RFI/RFP processes, and external partner evaluations. Identify early trends and directional signals that could influence software, platform, or portfolio strategy.

Experimentation & Rapid Validation

Translate high-potential opportunities to testable hypotheses and structured experiments. Conduct rapid prototyping to validate assumptions and generate evidence for decision making that can inform scaled implementation initiatives. Define success criteria and learning objectives to ensure experiments produce actionable results.

Strategic Translation & Integration

Translate external innovation signals into improvements for existing Software and Workflow capabilities and into new strategic opportunities. Partner with Software and Workflow leaders to drive experiments, pilots, and scalable initiatives.

Insight Communication & Influence

Deliver clear, concise and compelling narratives tailored to executive, delivery and technical stakeholders. Influence prioritization and investment decisions through evidence-based recommendations. Establish credibility as a trusted advisor on emerging technologies and innovation opportunities.

Innovation Culture & Ways of Working

Operate with urgency by focusing on rapid learning cycles and actionable outputs. Collaborate effectively across organizational boundaries to accelerate innovation adoption. Foster a culture of experimentation, curiosity, and continuous learning across teams.

Innovation & Technology Insight

Strong understanding of scientific domains (e.g., biomedical research, data-driven science) to effectively evaluate technologies and vendor offerings in context. Strong understanding of digital, software, data, and AI technology landscapes, including emerging patterns and capabilities. Ability to distinguish meaningful signals from noise and assess relevance in complex, evolving environments. Strong external orientation with awareness of industry, academic and startup innovation trends.

Strategic & Analytical Strength

Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills to evaluate opportunities and prioritize based on value, feasibility, risk, and strategic alignment. Ability to translate ambiguous signals into clear, decision-ready insights that inform Software and Workflows portfolio direction. Experience shaping hypotheses and defining structured approaches to early-stage opportunity evaluation. Ability to connect technology…