Director, AI Enablement, Corporate Affairs

Job Description Summary

We're a team of dedicated and passionate people united by a drive to achieve together. This is a senior leadership role accountable for defining and delivering the AI strategy that transforms how Novartis Corporate Affairs creates and delivers enterprise value. You will set the multi-year vision for AI enablement across the function, lead a team to execution, lead the development of the portfolio, and represent Corporate Affairs as our lead voice on AI in senior enterprise forums.

You will own the full lifecycle of AI in Corporate Affairs, from strategy and business cases through delivery, governance, adoption, and realized value, and is measured by the strategic, operational, and reputational impact AI generates for the function and the enterprise.

Novartis will not sponsor visas for this position.

This role is required to be in our East Hanover, NJ office 3x/week.

• Design and implement a defined and executive-endorsed multi-year AI strategy for Corporate Affairs that anticipates how AI will reshape communications, public affairs, ESG, and stakeholder engagement.
• Lead the strategy and development of a prioritized AI portfolio governed as a managed investment, with disciplined trade-offs across strategic and operational impact, data readiness, and speed to value.
• Lead the strategy and execution for approved business cases and funding decisions for every initiative in the portfolio, with quantified value targets, ROI methodology, and clear reinvestment logic linked to enterprise outcomes.
• Hire and develop a high-performing AI team with the technical depth and judgment required to deliver enterprise-grade AI solutions.
• Deliver realized business value across deployed solutions - measured in time recovered, productivity gained, opportunities captured, insights accelerated, or strategic capacity created - tracked against approved business cases.
• Represent Corporate Affairs in enterprise AI governance bodies, technology councils, and senior cross-functional forums.
• Serve as a trusted senior advisor with the Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, Chief of Staff, and other executive leaders on AI strategy, opportunity, and more.
• Own the AI governance framework for Corporate Affairs, jointly defined with IT, Legal, and Compliance with zero material compliance, privacy, or responsible-AI incidents across the portfolio.

• Progressive experience in AI, digital transformation, and technology strategy, with a proven track record of defining and leading AI strategy for a major function or business unit - including ownership of investment, portfolio, and value realization.
• Strong track record of delivering production-grade AI, generative AI, or advanced analytics solutions in a complex environment, with demonstrable ownership of business outcomes.
• Good technical fluency with large language models, generative and agentic AI applications, and the data engineering and machine learning operations principles that underpin enterprise-grade AI, including responsible AI and model risk.
• Proven experience building and leading teams of AI, data, or technology professionals, including senior individual contributors.
• Ability to operate credibly at senior executive level - advising and briefing C-suite leaders on AI strategy, risk, and value - with substantive experience leading cross-functional partnerships across IT, Legal, Compliance, Procurement, and business functions.

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Engineering, or a related technical field required. Advanced degree (MS, MBA, or equivalent) preferred.
• Pharmaceuticals, healthcare, or other highly regulated global industry experience.

The salary for this position is expected to range between $194,600 and $361,400 per year. The final salary offered is determined based on factors like, but not limited to, relevant skills and experience, and upon joining Novartis will be reviewed periodically. Novartis may change the published salary range based on company and market factors. Your compensation will include a performance-based cash incentive and, depending on…