Sr. Global Program Safety Team Lead - Oncology

Job Description Summary

Join us in a high-impact leadership role at the forefront of Oncology drug development.

As Senior Global Program Safety Team Lead, you will bring clinical insight, strategic thinking, and strong leadership to complex safety decisions, helping shape development pathways and advance medicines that could change patients’ lives.

 

Job Description

Key Responsibilities 

• Manage an efficient and successful disease area within the Therapeutic Area (TA)/Development Unit (DU) Medical Safety organization, which provides robust medical and science-driven contribution to BenefitRisk evaluation throughout product lifecycle to enable Novartis to provide impactful medicines to patients worldwide
• Enhance scientific and clinical experience of Medical Safety physicians / scientists through continuous training and coaching. Prepares safety objectives and evaluates and manages performance of the Medical Safety associates within the TA/DU. Identifies talents and high potential associates and is able to defend and discuss in front of leadership team. Together with associates identifies carrier development opportunities and support associates in the carrier path
• Provide expert safety input to the clinical development program for assigned projects/products and be an active member of the Global Program Team (GPT), Global Clinical Team (GCT) and Clinical Trial Team (CTT) -Is responsible for safety issue management from formation of Global Program Team (GPT) through Life Cycle Management
• Responsible for overall signal detection, monitoring, evaluation, interpretation and appropriate management of safety information, based on information from all relevant line functions, post-marketing data, and other sources
• Responsible for documentation/tracking/record keeping of the assigned compounds medical safety activities and for responses to inquiries from regulatory authorities or health care professionals on safety issues
• Leading the preparation of the safety strategy for health authority responses and strategy, in collaboration with other project team members
• Contribute to and often leading the development of departmental and functional/business unit goals and objective

Essential Requirements 

• Medical Degree or equivalent (preferred), PhD, PharmD or equivalent graduate level health care professional degree required. Specialty Board certification desirable
• Minimum 5 years clinical experience postdoctoral
• At least 7 years progressive experience in drug development in a major pharmaceutical company (of which 5 years in a global position), including 5 years in safety at a medical position
• Solid expertise in preparing or contributing to preparation of clinical safety assessments and regulatory reports/submissions involving safety information – to include NDA submission documents
• Substantial experience in leading cross-functional, multicultural teams
• Strong experience with (safety or others) issue management
• Extensive experience in drug development, clinical trial methodology, regulatory requirements, scientific methodology, statistics and writing of publication
• Strong leadership skills including coaching; motivating and directing, and fostering teamwork. Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with subordinates, superiors and peers

Languages:

• Fluent English (both spoken & written) is required.  Additional languages are an advantage.

Beneficial skills and knowledge:

• Post graduate degree in Pharmaceutical Medicine; Master of Public Health in Epidemiology (or equivalent)
• Strong negotiation and conflict management skills
• Strong experience with medical writing and delivering high quality documents such as RMPs, PSURs

This is your opportunity to lead at the forefront of Oncology development and influence the future of patient safety on a global scale. Apply now to join Novartis and help bring transformative therapies to patients worldwide.

Closing date for applications: 06 July 2026

Benefits & Rewards 

The pay range for this position at commencement of employment is expected to be between $248,500 and $461,500 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 the level of the role, eligibility to be considered f