Medical Director, Rheumatology (REMOTE)

Band

Level 6

 

Job Description Summary

#LI-Remote-

Location: Remote-

At Novartis, an industry leader, you will provide critical medical and scientific leadership across a broad rheumatology portfolio. The Medical Director will play a central role in strategic planning, tactical execution, and budget planning, with a strong emphasis on evidence generation, clinical development support, and scientific communications.

This role will drive close collaboration and co leadership with Global and U.S. Medical Affairs, Clinical Development, HEOR, Regulatory, Commercial, and Market Access colleagues to develop and execute integrated evidence plans and scientific communication strategies supporting early pipeline, launch, and in line rheumatology therapies.

The Medical Director will serve as a key internal and external scientific leader, partnering with healthcare professionals, investigators, and professional societies to advance data generation, scientific exchange, and understanding of evolving standards of care across multiple rheumatology and rare autoimmune disease areas.

Major Accountabilities
• Lead the development and execution of integrated evidence generation plans across multiple rheumatology disease states, including Sjögren’s disease, lupus, systemic sclerosis, psoriatic arthritis, and rare autoimmune conditions, in partnership with Global and U.S. cross functional teams.
• Provide medical leadership and scientific input to clinical development programs, including support for protocol development, study design, data interpretation, and ongoing trial execution and enrollment across early and late phase studies. Partner with Clinical Development, Clinical Operations, and external investigators to drive innovative patient recruitment and retention solutions, supporting the successful enrollment of a large portfolio of Phase 3b studies, while overseeing Investigator Initiated Trials (IITs) and Research Collaboration programs to ensure scientific quality, strategic alignment, and compliant execution.
• Develop and implement a comprehensive external medical engagement strategy, including interactions with medical experts, investigators, academic centers, large rheumatology practices, and professional societies, ensuring impactful and compliant scientific exchange.
• Collaborate in the establishment and ongoing execution of advisory boards and expert meetings, partnering with cross functional stakeholders to ensure clear objectives, high quality scientific dialogue, and compliance with all applicable guidelines.
• Lead the development and execution of scientific communication plans, including congress strategy, publications, external presentations, and scientific materials aligned with evidence and lifecycle strategy.
• Drive and coordinate congress medical strategy and execution, including scientific sessions, investigator meetings, and external engagement activities at key U.S. and international rheumatology congresses, in collaboration with Global teams.
• Serve as a strategic partner to field medical teams (e.g., MSLs) by providing scientific leadership, aligning on external engagement priorities, and incorporating field insights into medical strategy and evidence planning.
• Represent the U.S. Medical voice in internal forums and cross functional governance, providing input into global strategy, evidence planning, and external engagement approaches.
• Act as a disease area medical expert for internal stakeholders across functions and for external audiences, including healthcare professionals, professional medical societies, and patient advocacy organizations.
• Perform additional Medical Affairs responsibilities as assigned, consistent with business needs and organizational priorities.

Key Performance Indicators
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively across Global and U.S. matrix teams to co develop and execute integrated medical, clinical, and evidence strategies.
• Strength of scientific and strategic thinking, including the ability to translate complex clinical and real world data into clear medical insights that inform development, lifecycle, and scientific communication decisions.
• Effectiveness in building and sustaining trusted relationships with external stakeholders, including healthcare professionals, investigators, and professional societies.
• Successful contribution to clinical development support, evidence generation, and launch readiness across multiple rheumatology and rare autoimmune disease areas.
• Ability to communicate clearly, concisely, and credibly with diverse internal and external audiences, aligning stakeholders around shared medical and scientific objectives.
• Consistent delivery of key medical initiatives on time, with high quality, and within budget.
• Demonstrated ability to leverage advanced analyt