Business Operations Lead- External Innovation

Band

Level 3

 

Job Description Summary

The Business Operations Lead role in External Innovation (EI) is a strategic and essential position to deliver Biomedical Research’s (BR) external innovation and academic collaboration strategy efficiently and compliantly The BR Business Operations Lead supports the goals of the BR EI team by leading essential operational responsibilities, supporting the Global Head of Academic Partnership (AP) and External Innovation (EI) and staff, driving and ensuring optimal alignment of resources and engaging with the wider BR community.

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Internal Title: Business Operations Lead
Location: Cambridge
This role is based in Cambridge, MA. Novartis is unable to offer relocation support for this role: please only apply if this location is accessible for you.

 

Job Description

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic and operational impact

• The Business Operations Lead role in AP&EI is crucial for implementing our external innovation and academic collaboration strategy efficiently and compliantly.

• This strategic role interfaces with key stakeholders, including Disease Areas (DAs)/Functional Areas (FAs), Ethics Risks and Compliance (ERC), Legal, Finance, academia, and Heads of Operations, aligning projects, resources, and priorities.

•  As a member of the EI Leadership Team (LT), this position facilitates complex coordination and process improvement, freeing scientific and senior leaders to focus on strategic and scientific priorities.

• Responsible for leading and driving key cross-functional projects within AP&EI that will support BR’s and DAs/FAs strategic interests with academic partners (such as the Early Career Investigator Program, Lead for EI workstreams, Lean In sessions, and EI Updates, Offsite ownership: lead working group for setting agenda, logistics, host for the offsite)

Governance of the External Scientific Monetary Support Program (ESMSP)

• This role is critical in the governance of BR’s External Scientific Monetary Support Program (ESMSP) and is fully accountable for the External Scientific Monetary Sponsorship Fund and plays a critical role that requires significant leadership and expertise to identify potential risks when working with third parties.

• Leads the Global Sponsorship Governance Committee meetings which includes the Swiss Fund requests ensuring similar review and triage is conducted and Corporate Funding requests.

• Management of ESMSP requires dedicated ownership of the GEMS database, ensuring compliance, audit readiness, and reducing reputational risk.

• Responsible for reviewing and triaging external sponsorship requests (>150/year) for ESMS, collaborating with DAs/FAs, ERC, and Finance to develop funding strategies and ensure legal compliance (validity of the requestor and engagement with ERC country representative for country code compliance) to reduce risk.

Visibility, branding, and partner experience

• The role centralizes key activities that shape BR’s external image reviewing with COMMS third party Communication request, preparing partnering materials, brochures, presentations, and web presence. Coordinates Novartis (NVS) events at partnering conferences such as BIO, AUTM, HBCU Engage and government delegation visits at BR. Serves on panels at conferences (i.e. HBCU Engage) based on topic.

Leadership support and financial stewardship

• The Global Head of AP&EI requires reliable operational and executive support for complex internal and external engagements, leadership meetings, travel, and onboarding.

• In partnership with Finance, plans, tracks, and optimizes the global EI budget, ensuring spending is aligned with strategy and transparently managed.

Essential Requirements:

• B.S. or B.A. in a science or business-related field

• 4+ years’ experience providing administrative support and managing projects for executives in a global pharmaceutical setting

• Must be able to maintain confidentiality on sensitive matters as needed

• Knowledge and use of MS Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint and Proficiency in the design and use of databases such as SharePoint

• Previous experience in preparing presentations, partnering brochures, web design

• Able to multitask and prioritize multiple responsibilities and projects, and flexibility to adapt to changing priorities?

• Strong organizational abilities and time management skills with keen attention to detail

• Demonstrated ability to work cross-functionally and align interests of multiple parties

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