Director, AI & Innovation Strategy

Band

Level 6

 

Job Description Summary

This position will be located in East Hanover, NJ.

 

Job Description

The Insights and Decision Science (IDS) team is dedicated to enabling improved decision making at Novartis by leveraging superior data to identify actionable insights that drive enhanced performance. We collaborate closely with the US business, bringing insights and challenging ideas to empower smarter, data-driven decision-making. Reporting into the VP Head of AI and Innovation, this role is crucial in driving the overall strategy for (Gen)AI tools and technologies within Novartis.

This position is responsible for developing and executing a dynamic, enterprise-wide AI and innovation strategy that advances Novartis’ mission and long-term objectives. By collaborating with executive leadership, business units, and enabling functions, the role identifies, prioritizes, and drives high-impact AI initiatives that align with strategic goals and deliver measurable value. The Executive Director fosters a culture of innovation, strategic thinking, and AI adoption. This role also plays a central part in unifying Generative AI efforts, guiding cross-functional execution, promoting best practices, and serving as a strategic thought partner to the USLT—ensuring AI initiatives are well-governed, scalable, and embedded into the broader enterprise.

Major Accountabilities

• Lead the IDS AI and Innovation strategy with an enterprise lens, aligning US and Novartis-wide AI efforts—including GenAI—with long-term business priorities.

• Operate in a highly agile environment, shaping an adaptive AI strategy that responds to evolving business needs and opportunities

• Drive alignment and engagement across USLT, cross-BU forums, and ECN SteerCos, while initiating and accelerating key strategic AI initiatives with internal and external partners

• Identify emerging AI trends across technology and the implications on the US healthcare ecosystem

• Coordinate achievement of US AI objectives across functions, partnering with business, tech, and P&O to shape and prioritize high-value initiatives and roadmap accomplishment

• Oversee key AI initiatives by establishing accountability, tracking value, in collaboration with the Enterprise-wide AI-strategy office

• Establish strategic measurement frameworks and value metrics to evaluate the impact of AI initiatives and inform ongoing investment decisions

• Shape best practices for AI strategy with AI and Innovation teams, aligning across partnerships, product strategy, and enterprise initiatives

Essential Requirements:

Novartis seeks a strategic AI leader with a strong track record of driving enterprise transformation through AI and data. The ideal candidate excels in cross-functional leadership as well as strategy development and deep understanding of the evolution of AI and its implications on the healthcare and pharma landscape. Experience in influencing executive decisions and aligning innovation with business goals is essential.

Additional qualifications are as follows:

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, AI, or related field is required; Master of Science and/or MBA preferred

• A minimum of 8 years of experience in technology strategy, strategy consulting, innovation, or leadership roles, preferably in the pharmaceutical or healthcare sectors

• A deep understanding of the pharmaceutical industry, including regulatory requirements, market dynamics, and emerging AI technologies, with the foresight to identify and map both current and future AI opportunities, is preferred.

• Ability to develop and execute long-term strategic technology plans that align with organizational goals and drive innovation

• Strong understanding of generative AI technologies, machine learning, and data analytics, with a focus on practical applications

• Excellent leadership skills with the ability to build and lead high-performing teams of AI specialists

• People management experience within AI, technology, or data-driven environments is required

• Must possess an ability to foster cross-functional alignment of key stakeholders to create a disciplined, ambitious, and collaborative global, commercial operating platform

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret complex data and make informed decisions

• Experience in leading organizational change and fostering a culture of innovation and continuous improvement

• Ability to adapt strategies and approaches in a rapidly evolving technological landscape

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