Executive Director, Clinical Sciences & Trial Acceleration

Band

Level 7

 

Job Description Summary

This position will be located at the East Hanover, NJ site and will not have the ability to be located remotely. This position will require approximately 25% travel as defined by the business (domestic and/or international). Please note that this role would not provide relocation, and only local candidates will be considered.

 

Job Description

The Executive Director Head of Clinical Sciences plays a mission-critical role in driving the design, execution, and oversight of U.S.-based clinical studies—including Investigator-Initiated Trials (IITs), Research Collaborations (RCs), Managed Access Programs (MAPs), and Non-Interventional Studies (NIS). 

 

This role leads a high-performing, cross-functional team across the U.S. and Novartis Operations Corporate Center (NOCC), ensuring timely delivery of quality evidence, efficient site engagement, and seamless collaboration across US Medical Affairs and R&D stakeholders. The successful candidate will bring strategic clarity, operational rigor, and people leadership to a portfolio that underpins our evidence generation impact. This role is central to advancing Novartis’ vision of delivering patient-centric, data-driven, and scalable evidence generation—offering a unique opportunity to lead transformational change, drive innovation, and create meaningful impact for science, the organization, and the patients we serve

Key Responsibilities:

U.S. Clinical Study Strategy and Execution 

• Lead strategic planning, prioritization, and execution of  U.S.-based clinical studies (IITs, RCs, MAPs, NIS), ensuring scientific quality, patient-centricity, and timely delivery. Oversee study resourcing, budgeting, vendor management, and end-to-end operations in close partnership with the NOCC, USMA and global clinical counterparts. Serve as the primary interface with Global Drug Development (GDD), Global Clinical Operations (GCO), NIBR, and other internal partners for U.S. study feasibility, site allocation, and implementation. Develop prioritization frameworks and operational oversight models for all study types, with clear KPIs and dashboards to monitor progress, resourcing, and trial acceleration. 

Medical Office Leadership and Governance  

• Lead the U.S. Medical Office, fostering collaboration across internal stakeholders to drive cohesive trial strategy, patient-focused study design, and improved site engagement. Ensure clear representation of U.S. patient populations in study planning and execution by aligning with internal medical and development stakeholders. 

Team Development and Capability Building 

• Build, mentor, and scale a cross-functional clinical sciences team with deep expertise in operational delivery across the U.S.

Strategic Collaboration and Cross-Functional Partnership 

• Partner with Medical Franchise Heads, HEOR leads, and Evidence Generation teams to ensure clinical execution supports both scientific and commercial strategies. Provide thought leadership and guidance in integrating U.S.-based clinical research into broader enterprise development plans. Serve as a strategic advisor and internal subject matter expert on clinical operations, offering insights into site engagement, feasibility, and innovative approaches to study delivery. 

Minimum Requirements:

Work Experience:

• 20+ years of clinical research experience with significant leadership responsibilities. 

• Proven track record of overseeing large-scale, multi-site clinical trial operations in a complex matrix environment. 

• Demonstrated experience in managing cross-functional teams, external partnerships, and strategic collaborations. 

• Prior experience mentoring, hiring, and developing high-performing teams. 

• Deep knowledge of FDA regulations, GCP, and clinical trial operations. 

• Financial acumen to forecast, track, and manage study budgets and drug supply. 

• Ability to navigate matrixed organizations and influence at senior levels. 

• Skilled communicator, facilitator, and cross-functional collaborator. 

• Strong analytical, risk management, and decision-making abiliti