Site Robotics Lead

Novartis; Puurs; Hybrid; EUR 79,000 - 147,000; Full time

Job summary

Novartis in Puurs, Belgium, is seeking a Site Robotics Lead to own the end-to-end robotics strategy for the manufacturing site, bridging market scan to the shop floor with hands-on execution. You will combine deep technical expertise with close collaboration with suppliers and the innovation ecosystem to deliver deployable solutions that meet site needs.

Required: 7+ years in robotics, strong GMP knowledge, ALCOA+ data integrity, and fluent Dutch and English, with a proven track record of

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Robotics, Automation, Mechanical, Electrical, Mechatronics, or related field.
• 7+ years of hands-on robotics experience with industrial deployment.
• Proven track record deploying robotics from concept to shop floor.
• Experience defining URS and vendor evaluation criteria.
• Strong knowledge of robotics hardware, integration, and automation architectures.
• Knowledge of GMP, data integrity (ALCOA+), and validation in regulated manufacturing.
• Experience managing robotics portfolio and related budgets.
• Excellent stakeholder management with global and local partners.
• Fluent in Dutch and English (spoken and written).

Responsibilities

• Own the site robotics technology strategy and keep it updated with market and vendor changes.
• Harmonize requirements across platforms and align global ways of working.
• Own URS and the robotics roadmap; align common vs platform-specific requirements.
• Translate scouted technology into standardized, site-ready deployment packages.
• Maintain the Robotics Catalog with current availability and ownership.
• Lead technology scouting in computer vision, automated inspection, and physical AI.
• Evaluate vendor capability and coordinate with Procurement on standards.
• Ensure piloting and adoption with site feedback guiding the roadmap.
• Report progress to the Robotics Steering Committee and support monthly syncs.
• Ensure GMP compliance and security protocols.

Skills

Robotics engineering

System integration

Vendor evaluation

GMP compliance

ALCOA+ data integrity

Stakeholder management

Dutch language skills

English language skills

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Robotics / Automation Engineering / Mechanical / Electrical / Mechatronics

Job description

Salary Range

€79,200.00 - €147,000.00

Job Description Summary

Location: Puurs, Belgium #LI-Hybrid

Internal job title: DDIT OPS Robotics Expert ITOT

This role is based in Belgium. Novartis is unable to offer relocation support for this role: please only apply if this location is accessible for you.

The Site Robotics Lead will join the ITOT Team in Puurs and will own the end-to-end robotics technology strategy for all relevant business processes across the manufacturing site. The role bridges emerging robotics technologies with site needs, moving solutions from market scan to shop floor, by combining deep technical expertise with close proximity to the vendor and innovation ecosystem.

Locatie

Locatie: Puurs, België #LI-Hybrid

Interne functietitel: DDIT OPS Robotics Expert ITOT

Deze functie is gevestigd in België. Novartis kan voor deze functie geen ondersteuning bieden bij verhuizing. Solliciteer daarom alleen als deze locatie voor jou goed bereikbaar is.

De Site Robotics Lead maakt deel uit van het ITOT-team in Puurs en is verantwoordelijk voor de end-to-end robotica-strategie binnen de productiesite. Deze functie vormt de brug tussen opkomende roboticatechnologieën en de behoeften van de site door oplossingen van marktonderzoek naar de productievloer te brengen. Dit gebeurt door diepgaande technische expertise te combineren met een nauwe samenwerking met leveranciers en het innovatie-ecosysteem.

Job Description

Major Accountabilities

• Own the site robotics technology strategy and keep it continuously refreshed against market, vendor, and emerging-technology developments.
• Evaluate standards and strategy, harmonizing requirements across platforms and aligning global ways of working to ensure common requirements are defined, captured, and embedded consistently
• Own the User Requirement Specifications (URSs) and the technology & robotics roadmap, aligning common versus platform-specific requirements.
• Translate scouted technology into standardized, site-ready deployment packages - delivering implementable solutions, not just recommendations.
• Own and maintain the Robotics Catalog per process step of the site processes, keeping availability, readiness, ownership, and technical details current
• Lead technology and market scouting, with dedicated focus on advanced capability areas such as computer vision, automated inspection, and physical AI, closing current resourcing gaps in these domains.
• Evaluate vendor capability and performance, and partner with Procurement on the selection and management of standard, approved vendors.
• Maintain continuous alignment with sites ensuring evaluated technologies are actually piloted and adopted - and that site feedback shapes the next roadmap cycle.
• Report progress on a regular cadence to the Robotics Steering Committee and support sites roadmap endorsement and monthly technical syncs.
• Ensure compliance with GMP regulations and security protocols.

Minimum Requirements

• - Bachelor's or Master's degree in Robotics, Automation Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, or a related technical discipline.
• - Minimum 7+ years of demonstrated experience in robotics, with hands‑on implementation and deployment of industrial robotics solutions.
• Proven track record of evaluating, selecting, and deploying robotics or automation technologies from concept to shop floor
• Experience defining technical standards, User Requirement Specifications (URSs), and vendor evaluation criteria
• Strong understanding of robotics hardware, integration, and automation architectures.
• Knowledge of GMP requirements, data integrity (ALCOA+), and validation principles in regulated manufacturing
• Proven experience in managing robotics portfolio, including managing related budgets and robotics project pipelines
• - Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills, with experience engaging both global and local business partners.
• - Fluent Dutch and English language skills (spoken and written).

Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion

We are committed to building an outstanding, inclusive work environment and diverse teams representative of the patients and communities we serve.

Why Novartis?

Our purpose is to reimagine medicine to improve and extend people's lives and our vision is to become the most valued and trusted medicines company in the world. How can we achieve this? With our people. It is our associates that drive us each day to reach our ambitions. Be a part of this mission and join us! Learn more here: https://www.novartis.com/about/strategy/people-and-culture

Accessibility and accommodation:

Novartis is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to all individuals. If, because of a medical condition or d