Chief of Staff to Workforce Strategy Head, US

Novartis; Schweiz; Hybrid; CHF 126,000 - 234,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

401(k) with company match

Equity awards eligibility

Generous time off

Job summary

Novartis in the United States seeks a strategic Workforce Strategy leader to partner with the Workforce Strategy Head, US, and drive the development and execution of the US Commercial People & Organization strategy over a 3–5 year horizon. You will lead the Office of the Workforce Strategy Head, coordinate governance and connect priorities across US Commercial P&O teams.

The role demands 7+ years in pharma/healthcare, 3+ years commercial experience, and proven ability to lead complex

Qualifications

• 7+ years in pharmaceutical, biotech, healthcare, health policy or healthcare consulting.
• 3+ years of commercial experience in pharma/biotech/healthcare or consulting.
• 2+ years leading complex projects requiring global/local alignment.
• Strong project management capabilities with execution focus.
• Analytical and problem‑solving skills to translate insights into plans.
• Excellent communication and storytelling to simplify concepts for diverse audiences.

Responsibilities

• Serve as strategic advisor to the Workforce Strategy Head, US on P&O priorities and enterprise decision‑making.
• Translate strategic priorities into agendas, decisions, actions and execution plans.
• Lead operating rhythm and governance of the US Workforce Strategy Team and leadership meetings.
• Drive leadership team effectiveness with clear decisions, ownership and timelines.
• Prepare executive materials, briefings and leadership communications.
• Ensure alignment of US P&O priorities with the broader US leadership agenda.
• Partner with Workforce Strategy and Chiefs of Staff to connect priorities and planning.
• Identify and lead cross‑functional strategic projects with local/global impact.
• Anticipate risks, escalate critical topics for senior leadership attention.
• Drive development and execution of the US P&O strategy within broader business planning.

Skills

Strategic partnership

Project management

Analytical thinking

Communication

Storytelling

Influence & stakeholder management

Cross-functional collaboration

Global/local alignment

Education

Advanced degree in life sciences/healthcare

MBA or equivalent preferred

Job description

Job Description Summary

Location: East Hanover, New Jersey (#LI-Hybrid)

This role is required to be in our East Hanover, NJ office 3x/week with 10-20% travel required.

In this role you will serve as a strategic partner and operational extension to the Workforce Strategy Head, US, supporting the development and execution of the US Commercial People & Organization (P&O) strategy over a 3 to 5-year horizon. You will lead the Office of the Workforce Strategy Head, drive leadership alignment and key operating rhythms, and connect priorities across US Commercial P&O teams. Last but not least, you will partner with Workforce Strategy colleagues and strategic assistant communities to translate P&O strategy into clear functional objectives and execution.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities:

• Serve as a strategic advisor and thought partner to the Workforce Strategy Head, US on P&O priorities, organizational effectiveness, leadership dynamics, and enterprise decision-making.
• Translate strategic priorities into clear agendas, decision points, actions, and execution plans , ensuring focus on the highest-value priorities.
• Lead the operating rhythm and governance of the US Workforce Strategy Team , including leadership meetings, business reviews, decision forums, and strategic offsites.
• Drive leadership team effectiveness by clarifying decisions, ownership, accountability, timelines, and follow-up actions.
• Prepare and coordinate executive-level materials , including briefings, pre-reads, talking points, meeting objectives, and leadership communications.
• Ensure alignment of US P&O priorities with the broader US leadership agenda , acting as a key interface between P&O US, the Office of the President, and relevant leadership teams.
• Partner with Workforce Strategy and Business Chiefs of Staff to connect strategic priorities, transformation initiatives, and business planning across the organization.
• Identify, operationalize, and lead cross-functional strategic projects with local and global impact.
• Anticipate risks, gaps, and misalignment , escalating critical topics and decisions requiring senior leadership attention.
• Drive the development and execution of the US P&O strategy , ensuring transformation priorities are integrated into broader business planning and operating rhythms.

Essential Requirements:

• Minimum 7 years of experience within pharmaceutical, biotech, healthcare, health policy, or healthcare consulting.
• Minimum 3 years of commercial experience , preferably within a pharmaceutical, biotech, healthcare, or consulting environment.
• Minimum 2 years of experience leading complex projects or initiatives requiring global and local alignment.
• Strong project management capabilities , with demonstrated experience translating strategy into execution.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills , with the ability to generate insights and translate them into actionable plans.
• Excellent communication and storytelling skills , with the ability to simplify complex concepts and strategies for different audiences.
• Strong influencing, stakeholder management, and collaboration skills , with experience operating effectively in a matrix organization.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities, lead without formal authority, and deliver results in a complex environment.

Desirable Requirements:

• Advanced degree in life sciences, healthcare, or a related field; MBA or equivalent preferred.
• 2+ years of experience with a leading consulting firm , ideally supporting healthcare, life sciences, or related strategic work.

Benefits & Rewards

• The salary for this position is expected to range between $152,600 and $283,400 per year.
• The final salary offered is determined based on factors like, but not limited to, relevant skills and experience, and upon joining Novartis will be reviewed periodically.
• Novartis may change the published salary range based on company and market factors.
• Your compensation will include a performance-based cash incentive and, depending on the level of the role, eligibility to be considered for annual equity awards.
• US-based eligible employees will receive a comprehensive benefits package that includes health, life and disability benefits, a 401(k) with company contribution and match, and a US-based eligible employees will receive a comprehensive benefits package that includes health, life and disability benefits, a 401(k) with company contribution and match, and a variety of other benefits.
• In addition, employees are eligible for a generous time off package including vacation, personal days, holidays and other leaves.

EEO Statement:

The Novartis Group of Companies are Equal Opportunity Employers. We do not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion or other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status.

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