Director, Internal Audit, TechOps

Novartis; Barcelona; Hybrid; EUR 70,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Novartis in Barcelona seeks a Director, Internal Audit, TechOps to safeguard and strengthen manufacturing and supply operations. You will lead complex audits and advisory engagements, shaping risk identification, mitigation, and governance across end‑to‑end operations.

You will partner with senior leadership, bring operational insight, and drive innovative, data‑driven audit practices while ensuring quality medicines reach patients worldwide.

Qualifications

• Experience leading internal audits in highly regulated environments.
• Strong understanding of GMP, GDP and global health authority requirements.
• Proven ability to influence senior leaders and deliver high‑impact outcomes.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.

Responsibilities

• Oversee risk based audit and advisory engagements across TechOps manufacturing and supply.
• Ensure end‑to‑end coverage of quality, compliance, technology and third‑party models.
• Lead audit planning and program development with focus on priority risks.
• Review findings and ensure clear, evidence‑based conclusions.
• Drive actionable recommendations to strengthen controls and operational performance.
• Act as trusted advisor to senior leaders while maintaining independence.
• Provide leadership to Senior Managers, set strategic direction and ensure high‑quality delivery.
• Coach auditors and promote data‑driven, AI-enabled audit practices.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Regulatory knowledge

English fluency

Education

Technical or scientific degree

Job description

Salary Range:

€70,100.00 - €130,300.00

Band

Level 6

Job Description Summary

#LI-Hybrid
Location: Barcelona, Spain

You will play a pivotal role in safeguarding and strengthening Novartis’ Technical Operations by providing independent, strategic assurance across manufacturing and supply. As Director, Internal Audit, TechOps, you will lead complex, high‑impact audit and advisory engagements that shape how risks are identified, mitigated, and managed across end‑to‑end operations. Partnering closely with senior and executive stakeholders, you will bring deep operational insight, sound judgment, and a forward‑looking mindset to influence better outcomes, advance audit innovation, and help ensure we continue to deliver quality medicines to patients worldwide.

Job Description

Key responsibilities

• Oversee and provide overall direction for complex, risk‑based audit and advisory engagements across manufacturing and supply operations

• Ensure audit scopes address end‑to‑end Technical Operations risks, including quality, compliance, technology, and third‑party models

• Support audit planning and audit program development by identifying key Manufacturing & Supply risks and acting as a technical reference to ensure audit coverage remains risk‑based, relevant, and aligned to business priorities

• Review audit findings and reports to ensure technical accuracy, clarity, and evidence‑based conclusions

• Drive pragmatic, value‑adding recommendations that strengthen controls and enable measurable operational improvement

• Act as a trusted advisor to senior leaders, maintaining independence while fostering constructive, credible partnerships

• Provide direct line management to Senior Managers, setting clear strategic direction, overseeing performance and development, and ensuring consistent, high‑quality delivery of risk‑focused audit and advisory engagements across Technical Operations

• Coach and develop auditors through hands‑on guidance, feedback, and knowledge‑sharing in Manufacturing and Supply

• Advance digital, data‑driven, and artificial intelligence‑enabled audit practices in collaboration with enablement teams

Please be advised that this role has a global travel requirement circa 25%.

Essential Requirements

• Degree in technical or scientific discipline related to manufacturing, supply chain, logistics, or production planning

• Substantial experience within internal audit functions in highly regulated industries, preferably pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, or medical devices

• Strong practical knowledge of end-to-end processes in manufacturing operations, supply chain management, quality systems, and external manufacturing models

• Proven experience leading audit and advisory engagements, managing senior stakeholders, and delivering high‑impact outcomes

• Solid understanding of pharmaceutical regulations and standards, including Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), Good Distribution Practice (GDP), and global health authority requirements such as FDA, EMA, and other international regulatory bodies

• Demonstrated ability to operate in complex environments, influence senior leaders, and communicate audit conclusions with confidence and tact

• Strong people management experience, with a track record of leading, developing, and motivating high‑performing teams.

• Fluency in English (written and verbal) is required; additional languages are an advantage

Desirable Requirements

• Professional internal audit or supply chain certification, such as Certified Internal Auditor or Certified Supply Chain Professional

• Experience applying data analytics or artificial intelligence‑enabled tools within internal audit or regulated operating environments

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

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

Skills Desired

Building High Performance Team, Compliance And Controls (Inactive), Critical Thinking, E2E Process View (Inactive), Effective Communications (Inactive), Financial Accounting, Financial And Management Reporting (Inactive), People Development, Problem Solving, Process Optimization