Global Clinical Operations AI Program Associate Director

Novartis AG; Sabadell; Hybrid; EUR 64,000 - 118,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Insurance plans

Retirement plans

Wellbeing resources

Global recognition programs

Flexible and hybrid working options

16 weeks parental leave

Job summary

Novartis AG in Barcelona, Spain, seeks a Global Clinical Operations AI Program Associate Director to drive the AI portfolio, translating ideas into scalable, compliant solutions that improve how teams work. You will lead execution, enable adoption, and accelerate the transformation to an AI-enabled organization.

This role combines clinical operations expertise with change leadership and innovation delivery, collaborating across Clinical Operations, Development AI, Data, Digital and IT to deliver

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Life Sciences, or related discipline, or equivalent business experience.
• Postgraduate qualification in a relevant discipline would be beneficial.
• Significant experience in program management or digital delivery within global organizations.

Responsibilities

• Oversee planning, execution, delivery, and reporting across the Global Clinical Operations AI portfolio.
• Monitor portfolio progress, dependencies, risks, and milestones to support decision-making.
• Deliver portfolio reporting and insights using KPIs and metrics.
• Partner with Product Owners and Platform Leads to maintain an integrated AI roadmap.
• Coordinate governance activities including intake, prioritization, risk assessment, and approvals.
• Support adoption of self-service, low-code AI solutions across Clinical Operations.
• Lead change management, communications, training, and launch readiness activities for AI initiatives.
• Apply program management practices including value tracking and benefits realization.

Skills

Program management

Cross-functional leadership

AI experience

Change management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field

Job description

Salary Range

€63,800.00 - €118,400.00

Job Description Summary

#LI-Hybrid

Location

Barcelona, Spain

Relocation Support

Relocation Support is not available for this position. Please only apply if this location is accessible for you. Novartis is unable to sponsor Visas for this location.

Hybrid Working Condition

This is a Hybrid working role with an expectation of 12 days per month in office.

About the Role

Help shape how AI creates measurable impact across Clinical Operations.

As the Global Clinical Operations AI Program Associate Director, you will drive the delivery of GCO's AI portfolio, translating innovative ideas into scalable, compliant solutions that improve how teams work. Partnering across Clinical Operations, Development AI, Data, Digital and Information Technology, and business leaders, you will lead program execution, enable adoption, and help accelerate the transformation to an AI-enabled organization. This is an opportunity to combine clinical operations expertise, change leadership, and innovation delivery to bring AI from concept to real-world impact.

Job Description

This position acts as the programmatic backbone of the AI team by supporting the coordination and alignment of GCO AI product roadmaps with Dev AI products and strategy as well as enabling Product Owners, Platform Leads and the Head of AI Transformation to deliver on the GCO AI goals.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee planning, execution, delivery, and reporting across the Global Clinical Operations AI portfolio.
• Monitor portfolio progress, dependencies, risks, and milestones to support effective decision-making.
• Deliver portfolio reporting and insights using standardized key performance indicators and metrics.
• Partner with Product Owners and Platform Leads to maintain an integrated AI roadmap and solution landscape.
• Coordinate governance activities including intake, prioritization, risk assessment, compliance alignment, and approvals.
• Support adoption of self-service, low-code, and productivity-focused AI solutions across Clinical Operations.
• Lead change management, communications, training, and launch readiness activities for AI initiatives.
• Apply consistent program management practices, including value tracking, quality assurance, and benefits realization.

Essential Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Life Sciences, or a related discipline, or equivalent relevant business experience.
• A postgraduate qualification in a relevant discipline would be beneficial.
• Significant experience in program management, project management, digital delivery, or business transformation within complex global organizations.
• Proven ability to coordinate multiple workstreams and drive delivery across cross-functional initiatives.
• Strong understanding of Clinical Operations or the ability to rapidly develop expertise in the clinical trial environment.
• Experience delivering innovation, transformation, or technology-enabled change that resulted in measurable business outcomes.
• Ability to build trusted partnerships and influence stakeholders across technical, operational, and compliance functions.
• Experience supporting digital or AI initiatives, including solution deployment, adoption, or process automation.
• Experience working within regulated environments and applying compliance requirements to operational delivery.
• Excellent communication, change management, and facilitation skills, with the ability to drive adoption of new ways of working.

Desirable Requirements

• Demonstrated personal use of AI beyond basic productivity applications, including experimentation with emerging tools or solutions.
• Experience supporting technology adoption, change, or process improvement within Clinical Operations or a related healthcare environment.

Why Consider This Opportunity

This role offers the opportunity to help shape how AI is adopted across Global Clinical Operations, working at the intersection of innovation, transformation, and delivery. You will partner with leaders across the organization to turn AI opportunities into practical solutions that enhance productivity, support compliant operations, and accelerate the journey toward an AI-enabled Clinical Operations organization.

Rewards

At Novartis, we're committed to reimagining medicine together - and rewarding the people who make it happen.

The rewards of being part of our team go far beyond base pay and incentives. We also offer a variety of competitive benefits in kind to help you thrive personally and professionally, such as insurance plans, retirement plans, wellbeing resources and global recognition programs. In addition, we provide flexible and hybrid working options, where possible, and a minimum of 14 weeks paid parental leave.

• insurance plans
• retirement plans
• wellbeing resources
• global recognition programs
• flexible and hybrid working options
• a minimum of 14 weeks paid parental leave

Expected Annual Base Salary Range for role

63,800.00 - 118,400.00 EUR Annual

The salary offered is determined based on gender-neutral objectives, such as relevant skills, competencies and experience in accordance with the Novartis pay setting policy and upon joining Novartis will be