Associate Director Biomarker Lead

Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association; London; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare organization is seeking a Cardiovascular and Metabolism Biomarker Lead (Associate Director) to drive biomarker strategies in precision medicine. The role involves leading a matrix team, developing clinical project strategies, and contributing to translational data science efforts. Ideal candidates will have an MD or PhD, extensive experience in cardiovascular diseases, and proven leadership skills.

Qualifications

• Deep understanding of cardiovascular and metabolic disease epidemiology.
• Proven scientific excellence with high-quality publications.
• Experience in pharmaceutical, biotech, or clinical research settings.

Responsibilities

• Lead CVM disease area biomarker matrix team.
• Develop and implement biomarker strategies.
• Represent biomarker development at decision boards.

Skills

Analytical Thinking

Collaboration

Communication

Data Analysis

Leadership

Machine Learning

Education

MD, MD/PhD, or PhD with postdoctoral research

Job description

Job Description Summary

#LI-Hybrid

As a Cardiovascular and Metabolism (CVM) Biomarker Lead (BML) (Associate Director), you will lead the CVM disease area biomarker matrix team and be responsible for developing and implementing "fit for purpose" biomarker strategies. You will serve as a core member of CVM clinical project teams, engaged in Translational Data Science teams, and review clinical protocols from a therapeutic area line perspective. Your focus will be on identifying, developing, and driving disease, mechanistic, and compound biology efforts to support clinical and precision medicine approaches within the Cardio-Immunology portfolio, particularly for atherosclerosis (ASCVD) indications.

Job Description

Key responsibilities:

1. Deliver clinical project and disease biomarker strategies and plans across the early phase CVM-IMM portfolio, supporting mature assets in later phases.
2. Lead a matrixed group of Subject Matter Experts and project team members, developing biomarker strategies for disease and assets across the Research-Development-Commercial continuum.
3. Represent Biomarker Development at Disease Area Decision Boards, supporting project biomarker strategies that inform mechanistic biology and precision medicine approaches.
4. Contribute to translational data working groups focused on integrating large-scale patient multi-modal data sets (omics, imaging, digital, etc.) to identify new indications, endpoints, and responsive patient subpopulations in ASCVD.
5. Provide thought leadership to identify synergies and foster innovation across the clinical portfolio, bridging cardiovascular and immunology domains.
6. Represent BMD line functions in Therapeutic Area committees during clinical protocol development and milestone reviews.
7. Lead biomarker strategies at the clinical team level as a Biomarker Strategy Lead.
8. Contribute to broader initiatives such as genetics, inflammation, and imaging, depending on expertise.
9. Stay updated on scientific literature, disease biology, and competitor data relevant to the disease areas.
10. Implement strategies in collaboration with the global BMD organization, comprising over 150 associates with expertise spanning genetics, genomics, molecular biology, digital devices, imaging, and data sciences.

Essential Requirements:

1. MD, MD/PhD, or PhD with additional postdoctoral research or equivalent experience.
2. Deep understanding of cardiovascular and metabolic disease epidemiology, especially inflammatory CVD and atherosclerosis, applicable to diagnosis, biomarker development, and treatment monitoring.
3. Proven scientific excellence with high-quality publications; clinical or biological expertise in cardiovascular and metabolic diseases (board certification preferred).
4. Experience in a pharmaceutical, biotech, clinical research organization, or academic medical center setting.
5. Significant experience post-MD/PhD/postdoc, with quantitative expertise in biostatistics, bioinformatics, clinical imaging, machine learning, or data science, especially interpreting omics data.
6. Proven success in leading multidisciplinary teams across pharma/biotech, academia, or healthcare sectors.
7. Strong interpersonal, influencing, and negotiation skills; effective communicator and presenter.
8. Fluent in English; additional languages are a plus.

Why Novartis? Our purpose is to reimagine medicine to improve and extend lives. Join us to be part of a mission driven by our people. Learn more: https://www.novartis.com/about/strategy/people-and-culture

You’ll receive: Details on benefits and rewards are available in the Novartis Life Handbook: https://www.novartis.com/careers/benefits-rewards

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion: We are dedicated to building an inclusive, diverse work environment reflecting the communities we serve.

Join our Novartis Network: Stay connected for updates on career opportunities: https://talentnetwork.novartis.com/network

Skills Desired: Analytical Thinking, Chemical Biology, Clinical Research, Collaboration, Communication, Data Analysis, Decision Making, Design of Experiments, Drug Development, Leadership, Influence, Machine Learning, Medical Research, Mentorship, and more.