Implementation and Strategic Initiatives Director

Novartis AG; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 71,000 - 132,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Insurance plans

Retirement plans

Wellbeing resources

Global recognition programs

Flexible & hybrid working

Job summary

Novartis seeks an Implementation and Strategic Initiatives Director to turn strategic priorities into coordinated initiatives and scalable solutions across Site Management, Global Clinical Operations, and enterprise functions.

You will drive implementation, innovation, and continuous improvement, collaborating with teams worldwide to deliver measurable outcomes and improved operational effectiveness.

Qualifications

• Essential: bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
• Essential: 6+ years leading strategic initiatives, transformations, or complex programs within a global organization.
• Desirable: experience in pharmaceutical or life sciences environments.
• Desirable: ability to influence senior stakeholders within a complex matrix organization.

Responsibilities

• Shape and drive strategic initiatives that advance Site Management and Monitoring priorities and Global Clinical Operations strategy.
• Translate strategic priorities into clear implementation plans, scalable solutions, and measurable outcomes.
• Lead cross-functional transformations and innovations to strengthen capabilities, processes, and collaboration.
• Drive strategic portfolio priorities, develop proposals, governance materials, and roadmaps.
• Partner with innovation teams to identify and scale solutions improving productivity and quality.
• Collaborate with global, regional, and country organizations to align solutions with business needs.
• Lead organizational change activities including communications, capability building, and stakeholder engagement.
• Monitor progress, risks, dependencies, and provide updates to senior stakeholders.
• Build partnerships across functions, geographies, and levels to enable alignment and execution.
• Represent Site Management and Monitoring in relevant forums.

Skills

Clinical Research

Drug Development

Financial Management

Influencing Skills

Leadership

Microsoft Project

Prioritization

Program Management

Project Delivery

Project Planning

Requirements Gathering

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience

Job description

Salary Range

£70,983.50 - £131,826.50

Band

Level 6

Job Description Summary

Primary Location London (The Westworks), United Kingdom

Relocation Support: Novartis is unable to offer relocation support for this role. Please only apply if you can access one of the listed locations.

Ready to turn strategy into action and help shape how global clinical operations work? As Implementation and Strategic Initiatives Director, you will help bring strategic priorities to life by translating them into coordinated initiatives, scalable solutions, and measurable outcomes. Working across Site Management and Monitoring, Global Clinical Operations, and key enterprise functions, you will drive implementation, innovation, simplification, and continuous improvement. This is an opportunity to influence how teams work across functions and geographies while helping build capabilities and solutions that support evolving business needs.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities

• Shape and drive strategic initiatives that advance Site Management and Monitoring priorities and broader Global Clinical Operations strategy.
• Translate strategic priorities into clear implementation plans, scalable solutions, and measurable outcomes.
• Lead cross-functional transformations and innovations that strengthen capabilities, processes, and ways of working.
• Drive strategic portfolio priorities, developing proposals, governance materials, leadership communications, and implementation roadmaps.
• Partner with innovation teams to identify and scale solutions improving productivity, quality, and operational effectiveness.
• Collaborate with global, regional, and country organizations to develop solutions aligned with evolving business needs.
• Lead change activities spanning organizational change, communications, capability building, stakeholder engagement, and adoption.
• Monitor progress, risks, dependencies, and outcomes, providing clear recommendations and updates to senior stakeholders.
• Build strong partnerships across functions, geographies, and organizational levels to enable alignment and successful execution.
• Represent Site Management and Monitoring in relevant Global Clinical Operations, innovation, and strategic forums.

Essential Requirements

• Minimum of a bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience
• Minimum 6 years of experience leading strategic initiatives, transformations, or complex implementation programs within a global organization.
• Understanding of clinical operations, with experience working across global, regional, or country-level environments.
• Demonstrated ability to translate strategic priorities into practical implementation plans, scalable solutions, and measurable outcomes.
• Proven experience leading complex cross-functional initiatives involving multiple stakeholders, functions, and geographies. Demonstrated stakeholder management and influencing skills, with the ability to communicate recommendations clearly to senior leaders.
• Change leadership capabilities, including communications, capability building, stakeholder engagement, and sustainable adoption.
• Demonstrated ability to identify and implement opportunities that improve productivity, quality, simplification, or operational effectiveness. Analytical and problem-solving skills, with experience managing priorities, risks, dependencies, governance, and implementation outcomes.

Desirable Requirements

• Experience driving innovation, simplification, or continuous improvement initiatives within a pharmaceutical or life sciences environment.
• Experience operating effectively within complex global matrix organizations and influencing senior stakeholders without direct authority.

Benefits & Rewards

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

Expected Annual Base Salary Range for role:

70,983.50 - 131,826.50 GBP Annually

The base 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 reviewed periodically.

In addition to your base salary, you may be eligible for a performance-based bonus depending on certain performance parameters.

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 minimum 14 weeks paid parental leave.

In addition to your base salary, you may be eligible for a performance-based bonus depending on certain performance parameters. Long-term equity awards granted at group level may also be part of your package. Further details will be provided during the application process.

Pay equity is a fundamental principle of our employment policy and reflects our commitment to create a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment that treats all employees with dignity and respect, as outlined in our Code of Ethics.

Read our brochure to learn more about our global total rewards offering:

https://www.novartis.com/sites/novartis_com/files/novartis-life-handbook.pdf

Note: Benefits and compensation may vary by country and are subject to local legal requirements, including provisions of collective bargaining agreements where applicable. A full overview of your compensation package, including any relevant collective bargaining agreement details applicable to your role based on your employment location and Novartis employer entity, will be communicated separately to you during the application process.

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion / EEO paragraph

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

Skills Desired

Clinical Research, Drug Development, Financial Management, Influencing Skills, Leadership, Microsoft Project, Prioritization, Program Management, Project Delivery, Project Planning, Requirements Gathering