Associate Director - Consulting & Program Management

IN10 (FCRS = IN010) Novartis Healthcare Private Limited; Hyderabad; Hybrid; INR 7,000,000 - 11,000,000; Full time

Job summary

Novartis Healthcare Private Limited is seeking an Associate Director to lead scoping and delivery of priority programs across the international unit, focusing on commercial growth and operational excellence. The role emphasizes AI-driven delivery, cross-functional collaboration, and leadership of virtual teams in a hybrid Hyderabad setting.

The candidate will partner with global stakeholders, design workshops, and drive measurable outcomes, leveraging AI and analytics to unlock growth across

Qualifications

• Significant experience managing end-to-end project lifecycles, from strategy and planning through program execution and delivery.
• More than 10 years of experience within the pharmaceutical, life sciences, healthcare, consulting, or program management sectors.
• Demonstrated success leading consulting teams, including virtual and matrixed teams across geographies and functions.
• Proven ability to apply consulting methodologies and Artificial Intelligence-enabled solutions to solve complex business challenges.
• Strong consulting mindset with intellectual curiosity, structured problem-solving, and a results-oriented approach.
• Strategic and commercial acumen with the ability to translate market, customer, financial, and operational insights into actionable recommendations.
• Exceptional executive communication and storytelling skills, capable of influencing senior stakeholders through clear and compelling narratives.
• Strong facilitation and stakeholder management capabilities, driving collaboration and consensus across diverse teams.
• Proven people leadership and coaching experience, with a track record of developing talent and high-performing teams.
• Bachelor's degree in Science, Engineering, Business Administration, Economics, or a related field.

Responsibilities

• Support the scoping and design of priority programs and strategic initiatives across the BSI Consulting and Program Management portfolio.
• Lead the delivery of high-impact programs aligned with international business priorities, driving commercial growth and operational excellence.
• Partner with cross-functional and global stakeholders to define, shape, and execute strategic programs and initiatives.
• Champion the adoption of Artificial Intelligence and Generative Artificial Intelligence solutions, identifying opportunities to enhance program delivery and business impact.
• Support capability-building initiatives across consulting, program management, and learning disciplines.
• Lead commercial consulting engagements focused on commercial excellence, growth strategy, organizational effectiveness, and efficiency optimization.
• Design and facilitate executive and cross-functional workshops that drive alignment, decision-making, and measurable outcomes.
• Leverage technology, advanced analytics, and Artificial Intelligence to accelerate insights generation, strategic analysis, and scalable solution development.
• Build and maintain strong stakeholder partnerships across International markets while delivering consulting excellence and innovation.
• Collaborate closely with other Business Services Innovation teams to deliver priority programs and strengthen organizational capabilities.
• Coach and mentor Managers and Senior Analysts, fostering collaboration, continuous improvement, and talent development.
• Serve as a role model for Novartis values, promoting an inclusive culture centered on shared impact and business excellence.

Skills

Project management

Stakeholder management

Executive communication

Team leadership

Problem solving

AI-enabled solutions

Education

Bachelor's degree in Science, Engineering, Business Administration, Economics, or a related field

Master's degree in a business-related discipline

Tools

AI/Generative AI

ITIL

Agile

Design Thinking

Job description

Job Description Summary Business Solutions International (BSI) is a newly established team within international CLS with the objective of providing gold standard business solutions to drive excellence in delivery and innovation for the Division. The Consulting and Program Management team within BSI work across International to support and enable delivery of the highest priority programs/projects. The Associate Director will lead the scoping and delivery of priority programs and initiatives to empower the international Business Unit to achieve commercial and operational excellence. The execution-focused role will solve complex business challenges and deliver outcomes for international. The role will also require leading commercial consulting engagements, partnering with, therapeutic area & brand leads, regional & country teams to address strategic challenges and opportunities. The role will apply structured problem-solving, commercial thinking and collaborative design to unlock growth, improve efficiency and shape future-ready solutions The Associate Director will bring a strong track record of delivering large global programs and initiatives, preferably in a commercial and pharma setting. This is an opportunity to make a significant impact, at scale, across the international Business Unit. Job Description #LI-Hybrid , Hyderabad

Key Responsibilities

• Support the scoping and design of priority programs and strategic initiatives across the BSI Consulting and Program Management portfolio.
• Lead the delivery of high-impact programs aligned with international business priorities, driving commercial growth and operational excellence.
• Partner with cross-functional and global stakeholders to define, shape, and execute strategic programs and initiatives.
• Champion the adoption of Artificial Intelligence and Generative Artificial Intelligence solutions, identifying opportunities to enhance program delivery and business impact.
• Support capability-building initiatives across consulting, program management, and learning disciplines.
• Lead commercial consulting engagements focused on commercial excellence, growth strategy, organizational effectiveness, and efficiency optimization.
• Design and facilitate executive and cross-functional workshops that drive alignment, decision-making, and measurable outcomes.
• Leverage technology, advanced analytics, and Artificial Intelligence to accelerate insights generation, strategic analysis, and scalable solution development.
• Build and maintain strong stakeholder partnerships across International markets while delivering consulting excellence and innovation.
• Collaborate closely with other Business Services Innovation teams to deliver priority programs and strengthen organizational capabilities.
• Coach and mentor Managers and Senior Analysts, fostering collaboration, continuous improvement, and talent development.
• Serve as a role model for Novartis values, promoting an inclusive culture centered on shared impact and business excellence.

Essential Requirements

• Significant experience managing end-to-end project lifecycles, from strategy and planning through program execution and delivery.
• More than 10 years of experience within the pharmaceutical, life sciences, healthcare, consulting, or program management sectors.
• Demonstrated success leading consulting teams, including virtual and matrixed teams across geographies and functions.
• Proven ability to apply consulting methodologies and Artificial Intelligence-enabled solutions to solve complex business challenges.
• Strong consulting mindset with intellectual curiosity, structured problem-solving, and a results-oriented approach.
• Strategic and commercial acumen with the ability to translate market, customer, financial, and operational insights into actionable recommendations.
• Exceptional executive communication and storytelling skills, capable of influencing senior stakeholders through clear and compelling narratives.
• Strong facilitation and stakeholder management capabilities, driving collaboration and consensus across diverse teams.
• Proven people leadership and coaching experience, with a track record of developing talent and high-performing teams.
• Bachelor's degree in Science, Engineering, Business Administration, Economics, or a related field.

Desirable Requirements

• Master's degree in a business-related discipline.
• Professional certifications in Program Management, Project Management, Product Management, Change Management, Agile, Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL), Enterprise Communications, Facilitation, Coaching, or Design Thinking.
• Experience leading large-scale transformation initiatives within global organizations.
• Advanced knowledge of Artificial Intelligence, Generative Artificial Intelligence, and digital innovation methodologies.

Why Novartis:

Helping people with disease and their families takes more than innovative science. It takes a community of smart, passionate people like you. Collaborating, supporting and inspiring each other. Combining to achieve breakthroughs that change patients’ lives.

Skills Desired

• Business Development
• Business Networking
• Business Partner Relations
• Business Strategies
• Collaboration
• Corporate Development
• Curious Mindset
• Diversity & Inclusion Strategy
• Finance
• Go-to-Market Strategies
• Influencing Skills
• Key Account Management
• Leadership
• Lean Six Sigma (LSS)
• Management Consulting
• Project Management Plan
• Strategic Planning
• Transformation Programs

Improving the lives of people living with disease takes more than innovative science. It takes a focus on the needs of people and a community committed to meeting them. It takes a team of people like you. Working together. Learning together. Thriving together. Discover how you can join us in changing people’s lives.