Director, Strategic Projects Lead

IN10 (FCRS = IN010) Novartis Healthcare Private Limited; Hyderabad; On-site; INR 4,500,000 - 7,500,000; Full time

Job summary

Novartis Healthcare Private Limited is seeking a Director of Strategic Projects to lead cross-functional initiatives within Development, shaping strategic imperatives and driving execution across drug discovery and development programs.

The role requires strong program management, stakeholder engagement at senior levels, and a track record of delivering large-scale projects with business impact. An MBA or advanced life sciences qualifications are preferred.

Qualifications

• Experience in drug discovery and development lifecycle is required.
• Strong cross-functional project leadership and stakeholder management.
• Familiarity with process improvement and regulatory considerations.

Responsibilities

• Identify, propose and deliver strategic and operational imperatives for Development as cross-functional projects.
• Lead cross-functional teams and influence without authority to drive decisions.
• Improve operating model design, data/technology enablement, and financial success.
• Communicate effectively to senior leaders with structured insights and recommendations.

Skills

Drug Development

Global Project Management

Program Management

Team Management

Education

Life Sciences degree

MBA

Job description

Job Description Summary

The Director, Strategic Projects is an experienced project leader with an entrepreneurial mindset, and an uncompromising drive to transform drug development and improve patient lives. Defined by strong program management expertise, this role is a proven project manager who can drive high-performing cross-functional teams (Development Units and Functions) and deliver measurable organizational impact. This role is accountable for enabling strategic imperatives for Development by supporting and/or leading the creation, planning and independent operationalization of specific strategic projects. The role is expected to enhance the executional certainty of assigned initiatives by deploying best-in-class project management practices, successfully supporting project teams (influencing through the matrix) and integrating insights from internal and external specialists.

Major accountabilities

Identify, propose, and deliver strategic and operational imperatives for Development as x-functional strategic projects using data as the performance baseline. Accountable for the faultless, independent delivery of large-scale strategic projects that employ project management best practices to enhance certainty of success (i.e., project plans – scope, time, cost/resources, communication plans, impact measures/ metrics). Structure ambiguous problems and take action to solve them, with clear linkage to Development objectives, strategy and priorities. Synthesize clear takeaways from complex information into outcomes and recommendations using both qualitative and quantitative methods (i.e., external benchmarks, internal metrics, process performance analyses etc.). Lead cross-functional teams, influencing without authority, to develop the best solution and move stakeholders and the organization to act Establish trust-based relationships with leaders and stakeholders to better serve their organizations. Deploy excellent verbal and written communication skills to transmit information effectively to all audiences, including senior leaders, in a structured manner. Drive project teams and organizations to comprehensively improve operating model design, process simplification, data & technology enablement, and financial success, whilst ensuring quality standards and regulatory compliance. Role model exceptional company values and behaviours, embracing high-challenge conversations, to drive change (ethics, change agent, collaboration, humility). Maintain awareness of process improvement methodologies and best practices (e.g., IQP, lean six sigma, Scrum, Agile, etc. )

Minimum Requirements

Ideally 3rd level degree educated in a relevant discipline in Life Sciences or Life Science Engineering. Further qualifications such as MBA would be an advantage. Minimum experience of 10-12 years in Research & Development strategic consulting and/or Line Function in Development Corporate/development experience in complex project management Must have experience in Drug Discovery and Drug Development In-depth experience of the drug discovery lifecycle and R&D functions Proven trach-record managing complex, cross-functional Projects with senior stakeholder engagement

Skills Desired

Drug Development, Global Project Management, Program Management, Team Management

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