Manager, Planning Lead

Novartis México; Ciudad de México; On-site; MXN 900,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Job summary

Novartis México is seeking a Manager, Planning Lead to drive strategic execution across the US Strategy & Execution portfolio. This role builds and maintains the planning infrastructure, including integrated roadmaps, planning calendars, milestone tracking, capacity planning, and executive planning deliverables to ensure alignment and visibility across workstreams.

The position requires collaboration with cross-functional teams, strong analytical and stakeholder management skills, and fluency in

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; MBA or Master’s preferred.
• 5+ years in project management, PMO, or portfolio management.
• Experience handling complex portfolios and executive deliverables.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Advanced PowerPoint, Excel, and planning tools proficiency.
• Fluency in English.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain integrated portfolio roadmaps and milestone plans.
• Coordinate annual strategic planning and quarterly prioritization.
• Manage sequencing, dependencies, capacity assumptions, and critical path planning.
• Prepare leadership materials, portfolio updates, and executive-ready presentations.
• Identify risks, conflicts, and resource constraints; propose solutions.
• Ensure planning artifacts are current and aligned across governance forums.
• Monitor progress and provide transparency into milestones, risks, and status.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to improve planning processes.

Skills

Project management

Portfolio management

Executive presentation

Stakeholder management

PowerPoint

Excel

Planning methodologies

English fluency

Education

Bachelor's degree

MBA or Masters preferred

Job description

Summary

Location: Mexico City, Insurgentes

Relocation Support: This role is based in Mexico City, Insurgentes. Novartis is unable to offer relocation support: please only apply if accessible.

Reimagining Medicine Starts With Our People

The Manager, Planning Lead plays a critical role in enabling strategic execution across the US Strategy & Execution portfolio. Reporting to the Executive Director, Strategy Prioritization & Governance, this position is responsible for building and maintaining the planning infrastructure that supports enterprise strategic initiatives, including integrated roadmaps, planning calendars, milestone tracking, capacity planning, and executive planning deliverables.

This role ensures alignment across multiple workstreams, promotes planning discipline, and provides visibility into priorities, dependencies, and execution readiness across the organization.

About The Role

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain integrated portfolio roadmaps, milestone plans, quarterly planning calendars, and executive review schedules.
• Coordinate annual strategic planning and quarterly prioritization processes across multiple stakeholders.
• Manage initiative sequencing, dependencies, capacity assumptions, and critical path planning to support successful execution.
• Prepare leadership planning materials, portfolio updates, and executive-ready presentations.
• Identify risks, scheduling conflicts, and resource constraints, recommending solutions to maintain delivery momentum.
• Ensure planning artifacts remain accurate, current, and aligned across governance forums and leadership teams.
• Monitor project and portfolio progress, providing transparency into milestones, risks, and delivery status.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to improve planning processes, governance standards, and portfolio visibility.

Essential Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree (MBA or Master’s degree) preferred.
• 5+ years of experience in project management, PMO, business operations, portfolio management, commercial operations, planning, or strategy support.
• Strong experience managing complex portfolios, executive deliverables, and cross-functional planning cycles.
• Excellent organizational, analytical, and stakeholder management skills.
• Advanced proficiency in PowerPoint, Excel, project management tools, and planning methodologies.
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver results in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong communication and executive presentation skills.
• Fluency in English required.
• Pharmaceutical, healthcare, enterprise transformation, or consulting experience preferred.

Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion

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

Accessibility and accommodation

Novartis is committed to work with and provide reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the recruitment process, or in order to perform the essential functions of a position, please send an e-mail to [e-mail] and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Please include the job requisition number in your message.

Novartis tiene el compromiso de trabajar y proporcionar adaptaciones razonables para personas con discapacidad. Si, debido a una condición médica o discapacidad, necesita una adaptación razonable para cualquier parte del proceso de contratación, o para desempeñar las funciones esenciales de un puesto, envíe un correo electrónico a [e-mail] y permítanos conocer la naturaleza de su solicitud y su información de contacto. Incluya el número de posición en su mensaje.

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. Ready to create a brighter future together? https://www.novartis.com/about/strategy/people-and-culture

Benefits and Rewards:

Read our handbook to learn about all the ways we’ll help you thrive personally and professionally: https://www.novartis.com/careers/benefits-rewards

Read our handbook (PDF 30 MB)