Associate Director, Cell Therapy Operations- Southeast

Novartis; Atlanta (GA); On-site; USD 139,000 - 257,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Sign-on bonus

Restricted stock units (RSUs)

Medical benefits

401(k)

Job summary

Novartis is seeking an Associate Director, Cell Therapy Operations Manager to lead field-based operational readiness for CAR-T centers in a broad Southeast territory, including Atlanta, Charlotte, and Jacksonville. You will train, onboard, and qualify centers to ensure safe, compliant delivery of therapies, coordinating with cross-functional partners to optimize site performance.

The role requires travel up to 60-80% across a large geography, with residency within territory or near borders.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required in science, healthcare, nursing, business or related discipline.

Responsibilities

• Execute onboarding, training, qualification, and operational readiness for CAR-T centers to support activation and patient treatment.
• Serve as field-based operational lead for centers, supporting ordering, logistics, apheresis, product receipt, and treatment workflows.
• Deliver high-quality operational support to centers, care teams, and internal stakeholders to ensure consistent execution of CAR-T processes.
• Identify operational risks and drive continuous improvement across centers.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in science, healthcare, nursing, business

Job description

Summary

The Associate Director Cell Therapy Operations Manager is in the Southeast geometry. This is a remote& field-based role that covers thefollowing, butnot limited to:Atlanta, GA, Charlotte, NC and Jacksonville, FL. Associatemustresidewithin territory, or within a reasonable daily commuting distance of 60 miles from territory.

About The Role

The Associate Director, Cell Therapy Operations Manager (AD, CTOM) is a field-based operational leader responsible for training, onboarding, and qualifying CAR-T treatment centers to support the safe, compliant, and successful delivery of Novartis CAR-T therapies. The AD, CTOM serves as the primary operational partner to assigned treatment centers, supporting ordering, logistics, apheresis collection, site readiness, quality compliance, and operational excellence while collaborating cross-functionally to resolve complex challenges and improve site performance.

Major Accountabilities

• Execute onboarding, training, qualification, and operational readiness activities for CAR-T treatment centers to support successful site activation and patient treatment.
• Serve as the field-based operational lead for assigned treatment centers, supporting ordering, logistics, apheresis collection, product receipt, and treatment workflows.
• Deliver high-quality operational support to treatment centers, care teams, and internal stakeholders to ensure consistent execution of CAR-T processes.
• Resolve complex operational challenges related to ordering, logistics, apheresis collection, product handling, and site readiness.
• Ensure compliance with operational, regulatory, quality, and procedural requirements, supporting ongoing inspection and audit readiness.
• Lead site readiness, operational continuity, and refresher training initiatives to maintain consistent performance and adherence to Novartis standards.
• Partner cross-functionally with Patient Support, Strategic Account Managers, Quality, Manufacturing, Clinical Operations, Medical Affairs, and other stakeholders to align strategy, improve processes, and drive successful patient outcomes.
• Identify operational risks, implement process improvements, manage escalations, and drive continuous improvement initiatives across assigned treatment centers.

Minimum Requirements

Education: Bachelor’s degree in science, healthcare, nursing, business, or a related discipline.

• Minimum 7 years of healthcare, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, specialty operations, or related industry experience.
• Experience supporting complex healthcare systems, treatment centers, academic medical centers, or multi-site institutions.
• Demonstrated experience in cell therapy operations, specialty therapy operations, or other highly regulated healthcare environments.
• Proven experience training, onboarding, educating, or supporting external healthcare stakeholders.
• Ability to effectively operate within matrixed, cross-functional organizations and influence stakeholders without direct authority.
• Strong project management, problem-solving, and operational execution skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and relationship-management skills with internal and external stakeholders.

Candidate must reside within territory, or within a reasonable daily commuting distance of 60 miles from the territory border. Ability to travel 60-80% over a broad geography is required, with the ability to drive and/or fly within the territory. Must have a valid driver’s license.

Preferred Qualifications

• Direct experience supporting CAR-T, cell therapy, apheresis, blood or tissue collection, cryopreservation, transplant, or related specialty operations.
• Experience working within GxP-regulated pharmaceutical, biotechnology, manufacturing, cell processing, hospital, or specialty healthcare environments.

The pay range for this position at commencement of employment is expected to be between $138,600.00 and $257,400.00/year; however, while salary ranges are effective from 1/1/25 through 12/31/25, fluctuations in the job market may necessitate adjustments to pay ranges during this period. Further, final pay determinations will depend on various factors, including, but not limited to geographical location, experience level, knowledge, skills and abilities. The total compensation package for this position may also include other elements, including a sign‑on bonus, restricted stock units, and discretionary awards in addition to a full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits (including 401(k) eligibility and various paid time off benefits, such as vacation, sick time, and parental leave), dependent on the position offered. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment. If hired, employee will be in an “at‑will position” and the Company reserves the right to modify base salary (as well as any other discretionary payment or compensation program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, Company or individual department/team performance, and market factors

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:

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EEO Statement

The Novartis Group of Companies are Equal Opportunity Employers. We do not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion or other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status.

Accessibility & Reasonable Accommodations

The Novartis Group of Companies are committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process, or to perform the essential functions of a position, please send an e-mail to [email protected] or call [phone] and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Please include the job requisition number in your message.