Associate Director, Metadata and Semantics Lead

Novartis; East Hanover (NJ); Hybrid; USD 153,000 - 283,000; Full time

Job summary

Novartis is seeking an Associate Director, Metadata Lead to shape the enterprise data ecosystem. You will drive metadata excellence across data products, models, and assets, partnering with governance, engineering, and analytics teams to enable trusted, reusable data for breakthrough insights.

The preferred location is East Hanover, NJ, with possible remote work and travel as defined by the hiring manager; relocation is not provided, and visa sponsorship is not offered.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field.
• 8+ years in metadata management, data governance, or related roles.
• Experience supporting enterprise data catalog, glossary, lineage, and governance programs.
• Ability to define metadata standards with business and technical stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Define and advance enterprise metadata standards, frameworks, policies, and operating practices.
• Lead metadata capture, curation, validation, and lifecycle management across data assets.
• Establish metadata requirements for certified data products and AI-ready datasets.
• Ensure accurate documentation of ownership, lineage, classifications, quality rules, and definitions.
• Partner with data modeling teams to align metadata with enterprise structures.
• Collaborate with governance and stewardship teams to improve data transparency.
• Drive automation of metadata ingestion, lineage capture, and catalog sync.
• Support data product certification through metadata readiness validation.
• Lead metadata issue resolution and stakeholder communications.
• Champion data discoverability, reuse, and adoption of catalog capabilities.

Skills

Metadata management

Data governance

Data management

Data catalog

Data stewardship

Data architecture

Education

Bachelor's degree in data-related field

Tools

Data catalog tooling

Job description

Summary

Location: East Hanover, New Jersey

Novartis is unable to offer relocation support: please only apply if accessible.

Company will not sponsor visas for this position.

The preferred location for this role is East Hanover, New Jersey site but remote work may be possible (there may be some restrictions based on legal entity). Please note that this role would not provide relocation as a result. If associate is remote, all home office expenses and any travel/lodging to specific East Hanover, New Jersey site for periodic live meetings will be at the employee’s expense. The expectation of working hours and travel (domestic and/or international) will be defined by the hiring manager.

Data is transforming how healthcare innovates, and metadata is the foundation that makes trusted, discoverable, and AI-ready data possible. As Associate Director, Metadata Lead, you will play a pivotal role in shaping Novartis' enterprise data ecosystem by driving metadata excellence across certified data products, data models, and critical business assets. Working with cross-functional leaders in data governance, engineering, quality, and analytics, you will help ensure our data is trusted, transparent, reusable, and ready to accelerate breakthrough insights that ultimately improve patient lives. This is an exciting opportunity to influence enterprise-wide data strategy while building scalable capabilities that power the future of data and artificial intelligence at Novartis.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and advance enterprise metadata standards, frameworks, policies, and operating practices.
• Lead metadata capture, curation, validation, and lifecycle management across enterprise data assets.
• Establish metadata requirements for certified data products and artificial intelligence ready datasets.
• Ensure accurate documentation of ownership, lineage, classifications, quality rules, and business definitions.
• Partner with data modeling teams to align metadata with enterprise data structures and relationships.
• Collaborate with data governance and stewardship teams to improve data transparency and trust.
• Drive automation of metadata ingestion, lineage capture, and catalog synchronization processes.
• Support data product certification through validation of metadata completeness and readiness standards.
• Lead metadata issue resolution, root cause analysis, remediation tracking, and stakeholder communications.
• Champion enterprise data discoverability, reuse, and adoption of data catalog capabilities.

Essential Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Data Management, Information Systems, Computer Science, Analytics, Engineering, or related field.
• 8+ years of experience in metadata management, data governance, data management, data catalog implementation, data stewardship, data architecture, or related data roles.
• Experience supporting enterprise data catalog, business glossary, lineage, data product, or data governance programs.
• Experience partnering with business and technical stakeholders to define metadata standards, capture requirements, and improve data discoverability.

Desirable Requirements

• Advanced degree or professional certification in data management, data governance, cloud technologies, or data architecture.
• Experience in complex, regulated, or enterprise-scale data environments.

The salary for this position is expected to range between $152,600 - $283,400 per year. The final salary offered is determined based on factors like, but not limited to, relevant skills and experience, and upon joining Novartis will be reviewed periodically. Novartis may change the published salary range based on company and market factors.

Your compensation will include a performance-based cash incentive and, depending on the level of the role, eligibility to be considered for annual equity awards. US-based eligible employees will receive a comprehensive benefits package that includes health, life and disability benefits, 401(k) with company contribution and match, and a variety of other benefits. In addition, employees are eligible for a generous time off package including vacation, personal days, holidays and other leaves.

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 (PDF 30 MB)

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.