Director, AI Opportunities & Platforms (S&E)

Novartis Group Companies; Cambridge (MA); Hybrid; USD 176,000 - 328,000; Full time

Job summary

Novartis Group of Companies in Cambridge, MA is seeking a senior leader for AI-enabled drug discovery partnerships. You will search, evaluate, and prioritize external AI opportunities that align with R&D priorities, translating scientific and business needs into actionable landscapes and governance-ready recommendations for senior leadership.

Working with science, technology, and business teams, you will build external relationships, monitor industry trends, and drive cross-functional alignment

Qualifications

• Delivery of high-quality AI landscapes to inform C&BD and R&D prioritization.
• Identification and advancement of differentiated AI-enabled R&D opportunities aligned with Novartis priorities.
• Timely and rigorous triage/diligence of AI opportunities with clear recommendations and well-documented rationale.
• Effective cross-functional alignment across BR, Development, Data/Digital/IT, and governance stakeholders.
• High-quality governance materials and leadership communication.
• Strong external network coverage across AI biotech, technology, academic, and VC ecosystems.
• Improved S&E organizational capability to evaluate AI opportunities consistently and efficiently.
• Contribution to team development, knowledge management, and scalable ways of working.

Responsibilities

• Lead execution of AI-focused S&E strategy in priority R&D areas, translating internal scientific and business priorities into external search themes and actionable landscapes.
• Develop and maintain strategic landscapes across AI-enabled R&D, including company mapping, technology segmentation, financing and deal trends, and prioritization of opportunities.
• Lead complex triage and diligence efforts for AI platform, data, model, and end-to-end discovery/development opportunities, coordinating cross-functional input.
• Assess technical and strategic differentiation of external AI opportunities, including evidence strength, data access and quality, model validation, wet/dry lab integration, implementation path, partner maturity, and fit with Novartis R&D needs.
• Prepare and present high-quality decision materials for S&E, C&BD, and R&D leadership, including strategic recommendations, governance updates, deal rationale, and clear next-step proposals.
• Build strong internal alignment with BR, Development, Data/Digital/IT, and other enabling functions to translate R&D priorities into actionable search themes, partnering strategies, and high-impact external opportunities.
• Develop and maintain external relationships with AI biotech and technology companies, venture investors, incubators, academic groups, and industry thought leaders.
• Monitor competitor activity, investment trends, BD deal-making, and technology inflection points in AI-enabled R&D to inform Novartis positioning and engagement strategy.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of S&E processes, including AI-specific diligence frameworks, company tracking, landscape refreshing cadence, and governance standards.

Skills

Alliance Management

Business Development

Collaboration

Creativity

Due Diligence

Global Business Development

Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A)

Promotional/Marketing

Sales

Education

Advanced degree in life sciences, computational biology, chemistry, engineering, medicine, data science

PhD / MD-PhD / PharmD / MBA or equivalent experience

Job description

Novartis Group of Companies in Cambridge, MA is seeking a senior leader for AI-enabled drug discovery partnerships. You will search, evaluate, and prioritize external AI opportunities that align with R&D priorities, translating scientific and business needs into actionable landscapes and governance-ready recommendations for senior leadership.

Working with science, technology, and business teams, you will build external relationships, monitor industry trends, and drive cross-functional alignment