Director, Data Strategy

U014 (FCRS = US014) Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation; East Hanover (NJ); On-site; USD 186,000 - 345,000; Full time

Job summary

Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation is seeking a Director of Data Strategy located in East Hanover, NJ, with hybrid considerations. The role leads two functional areas—Customer Engagement and Integrated Marketing Organization—driving roadmaps, data capability needs, and cross-brand data solutions.

The ideal candidate will have deep experience building enterprise data strategies, partnering with governance and analytics teams, and managing external data partnerships.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• 8+ years of experience developing data, analytics, or data product strategies for life sciences.
• Strong understanding of life sciences data ecosystems and governance.
• Ability to align stakeholders and drive roadmaps across functions and data domains.
• Experience in customer engagement and/or marketing data strategy.

Responsibilities

• Define roadmaps and priorities for Customer Engagement and Integrated Marketing Organization.
• Advance scalable data strategies across brands and channels.
• Align stakeholders around data capabilities, governance, and adoption plans.
• Drive transparency, governance, and value realization of functional data assets.
• Establish and manage data partnerships with external data providers and vendors.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Portfolio management

Executive communication

Stakeholder influence

Data strategy

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Job description

Job Description Summary #LI-Hybrid

This position will be located at East Hanover, NJ site and will not have the ability to be located remotely. This position will require 10% travel as defined by the business (domestic and/ or international).

Job description summary The Director, Data Strategy defines and advances data strategies for priority US functional domains, translating business priorities into integrated roadmaps, investment recommendations, and scalable data capabilities. This role leads two functional coverage areas, Customer Engagement and Integrated Marketing Organization and focuses on horizontal data needs that cut across brands and therapeutic areas while complementing therapeutic area-specific Data Strategy roles. The role identifies common functional use cases, data gaps, requirements, and reuse opportunities to support governed, reusable data assets across the US organization.

Job Description Key Responsibilities

Lead functional data strategy for two priority US coverage areas, Customer Engagement and Integrated Marketing Organization, defining roadmaps, priorities, capability needs, and success measures aligned to enterprise data strategy. For Customer Engagement and Integrated Marketing Organization, advance data strategies that scale customer engagement, omnichannel activation, field execution, marketing effectiveness, segmentation, and integrated customer experience across brands and channels. Differentiate horizontal functional data needs from therapeutic area‑specific, brand, launch, indication, and lifecycle needs, ensuring functional priorities are reflected in enterprise and therapeutic area roadmaps without duplicating therapeutic area‑specific accountabilities. Align business stakeholders, therapeutic area Data Strategy Leads, Insights & Analytics, Data Partnerships, Data Governance, Data Quality, technology, and vendor teams around prioritized data requirements, sourcing decisions, governance expectations, adoption plans, and value realization. Drive portfolio transparency, reuse, governance, adoption, and continuous improvement of key functional data assets, including executive‑ready updates, roadmap views, KPI summaries, investment recommendations, and trade‑off assessments. Novartis seeks an individual with extensive experience establishing and managing data partnerships. The ideal candidate will have a deep understanding of the data partnership landscape, including industry best practices for collaborating with external data providers, platforms, and vendors. A proven ability to navigate data‑related risks, including privacy, security, quality, and compliance, while building mutually beneficial partnerships is essential. The successful candidate will be committed to continuous improvement in the organization’s data partnership strategy, leveraging data insights and industry trends to strengthen collaboration and maximize the value of external data assets.

Essential Requirements

Education: Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree or equivalent experience preferred Minimum 8+ years of relevant experience developing data, analytics, or data product strategies that connect business priorities to roadmaps, investment decisions, and measurable outcomes for life science companies Strong understanding of life sciences data ecosystems and how data sources, governance expectations, business needs, and enterprise capabilities come together across functions. Demonstrated ability to develop functional or domain‑level data strategies, requirements, capability priorities, and success measures customer engagement and/or marketing Ability to distinguish horizontal functional data needs from therapeutic area‑specific, brand, indication, launch, and lifecycle‑specific needs. Experience aligning business, Insights & Analytics, Data Partnerships, Data Governance, Data Quality, technology, procurement, and vendor stakeholders around prioritized data capabilities. Strong strategic thinking, portfolio management, executive communication, and ability to influence senior stakeholders in a complex matrix environment.

Novartis Compensation Summary

The salary for this position is expected to range between $185,500 - $344,500 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, a 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. Salary Range $185,500.00 - $344,500.00.

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 and 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 [e-mail] or call +1(877)395‑2339 and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Please include the job requisition number in your message.

About Novartis

Improving the lives of people living with disease takes more than innovative science. It takes a focus on the needs of people and a community committed to meeting them. It takes a team of people like you. Working together. Learning together. Thriving together. Discover how you can join us in changing people’s lives.

China Cross‑Border Data Transfer Policy

In the context of China Cross‑Border Data Transfer (CBDT) policy, if you need to apply for a position in China, please go to the local Recruiting System TaleNov.