Executive Director, Strategy Prioritization & Governance

Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association; East Hanover (NJ); On-site; USD 237,000 - 439,000; Full time

Job summary

Novartis in East Hanover, NJ is seeking an Executive Director, Strategy Prioritization & Governance Lead to drive the US enterprise strategy portfolio governance. The role oversees intake, prioritization, sequencing, and evidence-based decision forums, aligning US LT priorities with a transparent portfolio of initiatives.

The role interfaces with US LT and cross-functional leaders, building a new capability for integrated intake, prioritization, sequencing, portfolio governance, and strategic

Qualifications

• 12+ years of experience in strategy, portfolio management, governance, or related fields.
• Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders and drive trade-offs in a matrixed environment.
• Strong executive communication, quantitative reasoning, and risk/dependency management.

Responsibilities

• Design and operate the US enterprise strategy portfolio governance model, including intake, evaluation, prioritization, sequencing, decision forums, escalation pathways, and outcome tracking.
• Create a consistent prioritization framework balancing strategic value, patient / customer impact, commercial value, capacity, risk, dependencies, feasibility, timing, and enterprise fit.
• Translate US LT imperatives into a governed strategic portfolio and decision-ready recommendations on what to start, stop, accelerate, sequence, or deprioritize.
• Lead quarterly strategic portfolio reviews and monthly executive governance routines; ensure decisions are documented, owned, and followed through.
• Partner with US Business Strategy Lead, Strategic Projects Lead, Transformation pillar, AI & Platform Products pillar, Finance, DDIT and P&O to expose cross-portfolio dependencies and capacity constraints.
• Establish leading and lagging KPIs for strategic initiative delivery and strategic outcomes, not just activity completion.
• Build governance muscle and disciplined portfolio management practices across US Commercial without becoming a bureaucratic PMO.

Skills

Strategy leadership

Governance design

Executive communication

Quantitative analysis

Stakeholder influence

Risk management

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree (MBA/MS)

Job description

Job Description Summary

This position is based in East Hanover, NJ and will not have the ability to be located remotely. Please note that this role would not provide relocation and only local candidates will be considered. The expectation of working hours and travel (domestic and/or international) will be defined by the hiring manager. This position will require up to 20% travel.

Reporting into the VP, Head of US Strategy & Execution, this role leads the US Strategy Prioritization & Governance team for the US business and is accountable for building and leading the US Commercial enterprise strategy portfolio prioritization and integrated strategic governance capability, converting US LT priorities into a transparent portfolio of initiatives with clear trade-offs, decision rights, sequencing, capacity signals, risks and outcome tracking.

The ED, Strategy Prioritization & Governance Lead is responsible for owning the enterprise strategic initiative intake model, prioritization framework, quarterly portfolio review cadence, US LT decision materials, escalation discipline, and portfolio performance management across non-Reimagining Work strategic initiatives and cross-enterprise priorities.

This role will interface closely with senior leadership including US LT and cross-functional leaders while leading a core team of Governance & Portfolio and Planning Leads to build a new capability of integrated intake, prioritization, sequencing, portfolio governance, and strategic outcome tracking across US Commercial Strategy & Execution.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities:

• Design and operate the US enterprise strategy portfolio governance model, including intake, evaluation, prioritization, sequencing, decision forums, escalation pathways, and outcome tracking.

• Create a consistent prioritization framework balancing strategic value, patient / customer impact, commercial value, capacity, risk, dependencies, feasibility, timing, and enterprise fit.

• Translate US LT imperatives into a governed strategic portfolio and decision-ready recommendations on what to start, stop, accelerate, sequence, or deprioritize.

• Lead quarterly strategic portfolio reviews and monthly executive governance routines; ensure decisions are documented, owned, and followed through.

• Partner with US Business Strategy Lead, Strategic Projects Lead, Transformation pillar, AI & Platform Products pillar, Finance, DDIT and P&O to expose cross-portfolio dependencies and capacity constraints.

• Establish leading and lagging KPIs for strategic initiative delivery and strategic outcomes, not just activity completion.

• Build governance muscle and disciplined portfolio management practices across US Commercial without becoming a bureaucratic PMO.

Essential Requirements:

Education (minimum/desirable):

• Required: Bachelor’s degree in a related field

• Preferred: Advanced degree (Master of Science and/or MBA)

Experience:

• 12+ years of experience in strategy, portfolio management, enterprise governance, commercial strategy, R&D / development portfolio management, transformation, or management consulting.

• Demonstrated experience designing and operating senior-level governance, portfolio review, prioritization, and executive decision processes.

• Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders and force trade-off decisions in a matrixed enterprise environment.

• Strong executive communication, quantitative reasoning, scenario framing, and risk / dependency management skills.

Desirable Requirements:

• Pharma portfolio governance, GDD / drug-development portfolio, stage-gate / tollgate, or strategy portfolio experience.

• Experience building a new capability, operating cadence, or control-tower function from scratch.

The salary for this position is expected to range between $236,600.00 and $439,400.00 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.

To learn more about the culture, rewards and benefits we offer our people click here.

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 [phone] and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Please include the job requisition number in your message.

Salary Range

$236,600.00 - $439,400.00

Skills Desired