External Meetings and Engagements Lead

U014 (FCRS = US014) Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation; East Hanover (NJ); Hybrid; USD 168,000 - 312,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, life & disability benefits

401(k) with company match

Generous time off

Job summary

Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation in East Hanover, NJ, is seeking an External Meetings and Engagements Lead. Hybrid work model with domestic travel up to 20%. You will set strategic direction for compliant external engagements across the U.S.

and lead a cross-functional team including Ethics, Legal, Medical, and Finance to deliver high-quality programs. You will also drive digital innovation, leverage AI to streamline operations, manage budgets, and foster scalable virtual and in-person

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with relevant experience in pharmaceutical external engagement operations.
• Direct people-management experience, including leading teams across multiple stakeholder groups.
• Experience managing healthcare professional education, speaker programs, external meetings, project management, or related commercial operations.
• Familiarity with Sunshine Act, transparency reporting, and regulatory compliance.
• Proven experience managing suppliers, service delivery, performance measures, budgets within an outsourced model.

Responsibilities

• Set the strategic direction for compliant, high-quality external meetings and engagements across the U.S. organization.
• Lead end-to-end healthcare professional education and advisory board operations from planning through closeout.
• Own technology platforms supporting external engagements, driving usability and efficiency.
• Partner with Ethics, Risk and Compliance, Legal, Medical, Commercial, Finance, and Procurement to strengthen governance.
• Drive scalable virtual and hybrid engagement solutions improving experiences for presenters, attendees, and field teams.
• Lead supplier performance with clear service expectations and continuous improvement.
• Develop a high-performing team leveraging AI and automation to simplify meeting operations.

Skills

People management

Project management

Stakeholder management

Budget management

AI automation

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Job description

Job Description Summary #LI-Hybrid Location: East Hanover, NJ, USA Relocation Support: This role is based in East Hanover, NJ. Novartis is unable to offer relocation support: please only apply if accessible. Sponsorship: Novartis is unable to offer sponsorship for this role. Travel: Approximately 20% domestic travel, based on business needs. Ready to shape how Novartis delivers meaningful external engagements at scale? As the External Meetings and Engagements Lead, you will set the strategic direction and operational standards for engagements with healthcare professionals and other external stakeholders across the U.S. organization. Leading a team and partnering closely with Ethics, Risk and Compliance, Legal, Medical, Commercial, Finance, Procurement, and technology teams, you will help create compliant, efficient, and high-quality experiences. You will also champion digital innovation and responsible use of artificial intelligence to simplify operations, strengthen governance, and continuously improve how external meetings and educational programs are delivered.

Key Responsibilities

• Set the strategic direction for compliant, high-quality external meetings and engagements across the U.S. organization.
• Lead end-to-end healthcare professional education and advisory board operations, from planning through reconciliation and closeout.
• Own technology platforms supporting external engagements, driving usability, operational efficiency, and continuous platform improvement.
• Partner with Ethics, Risk and Compliance, Legal, Medical, Commercial, Finance, and Procurement to strengthen governance and execution.
• Drive scalable virtual and hybrid engagement solutions that improve experiences for presenters, attendees, and field teams.
• Lead supplier performance through clear service expectations, performance measures, issue resolution, and continuous improvement.
• Develop and inspire a high-performing team while leveraging artificial intelligence and automation to simplify meeting operations.

Essential Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree with relevant experience in pharmaceutical commercial operations or external engagement operations.
• Direct people-management experience, including leading teams across multiple stakeholder or client groups.
• Experience managing healthcare professional education, speaker programs, external meetings, project management, or related commercial operations.
• Familiarity with compliance requirements, such as the Sunshine Act and transparency reporting, and experience ensuring adherence to regulations.
• Proven experience managing suppliers, service delivery, performance measures, customer satisfaction, and budgets within an outsourced model.
• Strong leadership, analytical, communication, and stakeholder-management skills, with the ability to influence across complex cross‑functional environments.
• Ability to work from East Hanover, New Jersey under the hybrid model and travel domestically approximately 20%.

Desirable Requirements

• Master of Business Administration, Project Management certification, Six Sigma qualification, or comparable advanced credentials.
• Experience applying artificial intelligence, automation, or digital tools to improve meeting management and operational efficiency.

Why Novartis?

At Novartis, our purpose is to reimagine medicine to improve and extend people’s lives. As External Meetings and Engagements Lead, you will have the opportunity to shape how high-quality, compliant engagements with healthcare professionals and other external stakeholders are delivered across the U.S. organization. You will collaborate across Ethics, Risk and Compliance, Legal, Medical, Commercial, Finance, Procurement, and technology teams while developing a high-performing organization focused on operational excellence, innovation, user experience, and continuous improvement.

Benefits & Rewards

The salary for this position is expected to range between $168,000 USD - $312,000 USD 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.

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

Novartis is committed to building an outstanding, inclusive work environment and diverse teams representative of the patients and communities we serve. The Novartis Group of Companies are Equal Opportunity Employers and take pride in maintaining a diverse environment. We do not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion or other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status. We are committed to building diverse teams, representative of the patients and communities we serve, and we strive to create an inclusive workplace that cultivates bold innovation through collaboration and empowers our people to unleash their full potential.

Accessibility and Accommodation

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 in order to perform the essential functions of a position, please send an email 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.

Skills Desired

• Brand Awareness
• Channel Management
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Customer Engagement
• Customer Insights
• Digital Marketing
• Digital Media
• Influencing Skills
• Marketing
• Social Media
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Stakeholder Management
• Waterfall Model

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