Global Program Head

Novartis Group Companies; East Hanover (NJ); Hybrid; USD 303,000 - 563,000; Full time

Job summary

The Global Program Head at Novartis Group of Companies leads late-stage radioligand imaging programs, shaping strategy, governance, and execution to deliver regulatory and access outcomes. This role integrates development plans, cross-functional leadership, and stakeholder management across the research, development, and commercialization continuum.

Ideal candidates will have board-certified radiology credentials, extensive program leadership experience in radiopharmaceuticals, and a proven

Qualifications

• Experience in radioligand imaging program development.
• Experience engaging global health authorities for radioligand imaging development.
• Experience managing co-development partnerships.
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams through influence.

Responsibilities

• Drive transformational vision for RLI programs and translate into actionable plans.
• Design and oversee Integrated Development Plans and Target Product Profiles.
• Represent the program to internal and external stakeholders and drive approvals.
• Lead the Global Program Team with clear roles and accountability.
• Manage external partnerships and co-development strategies.

Skills

Leadership

Program management

Strategic leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Communication skills

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Board Certified Radiologist or equivalent

Job description

Job Description Summary

#LI-Hybrid

The Global Program Head is a key player in the strategic leadership of Novartis, inspiring action through transformative vision and robust strategies for our programs. They drive the entire program lifecycle, having sole accountability and responsibility to deliver enterprise value by defining the program's strategic vision, optimizing life cycle management, and driving the integrated development plans to ensure successful regulatory and access outcomes. As an integrative leader, the GPH represents the program internally and externally, embodies its values, maintains program commitments, and safely navigates the complex, ever changing healthcare landscape to deliver innovative radioligand imaging agents capable of improving the accuracy of disease staging, thereby supporting improving patient treatment outcomes. Their role includes managing the Global Program Team, fostering career growth and equally emphasizing performance accountability within a high-performance and collaborative environment. The GPH holds a crucial and pivotal role in managing stakeholder relationships using exceptional communication skills, effectively influencing and involving stakeholders in decision mandating processes, and anticipating and flexibly adjusting strategies to meet stakeholder expectations and responses.

High Level Program/DU Description

The GPH will be accountable for the design and execution of late-stage clinical programs that support the development of radioligand imaging (RLI) agents capable of improving the accuracy of solid tumor disease staging. The individual will partner with colleagues in Biomedical Research on the design of Phase 0/1 clinical studies that serve to establish proof of concept for such agents. The individual will either design and execute a late-stage clinical program for a given RLI to support future potential registration or oversee a third party in such an endeavor. Regardless of whether a third party is involved, the GPH will remain accountable for design and execution leading to regulatory submission.

Job Description

#LI-Hybrid

Major Accountabilities

Strategic Leadership

• Drive the RLI's transformational vision, devise an adaptable strategy that anticipates future trends and challenges, and translate strategies into practical, impactful plans.
• Seek out and combine complex internal/external elements to inform business decision‑making, identify key issues in complex scenarios, and ensure clarity.
• Embody an enterprise leader that works across the entire Novartis research‑development‑commercial continuum to understand the impact of decisions, the benefit of diverse perspective, and the power of our shared purpose.
• Deliver organization‑wide impact through an understanding and respect for an evolving technological landscape, including knowing when and how to incorporate new tools into existing strategies while evolving ahead of anticipated capabilities (e.g., artificial intelligence).
• Lead RLI programs across priority targets, overseeing a portfolio of assets.
• Shape the portfolio across RLI assets, including prioritization across multiple RLI programs, integration into RLT (radioligand therapy) portfolio strategy, and contribution to Theranostics leadership ambition.

End-to-End Program Lifecycle Accountability

• The GPH has sole accountability of and responsibility to deliver enterprise value by defining the RLI's strategic vision, optimize life cycle management, and drive the integrated development plans to ensure successful regulatory and access outcomes.
• Leads the design of the Target Product Profile (TPP) and the Integrated Development Plan (IDP).
• Accountable for end‑to‑end RLI leadership, including formally representing the RLI internally and externally, driving innovation in execution, and advancing the program through multiple decision stages.
• Accountable for end‑to‑end RLI program leadership, including formally representing the program internally and externally, steering innovation in applications and use‑cases, issuing recommendations, making decisions to ensure the program success and RLI value optimization, and ultimately guiding the program through multiple decision stages toward final approval, launch, and market establishment.
• Maintain regulatory compliance and meet program commitments regarding quality, time (launching RLIs ~2 years ahead of RLT), cost, and value while providing honest perspectives on program impact and commercial viability.
• Sustain regulatory compliance and fulfill mature stage commitments concerning product quality, market entry time, cost‑effectiveness, and actual value. Offer honest insights on real‑time program impact and established commercial viability.

Together with the Line Functions, Managing and Developing the Global Program Team

• Empower the team through clear roles/responsibilities, prioritizing individual growth, and holding team accountable for ambitious goals.
• Nurture a well‑performing team that fosters collaboration and supportive challenge.

Stakeholder Management

• Maintain positive relationships with both internal and external stakeholders, ensuring clear, concise communication throughout the RLI development, and handle conflicts diplomatically.
• Maintain thriving relationships with stakeholders by ensuring transparent, concise communication throughout the RLI's market development, and tactfully handle any issues or conflicts.
• Enhance internal and external stakeholder understanding of program objectives/risks, influence their expectations through scientific and evidence‑based communication, and involving stakeholders in decision mandating processes. Adjust strategies based on stakeholders' needs, expectations, and potential responses.
• Continue to heighten stakeholder understanding of project outcomes/risks, manage their expectations through results‑oriented communication, and engage stakeholders in decision mandating processes. Modify strategies according to stakeholders' feedback, needs and reactions to market responses.

External Partner Management

• Own strategy and execution of partner‑led development across RLI assets, as applicable.
• Define "build vs partner" decisions at asset level.
• Lead governance of co‑development / co‑commercialization partnerships.
• Ensure delivery across external partners while retaining internal accountability.

Desired Skills

• Showcase agility in incorporating new elements or adapting to unpredictable changes and resilience to setbacks.
• Capably motivate others, aligning them to a common, ambitious goal, and offer stability during high‑pressure situations.
• Maintain a curiosity to explore and understand, coupled with excellent communication skills.

Education

Board Certified Radiologist or equivalent based on experience and education

Experience

Preferred Experiences

• Exposure to the full development lifecycle of a radioligand imaging agent intended for improving the accuracy of solid tumor disease staging.
• Experience engaging global health authorities related to development and/or submission strategy for a radioligand imaging agent used for disease staging.
• Experience managing a co‑development relationship with a third‑party including participation in joint development and governance committees.
• Managing cross‑functional teams and intense cross‑functional collaboration and alignment.
• Leading teams through influence without direct authority.
• Communicating clearly and concisely with various audiences, adjusting messaging, style, tone, and details to best fit different audiences.
• Expert knowledge of international customs and business practice.

Experiences Needed for a Later-Stage Program:

• Accomplishments in advancing programs through multiple decision stages and successfully driving program execution.
• Experience in regulatory compliance, audit processes, and managing program commitments at later stages.
• Demonstrated success in sustaining stakeholder relationships and communication throughout the full project life cycle.
• Background in revising and adjusting strategies based on ongoing program feedback, stakeholder expectations, and market dynamics.

Novartis Compensation and Benefit Summary:

The salary for this position is expected to range between $303,100-$562,900 USD Annual 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.

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

$303,100.00 - $562,900.00

Skills Desired

Accountability, Clinical Research, Clinical Trials, Drug Development, Entrepreneurship, Leadership, Program Management, Risk Management, Stakeholder Engagement