Head of AI Strategy & Transformation

Sandoz Inc.; Princeton (NJ); Hybrid; USD 176,000 - 328,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) contributions

Paid time off

Tuition reimbursement

Adoption and surrogacy reimbursement

Fitness program reimbursement

Job summary

Sandoz Inc. is seeking a senior AI leader at the Princeton, NJ headquarters to own the North America AI strategy and portfolio. This hybrid role partners with Commercial, Supply Chain, Finance, Regulatory, and IT to translate priorities into scalable AI-enabled solutions that drive growth and improve operations.

The ideal candidate has 10+ years in strategy/leadership, deep AI knowledge, and strong executive communication skills. Local candidates preferred; relocation not required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business, Technology, Engineering, Data Science, Operations, or a related field.
• 10+ years of experience in strategy, operations, digital transformation, or related leadership roles.
• Experience applying AI, automation, analytics, or digital transformation to solve business problems.
• Working knowledge of AI platforms, LLMs, AI agents, orchestration frameworks, and human-in-the-loop design.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain the North America AI strategy and roadmap aligned with business priorities.
• Establish, prioritize, and manage a portfolio of AI initiatives across North America.
• Partner with leaders to identify high-value AI use cases and drive adoption.
• Ensure governance, risk, and compliance for AI initiatives.
• Advise leadership on AI priorities, investments, and strategic implications.

Skills

AI strategy

Executive stakeholder management

Change management

Cross-functional collaboration

Strategic prioritization

Education

Bachelor's degree in business/technology/engineering/data science

Tools

AI platforms

LLMs

AI orchestration frameworks

Job description

Sandoz continues to go through an exciting and transformative period as a global leader and pioneering provider of sustainable Biosimilar and Generic medicines. As we continue down this new and ambitious path, unique opportunities will present themselves, both professionally and personally.

Join us, the future is ours to shape!

Position Location:

This position will be located at the Princeton, NJ US Headquarters site. Our Sandoz flexible hybrid working approach allows US office-based employees to work up to 50% of their monthly workday remotely. This role will not have the ability to be located remotely. Preference will be given to local candidates not requiring relocation.

Must be authorized to work in the U.S. U.S. work visa sponsorship is not available for this role now or in the future.

This role serves as the primary business leader for AI strategy, transformation, and enablement, partnering across Commercial, Supply Chain, Finance, Regulatory, P&O, Enterprise Operational Excellence, and Information Technology to identify, prioritize, and implement high-value AI opportunities that enhance decision-making, improve business processes, and enable new ways of working. Operating through influence rather than direct authority, the position works closely with Global IT and the North America Technology Lead to translate business priorities into scalable AI-enabled solutions while ensuring alignment with global governance and compliance standards. The role is accountable for establishing, maintaining, and governing a portfolio of AI initiatives across North America, ensuring resources are focused on the highest-value opportunities and that investments deliver measurable business outcomes. This is a highly visible and strategically important leadership role with broad exposure across the North America organization and Global functions. Reporting directly to the SVP, Strategy & Growth - North America, the role serves as a trusted advisor to senior leaders and helps shape the North America AI agenda to drive growth, improve performance, and enhance decision-making across the enterprise.

Key Responsibilities

AI Strategy, Prioritization & Value Creation

• Develop and maintain the North America AI strategy and roadmap aligned with business priorities, operational objectives, and Sandoz's growth ambitions.
• Establish, prioritize, and manage a portfolio of AI initiatives across North America, balancing business value, feasibility, risk, and resource availability.
• Partner with business leaders to identify and advance high-value AI use cases that improve decision quality, productivity, forecasting accuracy, and operational performance.
• Track value realization and portfolio performance to ensure AI investments deliver measurable business outcomes.

AI Adoption, Capability Building & Change Leadership

• Serve as the primary champion for AI adoption across North America, promoting responsible and practical use of AI tools in everyday work.
• Increase organizational AI literacy through training, enablement, and change management initiatives that enhance employee capability and confidence.
• Foster a culture of innovation and continuous improvement by redesigning and embedding AI-enabled ways of working across functions.

Cross-Functional Partnership & Solution Delivery

• Partner with Enterprise Operational Excellence to identify opportunities where AI can simplify processes, reduce inefficiencies, and accelerate business performance.
• Collaborate with Global IT and the North America Technology Lead to prioritize, resource, and deliver AI solutions that support North America business objectives.
• Influence and align stakeholders across Commercial, Supply Chain, Operations, Finance, Quality, Regulatory, and other functions to drive successful implementation and adoption.

Governance, Risk & Compliance

• Ensure all AI initiatives comply with global governance, cybersecurity, privacy, compliance, and responsible AI requirements.
• Assess and mitigate risks associated with AI adoption while balancing innovation and business value.
• Advise North America leadership on AI opportunities, emerging technologies, investment priorities, and the strategic implications of AI for the business.

What you'll bring to the role:

Required Qualifications:

Education & Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in business, Technology, Engineering, Data Science, Operations, or a related field.
• 10+ years of experience in strategy, operations, digital transformation, operational excellence, technology, consulting, or related leadership roles.
• Practical experience applying AI, automation, analytics, or digital transformation technologies to solve business problems and improve operational performance, with sufficient technical understanding to evaluate solution feasibility and implementation requirements.
• Working knowledge of AI platforms, large language models (LLMs), AI agents, orchestration frameworks, and human-in-the-loop design principles.
• Demonstrated success leading enterprise-wide initiatives through influence, collaboration, and stakeholder engagement.
• Strong understanding of artificial intelligence, advanced analytics, digital technologies, and business process improvement.
• Exceptional communication, facilitation, change management, and executive stakeholder management skills.

Preferred

• Advanced degree (MBA, MS, Engineering, Data Science, or related discipline).
• Experience in pharmaceutical, healthcare, biotechnology, or other highly regulated industries.
• Experience managing portfolios of strategic initiatives and driving cross-functional implementation through matrixed teams.
• Experience leading or working closely with technical teams to deliver technology-enabled business solutions.

Success Measures

• Increased adoption and effective utilization of approved AI tools across North America.
• Faster and more accurate decision-making across key business functions.
• Improved forecasting accuracy and operational predictability.
• Enhanced AI literacy, capability, and productivity across the workforce.
• Delivery of measurable business value through a prioritized portfolio of AI-enabled solutions.
• Strong adherence to Sandoz AI governance, compliance, and risk management standards.

You'll Receive:

• Sandoz offers a generous employee benefits package that includes a competitive salary, health insurance coverage for medical, prescription drugs, dental and vision, a generous company match for retirement savings accounts, and generous paid time off as detailed below.
• The pay range for this position at commencement of employment is expected to be between $176,400 -$327,600 USD/year.
• Starting salary is typically positioned at the lower end of the range for those new to level and / or with less functional depth.
• Further, final pay determinations will depend on various factors, including, but not limited to experience level, knowledge, skills and abilities.
• Consideration is also taken to ensure that internal equity is maintained.
• The total compensation package for this position includes restricted stock units, and discretionary awards in addition to health insurance (medical, prescription drug, dental, and vision); life, accident and disability insurance; 401(k) contributions; tuition reimbursement; adoption and surrogacy reimbursement; and fitness program reimbursement.
• Employees are also provided with paid sick time, care time, vacation, holidays, and personal days off.

If hired, employee will be in an "at-will position" and the Company reserves the right to modify base salary (as well as any other discretionary payment or compensation program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, Company or individual department/team performance, and market factors.

On September 30, 2021, Sandoz entered into a 5-year Corporate Integrity Agreement. Certain positions will have responsibilities to support the execution and adherence to CIA obligations, CIA-related deliverables, and any relevant audit, monitoring or Independent Review Organization (IRO) remediation.

Sandoz - Notice at Collection to Employees Applicants 4.15.24[16].pdf

Why Sandoz?

Sandoz is the global leader in Biosimilar and Generic medicines, a segment of the healthcare industry that delivers 80% of the world's medicines at 30% of the cost, touching the lives of more than 1 billion people across 100+ countries! While we are proud of our achievements, we have an ambition to do more so that everyone can achieve the basic human right of good health.

With investments in new development capabilities, production sites, new acquisitions, and partnerships, we have the opportunity to shape the future of Sandoz and help more patients gain access to low-cost, high-quality medicines, sustainably.

Our momentum is powered by an open, collaborative culture driven by our talented and ambitious colleagues, who, in return for applying their skills experience an agile and collegiate environment with impactful, flexible-hybrid careers, where diversity is welcomed and where personal growth is supported!

Join us, help us make healthcare fairer and faster.

Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion:

We are committed to building an outstanding, inclusive work environment and diverse teams representative of the patients and communities we serve.

Sandoz EEO Statement:

Sandoz EEO Statement: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

Sandoz Reasonable Accommodations Statement:

Sandoz Reasonable Accommodations Statement: Sandoz, Inc. is 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 email to [e-mail] or call 1-609-422-4098 and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Please include the job requisition number in your message.

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