Strategic Data Science Lead - AI & Data Strategy in Biotech

Novartis; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 160,000 - 298,000; Full time

Job summary

Novartis in the United States, based in San Diego, seeks a Senior Principal Data Scientist to lead strategic data initiatives across the Biologics Research Center. You will translate complex scientific questions into actionable data solutions, partnering with scientific, digital, and operations teams to accelerate discoveries and improve patient outcomes.

You will drive adoption of the BR Data Strategy, governance, and enterprise platforms, and influence stakeholders without direct managerial

Qualifications

• Ph.D. or MSc in Life Sciences, Data Science, Bioinformatics, or a related field.
• 8+ years of pharmaceutical or biotechnology R&D experience across scientific, data, and digital functions.
• Strong understanding of scientific data management, data governance, and research data ecosystems.
• Strong leadership, stakeholder management, project management, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Demonstrated ability to translate business challenges into solutions that deliver measurable impact.
• Excellent written, verbal, presentation, and influencing skills.

Responsibilities

• Build trusted partnerships with scientific, operational, and digital stakeholders across the global research organization.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to US stakeholders, aligning data and digital opportunities with strategic priorities.
• Drive adoption and governance of the BR Data Strategy and data/digital capabilities.
• Lead business analysis, requirements gathering, and discovery for scientific data initiatives.
• Translate scientific workflows and business requirements into scalable data solutions.
• Lead cross-functional, matrix-driven initiatives across global teams.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Project management

Communication

Strategic thinking

Education

Ph.D. or MSc in Life Sciences, Data Science, Bioinformatics, or related field

Tools

SQL

Python

R

AI/Automation tools

Job description

Novartis in the United States, based in San Diego, seeks a Senior Principal Data Scientist to lead strategic data initiatives across the Biologics Research Center. You will translate complex scientific questions into actionable data solutions, partnering with scientific, digital, and operations teams to accelerate discoveries and improve patient outcomes.

You will drive adoption of the BR Data Strategy, governance, and enterprise platforms, and influence stakeholders without direct managerial