Senior Director, EEE Operations

Responsibilities:  

• Provide end-to-end leadership and oversight of centralised EEE operations, ensuring alignment with global standards, strategy, and compliance expectations.  

• Define and implement operational goals, KPIs, and SLAs across all service areas, including throughput, cycle time, and issue resolution.  

• Lead a team of Associate Directors and Senior Managers, establishing clear roles, responsibilities, and performance expectations.  

• Oversee delivery and quality of operational services related to contract support, advisory, external funding, and system support.  

• Drive alignment with Legal on contract templates, implementation, and continuous communication and collaboration.  

• Monitor workload distribution and optimise resource allocation to meet business demands.  

• Ensure process adherence, policy compliance, and audit readiness across all supported activities.  

• Serve as primary operational partner to GMA/IMA activity owners, Legal, Compliance, Finance, and system owners.  

• Represent Operations in governance forums and escalate systemic challenges, policy gaps, or resourcing needs to the Executive Director.  

• Build and sustain a strong, engaged, and accountable operations team, focusing on talent development and succession planning. 

Essential for the role: 

• University degree in Life Sciences, Business Administration, Law, International Marketing, or Communication.  

• Over 12 years’ relevant experience in the pharmaceutical industry, with at least 10 years in medical affairs or drug development.  

• Track record of operational effectiveness or innovation in complex environments.  

• Proven leadership skills with project management and people management experience, including direct leadership of large teams (20+ associates) and complex multi-functional teams.  

• Strong financial and business acumen, with demonstrated success in resource (budget and headcount) planning and management.  

• Working knowledge of process improvement initiatives, risk/issue management, vendor management, and capability building.  

• Experience in global organisations and cross-functional teams. 

• Excellent English language skills, both written and spoken.  

Desirable for the role: 

• Solid knowledge of pharmaceutical healthcare compliance, industry codes and regulations, and their interpretation in a global context and enterprise systems.  

• Change management skills to sustain a culture of high ethical standards and compliance, with willingness to challenge the status quo and anticipate future business needs. 

Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion:  

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