REQ-10074709
Mar 26, 2026
India
Summary
The Associate Director, Strategic Projects is an experienced project leader with an entrepreneurial mindset, and an uncompromising drive to transform drug development and improve patient lives. Defined by strong program management expertise, this role is a proven project manager who can drive high-performing cross-functional teams (Development Units and Functions) and deliver measurable organizational impact.
This role is accountable for enabling strategic imperatives for Development by supporting and/or leading the creation, planning and independent operationalization of specific strategic projects. The role is expected to enhance the executional certainty of assigned initiatives by deploying best-in-class project management practices, successfully supporting project teams (influencing through the matrix) and integrating insights from internal and external specialists.
The impact of this role is measured though executional success as well as the clarity of connection between operational excellence projects and influence on Development objectives, strategy and priorities, including (but not limited to) enhancing drug asset value, financial benefits of efficiency or productivity, improved operational outcomes or accelerating our cultural roadmap. This will require role modeling exceptional values and behaviors, embracing high-challenge conversations to drive change and leading-from-the-front to catalyze future best practices to help stakeholders achieve new performance heights.
This role is accountable for enabling strategic imperatives for Development by supporting and/or leading the creation, planning and independent operationalization of specific strategic projects. The role is expected to enhance the executional certainty of assigned initiatives by deploying best-in-class project management practices, successfully supporting project teams (influencing through the matrix) and integrating insights from internal and external specialists.
The impact of this role is measured though executional success as well as the clarity of connection between operational excellence projects and influence on Development objectives, strategy and priorities, including (but not limited to) enhancing drug asset value, financial benefits of efficiency or productivity, improved operational outcomes or accelerating our cultural roadmap. This will require role modeling exceptional values and behaviors, embracing high-challenge conversations to drive change and leading-from-the-front to catalyze future best practices to help stakeholders achieve new performance heights.
About the Role
Major accountabilities:
- Deliver strategic and operational imperatives for Development as x-functional strategic projects using data as the performance baseline
- Accountable for the faultless, independent delivery of selected strategic projects that employ project management best practices to enhance certainty of success (i.e., project plans – scope, time, cost/resources, communication plans, impact measures/ metrics)
- Provide operational support to OpEx executive directors and directors of large-scale strategic projects
- Drive standardization of project and workstream structures to ensure effective inter- facing between programs
- Synthesize clear takeaways from complex information into outcomes and recommendations using both qualitative and quantitative methods (i.e., external benchmarks, internal metrics, process performance analyses etc.)
- Lead and/or support project teams, influencing without authority, to develop the best solution and move stakeholders and the organization to act
- Establish trust-based relationships stakeholders to better serve their organizations
- Deploy strong verbal and written communication skills to transmit information effectively to all audiences, in a structured manner
- Support project teams and organizations to comprehensively improve operating model design, process simplification, data & technology enablement, and financial success, whilst ensuring quality standards and regulatory compliance
- Role model exceptional company values and behaviors, embracing high-challenge conversations, to drive change (ethics, change agent, collaboration, humility)
- Maintain awareness of process improvement methodologies and best practices (e.g., IQP, Lean six sigma, Scrum, Agile, etc.)
Experience/Professional requirement:
- 5-7 years of pharmaceutical industry, life sciences / drug development or equivalent working experience (i.e., CROs)
- Good understanding of drug research and development: expertise in organizational improvement methodologies (i.e., process reengineering, organizational development etc.).
- International and/or cross-disciplinary background preferred and proven ability to influence without direct authority
- Strong project management capabilities by qualification, training, and experience, and awareness of methodologies (e.g., IQP, lean six sigma, Scrum, Agile …); able to adjust to multiple demands, shifting priorities and unexpected events while maintaining a positive work attitude
- Initiative taker, eager to break new ground, create opportunities for others
- Strong interpersonal communication skills - both verbal and written: Ability to present complex ideas effectively
- Strong project management capabilities by qualification, training, and experience, and awareness of methodologies (e.g., IQP, lean six sigma, Scrum, Agile …); able to adjust to multiple demands, shifting priorities and unexpected events while maintaining a positive work attitude
- Capability to drive an independent workstream in the context of a broader team project
- Ability to work collaboratively in a team and create an inclusive environment with people at all levels of an organization
- Ability to break down and solve problems through quantitative thinking and analysis
- Self-motivated with a remarkably high degree of ownership and accountability for results.
Why Novartis: Helping people with disease and their families takes more than innovative science. It takes a community of smart, passionate people like you. Collaborating, supporting and inspiring each other. Combining to achieve breakthroughs that change patients’ lives. Ready to create a brighter future together? https://www.novartis.com/about/strategy/people-and-culture
Benefits and Rewards: Learn about all the ways we’ll help you thrive personally and professionally.
Read our handbook (PDF 30 MB)
Development
Development
India
Hyderabad (Office)
IN10 (FCRS = IN010) Novartis Healthcare Private Limited
Research & Development
Full time
Regular
No
VIDEO
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Accessibility and accommodation
Novartis 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 recruitment process, or in order to perform the essential functions of a position, please send an e-mail to [email protected] and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Please include the job requisition number in your message.
