Summary
Internal job title: Executive Director
Location: Basel, Switzerland
As the Head of Neurodegeneration within Translational Medicine, you will serve as a senior scientific and strategic leader responsible for shaping and delivering the translational strategy for neurodegenerative therapeutic programs. You will provide expert guidance bridging research, early clinical development, and biomarker/experimental medicine innovation to advance assets from discovery through proof-of-concept and into full development.
In addition, you will lead or integrate global, cross-functional teams to design, implement, and execute cutting-edge translational strategies, and act as an influential thought partner in neurodegenerative disease biology, clinical development, and emerging therapeutic modalities.
About the Role
Key Responsibilities:
Strategic Leadership & Scientific Direction
- Define and oversee the long-term translational strategy for the Neurodegeneration Pillar, ensuring scientific excellence and alignment with broader BR and TM organizational priorities.
- Serve as a senior advisor and thought leader within neurodegeneration disorders, leveraging deep specialty expertise to inform program design, biomarker strategy, and patient-relevant endpoints.
Program & Portfolio Leadership
- Lead global translational teams across Phase I–IIa (“Discovery” through TDP), driving implementation of high‑quality development strategies in single or multiple neurodegeneration indications.
- Represent TM on global program teams (GPT) and decision boards, ensuring that neurodegeneration programs meet quality, regulatory, and differentiation objectives.
Translational & Clinical Development Excellence
- Lead the design and execution of First‑in‑Human (FIH) and Phase IIa studies, working collaboratively with clinical, regulatory, biomarker, and profiling partners.
- Leads the creation of clinical components of key documents e.g., Clinical Trial Protocols (CTPs), Investigator’s Brochures, Clinical Study Reports (CSRs), regulatory documents etc. with high levels of quality and consistency
Leadership of People, Culture, and Matrix Teams
- Serve as a culture champion, promoting empowerment, innovation, and collaboration across TM and broader BR organizations.
- Mentor and develop scientific talent across translational and clinical functions.
External Impact & Partnerships
- Lead interactions with external stakeholders (e.g., regulatory authorities, key opinion leaders, data monitoring committees, advisory boards etc.) and internal NVS stakeholders
- Contribute to opportunity assessments and due diligence for neurodegeneration and adjacent therapeutic areas.
Governance, Compliance & Documentation
Essential Requirements:
- MD and PhD required with clinical subspecialty training in neurological diseases with deep expertise in neurodegeneration disorders
- A minimum of 10+ years of extensive experience in translational medicine, early clinical development, or experimental therapeutics.
- Demonstrated success leading complex global programs and cross-functional scientific teams.
- Proven ability to shape development strategies, execute early clinical studies, and influence regulatory/packages supporting differentiation.
- Experience working in pharmaceutical/biotech company strongly preferred.
Desirable Requirements:
- Direct people management experience
Accessibility and Accommodation:
Novartis is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to all individuals. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the recruitment process, or in order to receive more detailed information about the essential functions of a position, please send an e-mail to inclusion.switzerland@novartis.com and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Please include the job requisition number in your message.
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.
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