Global Head of Technology & Architecture in Biomedical Research (BR)

Key Responsibilities:  

• Deliver top-tier research informatics to expedite the discovery of new treatments using data & digital technology and enhance the user experience of our researchers.
• Ensure the evolution of BR´s technology capabilities, underlying architecture, drive make or buy decisions for software products and architecture in close alignment with DDIT to deliver harmonized, scalable, end-to-end approaches across projects.
• Lead the strategy, design, and evolution of our next-generation Data & AI Platforms supporting a global biomedical research organization, and define multi-year vision and roadmap for the Research Data & AI Platforms, ensuring alignment with scientific priorities and the digital AI strategy.
• Significantly contribute to the creation of a global digital strategy for BR's AI-driven drug discovery using Data Science, (Gen) AI, and ML on the technology part, and take part in key strategic cross-divisional data and digital projects and initiatives to ensure seamless compatibility of data systems and solutions across the Novartis Research- Development and Commercial units.
• Driving the lab of the future initiative from an informatics perspective together with lab equipment and automation experts from other BR functions,
• Collaborate closely with Novartis DDIT and the BR Data Science community to devise and execute on the digital and AI strategy for BR to ensure BR is a fully AI enabled Research Organization.
• Evaluate emerging technologies (agentic workflows, vector databases, GPU infrastructure, lab digitalization technologies, quantum computing etc.) and translate them into practical capabilities that drive research outcomes; Lead platform architecture reviews and steer technology selection.
• Provide strategic input and vision on Technologies to the President of Research and BR´s scientific leadership, and act as a recognized advisor to top management.
• Partner closely with DDIT functions to ensure enterprise solutions are preferentially deployed where possible and seek synergies; Serve as a bridge between engineering, R&D scientists, data science, and IT security/compliance and infrastructure groups.
• Grow and lead a diverse, inclusive, high-performing team and instill a collaborative, enterprise mindset, and develop and mentor high-performing, diverse team of platform engineers, software engineers, domain specialists, and architects, lab technologists.

Essential Requirements:

• PhD or master’s degree in computer science, data science, AI, computational biology, cheminformatics, or a related discipline. A background that spans both technology and life sciences is strongly preferred.
• 12+ years of experience in platform engineering, architecture, infrastructure, data engineering, cloud architecture, research lab technologies or ML infrastructure; with 8+ years in leadership roles.
• Strong understanding of modern AI/ML workflows, including LLMs, model training/serving, monitoring, MLOps, and GPU infrastructure.
• Expertise with cloud-native architectures, microservices, APIs, Kubernetes, IaC, observability tools, and high-performance computing.
• Familiarity with scientific research workflows and associated data modalities (omics, imaging, real-world data, lab-generated data)
• Experience translating research and business needs into platform capabilities, and translating technical constraints into business language.
• Extensive Leadership of multidisciplinary, global team with the ability to successfully operate in a matrixed and fast changing environment.
• Proven ability to influence and collaborate across scientific, technical, and business stakeholders, with ability to influence senior leadership & exceptional stakeholder management skills.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication & presentation skills with the ability to communicate complex technical concepts to a wide audience
• Strong ability to navigate complexity and drive to deliver collective impact with an enterprise mindset