The Role
Leads Clinical Data Operations strategy, governance, OKR and KPI tracking, resource planning, vendor management, financial efficiency, and organizational communications. Translates strategic objectives into operational goals, oversees non-drug project governance, monitors quality, cost, productivity, and timelines, and partners globally across pharmaceutical drug development functions.
Summary Generated by Built In
Job Description Summary
The Director of Operations will work in close collaboration with the Global Head CDO and other members of the CDO LT in reviewing and tracking the Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) for CDO. Accountable for consolidating and reporting the progress made against CDO organizational OKRs and KPIs related to quality, cost, time and productivity. Will be accountable for setting up business governance framework for various governance meetings such as CDOLT (Leadership Team), Ambition review meetings and QRB (Quality Review Board).
Job Description
Major Activities
- In collaboration with Global Head CDO, CDOLT – translate multi year strategic vision into year on year goals and objectives. Ensure objectives are aligned upward with GDO / GDD objectives and downward through objectives of all associates within the CDO sub-functions.
- Drive governance for all non drug projects within CDO – track and measure the ROI and impact on CDO / GCO targets for cost, speed, productivity and quality.
- Ensures that appropriate KPIs and operational metrics are in place to track progress verus targets and OKRs. Coordinate oversight of metrics in collaboration with CDO sub functions and Business Analytics teams at GCO level.
- Lead and oversee S&O function within CDO – supporting in operational health and vendor management.
- Ensures robust resourcing algorithms are in place and collaborates with Resource Management function (at GDO level) to ensure that current and future CDO resourcing is appropriately defined and can successfully support portfolio delivery.
- Drive business efficiency, financial planning and cost basis; implement cross-functional strategies to maximize productivity and efficiency through use of effective business process, global corporate standards and utilization of strategic alliances with external partners.
- Manages Clinical Data Operations communication planning – Coordinates efforts with Communications colleagues and Clinical Data Operations Leadership Team to ensure an effective and consistent flow of messaging down through the organization, is in alignment with overall CDO strategy, OKRs and business priorities. Continually engages with stakeholders and key influencers to ensure that voice of the business (read associates) is heard, ideas are captured and plan alignment areas for improvement.
Essential Requirement
- At least 15 years industry experience in global drug development within the pharmaceutical industry.
- Proven leadership, collaboration, and organizational skills with demonstrated ability to successfully manage simultaneous deliverables and meet deadlines
- Excellent understanding of clinical trials methodology, GCP and medical terminology
- Must be able to anticipate challenges and risks and proactively suggest/implement solutions
- Ability to work under pressure demonstrating agility through effective and innovative team leadership
- Excellent interpersonal skills and proven ability to operate effectively in a global environment. Ability to influence and communicate across functions and to external stakeholders
- Excellent problem-solving, project management negotiation and conflict resolution skills
Skills Desired
Clinical Trials, Data Architecture Development, Data Governance, Data Integration, Data Management, Data Quality, Data Science, Drug Development, Global Project Management, People ManagementSkills Required
- At least 15 years of industry experience in global drug development within the pharmaceutical industry.
- Proven leadership, collaboration, and organizational skills, including the ability to manage simultaneous deliverables and meet deadlines.
- Excellent understanding of clinical trial methodology, Good Clinical Practice, and medical terminology.
- Ability to anticipate challenges and risks and proactively suggest or implement solutions.
- Ability to work under pressure with agility through effective and innovative team leadership.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to operate effectively in a global environment.
- Ability to influence and communicate across functions and with external stakeholders.
- Excellent problem-solving, project management, negotiation, and conflict resolution skills.
- Experience with clinical trials.
- Experience with data architecture development.
- Experience with data governance.
- Experience with data integration.
- Experience with data management.
- Experience with data quality.
- Experience with data science.
- Experience with global project management.
- Experience with people management.
Novartis Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Novartis and has not been reviewed or approved by Novartis.
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Healthcare Strength — Pay and benefits are described as a strong overall package, supported by medical, dental, and vision insurance alongside FSAs/HSAs and disability and life coverage. Mental-health support is reinforced through an employee assistance program with psychological support and a network of mental health first aiders.
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Retirement Support — Retirement support is positioned as a standout element, with an automatic company contribution plus dollar-for-dollar matching in the 401(k). Additional retirement funding is described through an age-based defined contribution program and access to an employee share purchase plan discount.
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Parental & Family Support — Family-related benefits are framed as robust, including a global minimum of paid parental leave for new parents following birth or adoption. Added supports include domestic partner coverage, dependent-care resources, and benefits such as adoption assistance and child/elder care options.
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The Company
What We Do
Novartis is an innovative medicines company. Every day, working to reimagine medicine to improve and extend people’s lives so that patients, healthcare professionals and societies are empowered in the face of serious disease. Our medicines reach more than 250 million people worldwide.








