Job Description Summary
As Executive Assistant to the Country President, you will play a critical role in enabling effective leadership, decision-making, and operational excellence across Novartis Canada.You will act as a strategic partner, managing complex priorities, facilitating leadership team effectiveness, and ensuring seamless coordination across internal and external stakeholders. This position requires exceptional organizational skills, discretion, and the ability to operate in a fast-paced, highly dynamic environment.
Job Description
#LI-Hybrid
Location: Toronto, Ontario
This role is based in Toronto, Canada. Novartis is unable to offer relocation support for this role: please only apply if this location is accessible for you.
This job posting is for an existing position.
Key responsibilities:
Manage and optimize the Country President’s complex calendar, ensuring alignment with business priorities, governance, and key stakeholder engagements.
Proactively anticipate conflicts, prioritize requests, and provide solutions to maximize leadership effectiveness.
Act as a central coordination point for the Country President’s office, ensuring follow-up on key actions, deliverables, and decisions.
Plan and support Canada Leadership Team meetings, business reviews, and strategic sessions, including event planning, agendas, materials, and follow-ups.
Facilitate communication flow between the Country President, leadership team, global stakeholders, and internal partners.
Coordinate executive visits, internal events, and stakeholder engagements with high attention to detail and professionalism.
Manage confidential information with utmost discretion and integrity.
Support project tracking, reporting, and preparation of presentations, dashboards, and executive communications.
Manage domestic and international travel arrangements, itineraries, and logistics end-to-end.
Handle expense reporting, reconciliation, and compliance with internal policies.
Essential Requirements:
Experience in executive administration, business operations, or senior administrative support.
Proven experience supporting senior executives in complex, matrixed, or multinational environments.
Advanced calendar management, meeting coordination, travel planning, and expense management experience.
Strong organizational skills with ability to manage multiple priorities and stakeholders simultaneously.
High level of attention to detail, accuracy, and quality.
Strong judgment, discretion, and ability to handle confidential information
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Proactive mindset with ability to anticipate needs and solve problems independently.
AI-savvy mindset with ability to leverage digital tools to enhance efficiency.
Desirable Requirements:
Experience in pharmaceutical, healthcare, or highly regulated environments.
Strong exposure to senior leadership team operations and governance processes.
Rewards
At Novartis, we’re committed to reimagining medicine together - and rewarding the people who make it happen.
Expected Remuneration Range for role:
CAD 71,487 - 99,240
The base salary offered is determined based on gender-neutral objectives, such as relevant skills, competencies, and experience in accordance with the Novartis pay setting policy and will be reviewed periodically.
The rewards of being part of our team go far beyond base pay and incentives. We also offer a variety of competitive benefits in kind to help you thrive personally and professionally, such as insurance plans, retirement plans, wellbeing resources, and global recognition programs. In addition, we provide flexible and hybrid working options, where possible, and minimum 14 weeks paid parental leave.
Pay equity is a fundamental principle of our employment policy and reflects our commitment to creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment that treats all employees with dignity and respect.
Read our brochure to learn more about our global total rewards offering:
Novartis Life Handbook
Note: Benefits and compensation may vary by country and are subject to local legal requirements. A full overview of your compensation package will be communicated during the application process.
About Novartis Canada
At Novartis Canada, we are determined to be a valued partner and advocate, with a deep understanding of patient needs along the entire care journey – from drug development, to diagnosis, to access, and beyond. Part of the way we achieve this is by leveraging data, technology, and partnerships.
Our Research & Development focuses on four core therapeutic areas: Cardiovascular, Renal & Metabolic, Immunology, Neuroscience, and Oncology. We also develop and deliver treatments through established brands that are helping millions of patients across Canada.
Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion
Novartis is committed to building an outstanding, inclusive work environment and diverse teams representative of the patients and communities we serve.
Skills Desired
Skills Required
- Experience in executive administration, business operations, or senior administrative support.
- Proven experience supporting senior executives in complex, matrixed, or multinational environments.
- Advanced calendar management, meeting coordination, travel planning, and expense management experience.
- Strong organizational skills with ability to manage multiple priorities and stakeholders simultaneously.
- High level of attention to detail, accuracy, and quality.
- Strong judgment, discretion, and ability to handle confidential information.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Proactive mindset with ability to anticipate needs and solve problems independently.
- AI-savvy mindset with ability to leverage digital tools to enhance efficiency.
- Experience managing domestic and international travel arrangements, itineraries, and logistics end-to-end.
- Experience in pharmaceutical, healthcare, or highly regulated environments.
- Strong exposure to senior leadership team operations and governance processes.
- Experience with expense reporting, reconciliation, and compliance with internal policies.
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.
Novartis Insights
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.
