This is a temporary contractor opportunity at Novartis
Novartis touches the lives of a tenth of the world's population. Every role here, regardless of contract type, makes an impact on human life
Novartis partners with external managed service provider Magnit Global to offer engaging temporary contractor opportunities like this, to those who are looking for flexibility in their career while looking to gain new skills and experiences providing services to an inclusive global medicines company. Click here to learn more about Magnit.
Ready to work with/through Magnit at Novartis? Please read on…
Role Description:
The Senior Change Management Expert will lead the design and delivery of change management for priority AI initiatives across BR, with a specific focus on:
* Supporting AI use cases and the BR AI Strategy with structured, people‑centred change plans that focus on adoption, ways of working and trust in AI.
* Working alongside the D&D C&E team to embed change management principles into communications, engagement activities and leadership interactions.
The role will bring immediate, senior‑level change expertise and will build internal capability (including the C&E team and other partners) so that change practices can be sustained beyond the external engagement.
Daily Tasks:
Strategy & Planning
* Co‑create change objectives and outcomes for priority AI use cases and AI strategy workstreams, aligned to BR and D&D 2026 expectations.
* Design pragmatic change management strategies and plans using the company Change Navigator as the core framework, tailored to at least two flagship AI projects.
* Define measurable adoption and behaviour‑change indicators (e.g. usage, readiness, sentiment, AI tool uptake, participation in AI/data learning) and agree how they will be tracked with product/initiative owners.
Stakeholder & Leadership Engagement
* Map BR and D&D stakeholders and identify change impacts for each group.
* Develop stakeholder engagement plans that complement C&E activities.
* Coach leaders and sponsors to clearly communicate the AI and Data Strategy case for change, expected benefits, and implications for teams, using consistent narratives in BR‑facing and internal channels.
Change Impact, Readiness & Risk
* Work with BR AI and Data Strategy teams to identify key process, role and capability changes required to implement AI use cases and AI‑ready data products (e.g. new uses of agents, AI‑ready data standards, domain data product responsibilities).
* Conduct practical change impact and readiness assessments with selected teams and document risks, readiness gaps and mitigation actions.
* Provide regular change‑risk insights into existing BR governance forums (e.g. AI and Data Strategy governance, BRLT touchpoints) in partnership with C&E and initiative owners.
Communications & Narrative
* Translate AI and data strategies into clear, audience‑specific narratives that explain "what this means for my work" and support behaviour change.
* Shape message maps and communication plans for key initiatives (AI Strategy 2028, Data Strategy roadmap, priority AI use cases), integrated into existing D&D and BR channels and events.
* Support the capture and packaging of success stories and lessons learned (e.g. AI use cases, data‑product impact, adoption milestones) for use in BR‑wide storytelling.
Training, Data/AI Literacy & Performance Support
* Work with BR Learning, Data Strategy and AI Strategy teams to link change plans with ongoing AI and data learning initiatives.
* Design or co‑design targeted capability‑building workshops and clinics, including at least one dedicated session for the C&E team and close partners.
* Provide practical artifacts (FAQs, job aids, adoption checklists) that help teams embed new ways of working and link back to the change framework.
Adoption, Embedding & Metrics
* Define adoption metrics for selected AI use cases and data products (e.g. tool usage, integration into workflows, participation in learning, feedback scores), in close collaboration with initiative owners.
* Monitor adoption and readiness signals and recommend targeted interventions (e.g. focused leader engagement, refreshed training, additional communication).
* Co-design C&E's measurement framework for engagement, visibility and impact, ensuring AI and data‑related change metrics feed into the broader C&E dashboard.
Internal Capability Building & Knowledge Transfer
* Mentor the C&E team and key partners in applying change‑management tools and approaches in the BR context.
* Co‑create simple, reusable toolkits (e.g. change plan templates, stakeholder mapping templates, readiness checklists), aligned with the Change Navigator that C&E and initiative teams can use independently.
* Develop a formal knowledge‑transfer and exit plan that documents approaches, tools and lessons learned and defines how the C&E team and other stakeholders will continue the work after the external engagement ends.
Requirements:
* English – fluent (written and spoken); main working language across BR and D&D and for AI/Data strategy communications.
* University degree in a relevant field (e.g. Organizational Change, Business, Communications, Psychology or related discipline).
* Advanced degree or formal change‑management training/certification (e.g. Prosci, ACMP) is an advantage (aligns with the C&E team's Prosci development plans for 2026).
* Significant experience leading change management for complex technology, data or AI transformations in large, matrixed organizations.
* Proven track record working with AI strategies, AI use cases and/or data‑platform / data‑strategy roll‑outs, ideally in R&D or similar scientific environments.
* Experienced user of standard collaboration and productivity tools (e.g. Microsoft 365, Teams, SharePoint) used across D&D and BR communication and engagement channels.
* Comfortable working with basic data/adoption analytics (e.g. dashboards, survey outputs, channel metrics) to inform and adjust change plans.
Soft Skills:
* Strategic partner mindset: able to connect change work directly to BR AI and Data Strategy outcomes and D&D 2026 expectations.
* Influencing & collaboration: experienced in working with senior leaders, cross‑functional teams and central governance bodies, preferably with experience in an academic or scientific or environment
* Communication & storytelling: able to simplify complex AI/data topics and craft narratives that support behaviour change, not just information sharing.
* Facilitation & coaching: confident facilitating workshops and coaching internal colleagues to build their own change and adoption skills.
* Adaptability & pragmatism: comfortable working in an evolving organizational design and adjusting change plans as BR AI and Data portfolios develop.
Ideal Previous Experience
* Senior change leadership roles in AI / data / digital transformation programs, ideally including experience with AI adoption, data literacy programs, or AI‑ready data initiatives.
* Experience working closely with Communications & Engagement teams, showing how change management and comms can reinforce each other to drive adoption and culture change.
* Scientific or academic background is a plus, given BR's context and AI/data ambitions.
Workload
: 100% (40 hours per week)
Role type:
Hybrid (3 days/week onsite)
Required start date:
1 March 2026
Contract:
12 months
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?
EEO Statement:
The Novartis Group of Companies are Equal Opportunity Employers. We do not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion or other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status.
Accommodation:
If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please direct your inquiries to Magnit