Group Head - Scientific Innovation (RX & AI and Computational Sciences)
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Summary
Novartis has embraced a bold strategy to drive a company‑wide digital transformation, positioning the company as an industry leader by proactively adopting digital technologies that foster innovative approaches to hasten drug discovery and development. By utilizing both internal and external R&D data with the power of data science, predictive models, generative AI, and machine learning, the goal is to identify new targets, create more effective therapeutic molecules, better predict drug pharmacokinetics and safety risks, refine clinical trial design, and significantly shorten development cycles.
The AICS team leads BR in exploring and applying advanced AI and ML methodologies to generate novel drug discovery insights, speeding and improving drug discovery efficiency while focusing on patients’ needs.
About The Role
The role leads the Scientific Innovation group within AICS, tasked with leading a group of scientists with significant domain expertise in biomedical research, being AI‑native, and acting as the primary SME liaison of AICS to BR Disease Areas and Function Areas.
Responsibilities
* Lead a team of AI researchers who also bring significant domain area expertise.
* Work with AI modelers to ensure models are robust and performant.
* Collaborate with Engineering and Product Development resources to ensure delivery of AI solutions.
* Raise awareness of AI applications to aid in answering key research questions across BR.
* Help position AI‑aided drug discovery contributions to deliver and support progress of Biomedical Research’s portfolio, enabling new therapeutic discoveries, shortening cycle times, and increasing efficiency.
Collaboration & Partnership
* Act as the primary liaison as a subject matter expert for AICS, identifying research questions, designing solutions, and evangelizing AI impacts across Biomedical Research.
* Regularly communicate, engage, and align with AICS teams, the broader data science community, and senior scientists.
* Initiate and lead key high‑value internal collaborations across BR.
* Help design translatable metrics for AI models that lead to tangible impact with BR Disease Areas and Function Areas.
What You’ll Bring To The Role
* 10+ years of significant experience in innovation, development, deployment, and continuous support of machine learning, data management, and modeling.
* Deep understanding of drug development and ability to bring advanced analytics insights into a large research organization.
* Passion for emerging technologies and the insight to integrate them into business solutions.
* Ability to balance requirements, manage expectations, and drive effective results with a proactive attitude.
* Entrepreneurial spirit with a can‑do, proactive attitude.
* Strong organizational, problem‑solving, and influencing skills with a track record of exceptional teamwork.
* Excellent interpersonal, communication, and presentation skills.
* Ability to execute and prioritize well in a complex matrixed environment.
Why Novartis
Helping people with disease and their families takes more than innovative science—it requires a community of smart, passionate people. Collaborating, supporting, and inspiring each other, we combine to achieve breakthroughs that change patients’ lives and create a brighter future together.
Benefits and Rewards
Read our handbook to learn about all the ways we’ll help you thrive personally and professionally at Novartis Careers.
Seniority Level
Director
Employment Type
Full‑time
Job Function
Product Management and Marketing
Industries
Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
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