Job Description Summary
Step into a career-defining opportunity where your leadership can transform patient outcomes on a global scale! As our Global Program Safety Team Lead in Neuroscience, you’ll be the driving force behind our Medical Safety organization, championing innovative safety strategies and steering our development programs toward breakthrough results.
In this pivotal role, your expertise as a safety clinician will empower you to anticipate and navigate complex safety challenges, influence high-stakes decisions, and inspire teams to achieve excellence. Your vision and strategic insight will shape the future of neuroscience safety at Novartis, making a lasting impact for patients worldwide.
Job Description
Location : Basel, Switzerland
Working Model: Hybrid (12 days per month on-site)
#LI Hybrid
This role can also be based in London, UK if interested in that location please apply on REQ-1 0081179.
Major Accountabilities
Manage an efficient and successful disease area within the Therapeutic Area (TA)/Development Unit (DU) Medical Safety organization, which provides robust medical and science-driven contribution to BenefitRisk evaluation throughout product lifecycle to enable Novartis to provide impactful medicines to patients worldwide.
Enhance scientific and clinical experience of Medical Safety physicians / scientists through continuous training and coaching, prepare safety objectives and evaluate and manage performance of the Medical Safety associates within the TA/DU, identify talents and high potential associates, defend and discuss in front of leadership team, and support associates in the carrier path.
Provide expert safety input to the clinical development program for assigned projects/products and be an active member of the Global Program Team (GPT), Global Clinical Team (GCT) and Clinical Trial Team (CTT) – responsible for safety issue management from formation of GPT through Life Cycle Management.
Responsible for overall signal detection, monitoring, evaluation, interpretation and appropriate management of safety information, based on information from all relevant line functions, post‑marketing data, and other sources.
Responsible for documentation/tracking/record keeping of the assigned compounds medical safety activities and for responses to inquiries from regulatory authorities or health care professionals on safety issues.
Lead the preparation of the safety strategy for health authority responses and strategy, in collaboration with other project team members.
Contribute to and often lead the development of departmental and functional/business unit goals and objectives.
Minimum Requirements
Medical Degree or equivalent (preferred), PhD, PharmD or other graduate level health care professional degree required. Specialty Board certification desirable.
Minimum 5 years clinical experience postdoctoral.
At least 7 years progressive experience in drug development in a major pharmaceutical company (of which 5 years in a global position), including 5 years in safety at a medical position.
Solid expertise in preparing or contributing to preparation of clinical safety assessments and regulatory reports/submissions involving safety information – to include NDA submission documents.
Substantial experience in leading cross‑functional, multicultural teams.
Strong experience with safety issue management.
Extensive experience in drug development, clinical trial methodology, regulatory requirements, scientific methodology, statistics and writing of publication.
Strong leadership skills including coaching, motivating and directing, and fostering teamwork; ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with subordinates, superiors and peers.
Beneficial Skills and Knowledge
Post‑graduate degree in Pharmaceutical Medicine; Master of Public Health in Epidemiology (or equivalent).
Strong negotiation and conflict management skills.
Strong experience with medical writing and delivering high quality documents such as RMPs, PSURs.
Languages
Fluent English – both spoken and written.
Additional languages are an advantage.
Closing date for applications: 26 June 2026
Accessibility and Accommodation
Novartis is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to all individuals. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need reasonable accommodation for any part of the recruitment process, or to receive more detailed information about the essential functions of a position, please send an e‑mail to diversity.inclusion_ch@novartis.com and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Please include the job requisition number in your message.
Skills Desired
Cross Functional Teams
Leadership
Medical Strategy
Multi Cultural Team Leadership
Process Safety Management
Regulatory Compliance
Safety Science
Strategy
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