Clinical Development Head Neuroscience

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the clinical function for the Neuroscience Development Unit, providing strategic leadership, functional oversight, coaching and performance management for Global Program Clinical Heads and other clinical and medical associates.
• Establish and execute the short- and long-term disease area, portfolio and clinical development strategy in partnership with the Development Unit Head, Global Program Heads and cross-functional leadership.
• Drive clinical development excellence across the portfolio, including study design, protocol strategy, dose selection, biomarker strategy, endpoint selection, evidence generation and application of innovative clinical methodologies and technologies.
• Ensure clinical development strategies integrate scientific, medical, regulatory, operational, commercial, patient, value and access considerations across the full research, development and commercialization continuum.
• Oversee clinical resource planning, organizational effectiveness, workforce deployment and functional excellence to ensure delivery of portfolio and program priorities.
• Develop and strengthen global clinical talent through leadership, succession planning, capability building and mentoring of senior clinical and medical leaders.
• Provide senior clinical leadership for portfolio governance, program prioritization, benefit-risk assessment, investment decisions, regulatory interactions, submissions and key development-stage transitions.
• Represent and advocate for the clinical function within Development Unit and enterprise governance forums, influencing strategic decisions and partnering effectively across Clinical Development and Novartis leadership teams.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with investigators, key opinion leaders, health authorities, patient organizations, alliance partners and other internal and external stakeholders while leading due diligence, business development and licensing activities as required.
• Ensure the highest standards of scientific rigor, patient safety, quality, ethics and compliance while fostering an inspired, curious, collaborative and inclusive culture aligned with Novartis Values and Behaviors.

Essential Requirements

• MD or equivalent medical degree required; board certification and relevant specialty or subspecialty training in neurology, psychiatry, neuroscience or related fields preferred.
• Minimum 10 years of clinical drug development, translational medicine and/or clinical research experience, including leadership of global development programs and multidisciplinary teams.
• Deep expertise in neuroscience and advanced understanding of disease biology, clinical practice, clinical trial methodology, biomarkers, dose selection, biostatistics, data science and emerging technologies supporting clinical development.
• Proven ability to design and implement scientifically robust clinical development strategies that integrate multiple complex dimensions across the research, development and commercialization continuum.
• Significant experience across Phases I-IV clinical development, including regulatory agency interactions, submissions, evidence generation, market access considerations and benefit-risk assessment.
• Demonstrated success leading, developing and inspiring diverse global teams and matrix organizations across multiple geographic regions and functions.
• Strong business acumen and experience supporting portfolio prioritization, governance decision-making, business development, licensing, alliance management, due diligence and M&A evaluations.
• Recognized credibility and influence with physicians, investigators, regulators, scientific experts, key opinion leaders and senior internal stakeholders.
• Outstanding leadership, communication, collaboration and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence without authority and drive enterprise-level outcomes in a complex global matrix environment.
• Demonstrated commitment to scientific excellence, patient centricity, quality, compliance, ethics, inclusion and Novartis Values and Behaviors.

Desirable Requirements

• Relevant postgraduate clinical specialty or subspecialty training in neurology, psychiatry, neuroscience or another related medical discipline.
• Medical board certification or an equivalent recognized specialist qualification.

Novartis Compensation and Benefit Summary

The salary for this position is expected to range between $318,500 - $591,500 per year. The final salary offered is determined based on factors including, but not limited to, relevant skills, experience and geographic location, and upon joining Novartis will be reviewed periodically. Novartis may change the published salary range based on company and market factors.

Your compensation will include a performance-based cash incentive and, depending on the level of the role, eligibility to be considered for annual equity awards.

US-based eligible employees will receive a comprehensive benefits package that includes health, life and disability benefits, a 401(k) with company contribution and match, and a variety of other benefits. In addition, employees are eligible for a generous time-off package, including vacation, personal days, holidays and other leaves.

At Novartis, we are committed to reimagining medicine together and rewarding the people who make it happen.