Execution Excellence Head

About this role

Responsibilities

• Act as guardian of execution excellence by defining, harmonizing, and continuously evolving execution standards, processes, and ways of working across Commercial, Value & Access, and selected Medical Affairs areas while preserving functional independence.
• Lead a neutral, cross-functional execution excellence organization covering Field Excellence, Integrated Insights, Data, Analytics & Platforms, Capability Building, and Customer Excellence.
• Enable strategic decision-making through integrated insights, advanced analytics, market research, forecasting, and performance vigilance across the portfolio.
• Strengthen field excellence by optimizing territory design, incentives, sizing, resource allocation, and launch go-to-market models using data-driven recommendations.
• Localize and operationalize global digital and execution excellence strategies by deploying trusted data platforms, dashboards, AI-enabled solutions, and change management programs.
• Drive digital transformation and AI enablement to enhance customer experience, productivity, and effectiveness across Marketing, Sales, Medical, and Value & Access.
• Build and deploy future-ready capabilities and learning strategies, including AI, digital, and commercial skills, aligned with global standards and local needs.
• Serve as the execution engine for integrated customer excellence by orchestrating omnichannel engagement, content activation, launch readiness reviews, and execution metrics.
• Partner closely with Finance, P&O, Medical, Value & Access, Legal, and Supply Chain to optimize resource allocation, governance, compliance, and operational execution.
• Build and sustain a high-performance culture by leading, developing, and retaining talent, strengthening succession pipelines, and role-modeling Novartis leadership and ethical standards.

Requirements

• University degree in business administration, engineering, biosciences, or related field with extensive senior leadership experience in the pharmaceutical industry or related sectors; consulting background preferred; fluency in English required, local language desirable.
• Extensive experience in commercial and execution excellence leadership roles with a proven track record of driving business performance and transformation.
• Strong understanding of the full pharmaceutical commercialization lifecycle, from pre-launch to loss of exclusivity, including Medical Affairs and Value & Access models.
• Proven expertise in data, analytics, market research, forecasting, and translating complex insights into strategic decisions.
• Demonstrated leadership in digital transformation, technology adoption, and AI enablement at scale.
• Strong change management capability with the ability to influence without formal authority in complex, matrixed organizations.
• Excellent cross-functional leadership skills, partnering effectively with senior stakeholders including Country President and Business Unit Heads.
• Proven ability to build, inspire, and retain diverse, high-performing teams and succession pipelines across multiple disciplines.
• Strong project management, organizational, and execution skills with a focus on continuous improvement.
• High integrity, compliance-driven mindset with deep knowledge of industry regulations and local regulatory requirements.
• Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion:
• We are committed to building an outstanding, inclusive work environment and diverse teams representative of the patients and communities we serve.
• Skills Desired
• Agility, Agility, Brand Analysis, Brand Awareness, Commercial Excellence, Cross-Functional Collaboration, Customer Engagement, Customer Experience, Customer Insights, Data Strategy, Digital Marketing, Go-To-Market Strategy, Healthcare Needs, healthcare outcomes, Influencing Skills, Inspirational Leadership, launch products, Marketing Strategy, Media Campaigns, People Management, Product Marketing, Product Roadmap, Return on Investment (ROI), Stakeholder Engagement, Stakeholder Management {+ 2 more}