Associate Director, Clinical Sciences – Translational Medicine
About this role
Job Description Summary
We are seeking an Associate Director, Clinical Sciences to join Translational Medicine (TM) in our London office. This is a senior Clinical Sciences role with responsibility for the scientific and operational leadership of complex, global early phase clinical studies, spanning first in human through to the decision to transition into full development.
At Associate Director level, this role combines hands on study leadership with broader scientific and strategic contribution at the programme level. You will lead global, cross functional Clinical Trial Teams, driving high quality execution and delivery of clinical data, while also leveraging your depth of experience to shape early clinical strategy, influence study design and development approaches, guiding teams through complex scientific and operational trade offs. Through this dual focus, you will help ensure studies are designed and executed to best support robust programme level decision making.
While this role does not carry direct people management responsibility, we are looking for individuals who enjoy growing and developing colleagues and who actively seek opportunities to evolve and improve ways of working. Although CSI is a global function, you will serve as a visible and supportive leader within the London Translational Medicine and wider Novartis community.
This position is based at the Westworks London office, with flexibility to work remotely for up to two days per week. Domestic and international travel is required to support investigator meetings, site interactions and global study team engagement. Please note that we are unable to offer work permit support for this role.
Responsibilities
- Provide early, experience‑based strategic input into study design, clinical development plans and execution strategies, helping teams define the most appropriate scientific and operational approach.
- Act as Clinical Science Study Lead for predominantly high‑complexity, global early‑phase clinical trials.
- Independently lead the clinical protocol development process, serving as author for protocols and related documents in close collaboration with Medical Leads and cross‑functional partners.
- Develop the operational execution strategy and planning, ensuring studies are scientifically robust and operationally deliverable. Drive feasibility assessment and ensure patient insights are included in protocol and operational planning. Forecast and manage study budgets in partnership with key functional colleagues.
- Lead and matrix‑manage a global, cross‑functional Clinical Trial Team (CTT), aligning internal and external stakeholders and ensuring delivery to agreed timelines, quality standards, and budget.
- Lead the ongoing medical and scientific review of clinical trial data, including safety trend analysis, signal detection, interpretation of emerging results, and development of first interpretable data.
- Contribute to Clinical Study Reports (CSRs), publications, internal decision documents, and external scientific communications.
- Contribute as a senior TM team member to continuous improvement initiatives, functional development, and the evolution of ways of working across TM.
- Actively support the development of people, capability, and culture within Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine through mentoring, coaching, knowledge‑sharing, and role‑modelling strong scientific and collaborative leadership.
- Expected Prior Experience/Competencies
- Bachelor’s degree in life sciences or healthcare required; advanced degree (MSc, PhD, PharmD, MD or equivalent) preferred.
- Significant experience in clinical development or clinical research, ideally within a pharmaceutical environment and within early‑phase / Translational Medicine.
- Demonstrated experience acting as Clinical Scientist or Study Leader for global clinical trials, with ~8+ years’ experience in clinical trials and/or development.
- Strong experience in protocol development, study design, and clinical data interpretation, with high learning agility across therapeutic areas.
- Proven ability to lead and influence in a matrix environment, navigating complexity, ambiguity, and change, and confidently driving collaboration across functions and geographies.
- Demonstrated leadership behaviours, including constructive challenge, speaking up, accountability, and a commitment to high scientific and operational standards. Commitment to diversity, inclusion, integrity, quality, and collaboration.
- Solid understanding of ICH‑GCP, regulatory requirements, and high‑quality clinical trial conduct.
- Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion:
- Novartis is committed to building an outstanding, inclusive work environment and diverse teams representative of the patients and communities we serve.
- Skills Desired
- Auditing, Clinical Monitoring, Clinical Research, Clinical Trials, Data Management, Global Project Management, Health Sciences, Lifesciences