Executive Director Of Functional Ai And Process Excellence
Job Description Summary
This position can be based remotely anywhere in the U.S. (there may be some restrictions based on legal entity). Please note that this role would not provide relocation as a result. The expectation of working hours and travel domestic and international will be defined by the Hiring Manager.
Job Description
The Executive Director of Functional AI and Process Excellence partners closely with a network of peer EDs across Novartis through the AI Functional Working Group. Together, they drive enterprise capability building, accelerate AI adoption, foster cultural transformation, and lead process optimization efforts that align with strategic priorities across the organization.
Reporting to the VP, Customer Engagement Future Readiness, Launch, & Field Operations, this role serves as a thought leader and catalyst for AI adoption, process mapping and optimization, guiding CE in leveraging AI to enhance business performance. By fostering a strong AI culture, implementing best practices, and ensuring alignment with the broader AI strategy, this role will enable Novartis to maximize the value of AI investments.
This role leads the Intelligence & Innovation pillar within the Future Readiness, Launch & Field Operations (FRLFO) functiondriving modernization of field technology, commercialization of AI pilots, and redesign of operational processes to future-proof CE execution. This role is accountable to fully participate and drive functional adoption of enterprise standards, governance and pull-through of AI and Data programing, training and other centrally created use cases, programs and initiatives.
Your Key Responsibilities :
Innovation Strategy & Commercialization
- Lead the incubation and scaling of innovative engagement solutions, including AI agent use cases, pilot programs, and commercialization frameworks
- Lead efforts in function to embed AI into functional workflows, ensuring AI solutions enhance decision-making, operational efficiency, and business impact.
- Translate future-state vision into execution-ready solutions that enhance field productivity, customer engagement, and enterprise impact.
- Sponsor pilots and scenario planning to test and scale new engagement models.
Field Technology & Platform Optimization
Own field-facing platform integrity, ensuring systems work smarter, faster, and more aligned to field needsElevate reporting and dashboarding capabilities to enhance insight delivery and decision-making.Establish performance objectives for other in functional AI efforts, leads and implement metrics to measure AI's impact on functional and business goals, ensuring AI value realization is consistently assessed.Operational Process Redesign
Lead reengineering of CE business processes to support modern field workflows and tech enablementEnsure seamless integration of innovations into CE systems and field operations.Drive process modernization in partnership with cross-functional stakeholders.Enterprise Engagement & Stakeholder Alignment
Collaborate with senior leaders across CE, IDS, and therapeutic areas to ensure innovation efforts are co-created and adopted.Represent Intelligence & Innovation in enterprise forums and cross-functional leadership teams.Embed agile feedback loops and customer insights into innovation cyclesCapability & Culture Activation
Foster a culture of innovation and data-driven decision making within each function to promote knowledge-sharing, cross-functional collaboration, and the scaling of successful AI initiatives.Partner with Capability, Change, and Communications teams to support transformation through scalable learning and storytelling.Foster cross-functional collaboration and field-first innovation mindset.Leadership Expectations :
This role includes direct people leadership responsibilities, guiding a high-performing team within CE to deliver on AI and process excellence goals. The Executive Director will be expected to lead with clarity, agility, and influence across a dynamic, cross-functional environment.
Lead and Develop People :Create focus and clarity by translating strategic objectives into actionable plans for functional areas, including setting clear goals and priorities, ensuring alignment with organizational vision and functional area objectivesEmpower teams by providing constructive feedback, removing barriers to success, and holding them accountable for their performanceInvest in the growth and development of team members, helping them expand their impact within the functional areasBuild self-awareness to understand personal strengths and areas for improvement, using this insight to maximize positive impact on the team and enhance the delivery of integrated insightsNavigate Complexity :Demonstrate the ability to enable impactful and fast decision-making by serving as a primary point of contact between functional area / senior leadership and the IDS functions, quickly assessing situations, weighing options, and making informed choices that drive functional area successIdentify key issues in complex situations, maintaining focus on the big picture of the asset lifecycle while adapting and prioritizing as circumstances changeExhibit a long-term vision by taking a broader view of the organization and its environment, considering indirect consequences and longer-term implications of decisionsDeliver Collective Impact :Demonstrate the ability to engage with others and integrate diverse perspectives from functional area and IDS senior leadership to articulate a clear and compelling narrative and achieve the best strategic outcomesSkilled at influencing and collaborating across boundaries without relying on formal authority, building strong relationships and leveraging interpersonal skills to drive initiatives and achieve common goals.Proactively challenge assumptions and ensure decisions are grounded in data, enhancing the quality and impact of insights delivered.Build situational awareness by understanding the dynamics of the functional and adapting leadership style accordingly to improve insights and team performanceRequirements :
Advanced degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Data Science, or related field; MBA or PhD preferred.10+ years of experience in AI strategy, enterprise technology transformation, or digital innovationin complex B2B environments.Proven track record of leading AI / ML initiatives from concept to commercialization, including governance, model development, and deployment at scaleDeep understanding of MLOps, GenAIOps, and LLMOps practices, with experience in building and managing AI pipelines and platformsDeep understanding of the functional area landscape, including strong focus on strategic insights, decision science, and / or analytics within the respective domainStrong grasp of CRM systems, workflow automation, and field technology optimization, with ability to translate user needs into scalable tech solutionsExperience in managing cross-functional teams and partnerships across data science, engineering, commercial strategy, and field operations.Demonstrated ability to drive operational excellence through AI-powered insights, predictive analytics, and process redesignProven leadership experience and executive presence in driving AI adoption, managing cross-functional teams, and influencing senior stakeholders to align AI initiatives with business goalsPreferred Qualifications :
Experience with AI governance frameworks, ethical standards, and regulatory compliance in healthcare or pharmaFamiliarity with cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure) and strategic partnerships for AI enablementExpertise in generative AI use cases, including agentic AI, sentiment analysis, and predictive modeling for customer engagementStrong commercialization mindsetable to lead pilot-to-scale transitions and embed innovation into enterprise systemsVisionary strategist with operational discipline and fluency in agile execution.Skilled at leading high-IQ teams and fostering a culture of experimentation, innovation, and customer obsession.The pay range for this position at commencement of employment is expected to be between $176,400.00 and $327,600.00 a year; however, while salary ranges are effective from 1 / 1 / 25 through 12 / 31 / 25, fluctuations in the job market may necessitate adjustments to pay ranges during this period. Further, final pay determinations will depend on various factors, including, but not limited to geographical location, experience level, knowledge, skills and abilities. The total compensation package for this position may also include other elements, including a sign-on bonus, restricted stock units, and discretionary awards in addition to a full range of