Head of Neurodegeneration, Translational Medicine
Summary
#LI-HybridInternal job title: Executive Director
Location: Basel, Switzerland
As the Head of Neurodegeneration within Translational Medicine, you will serve as a senior scientific and strategic leader responsible for shaping and delivering the translational strategy for neurodegenerative therapeutic programs. You will provide expert guidance bridging research, early clinical development, and biomarker/experimental medicine innovation to advance assets from discovery through proof-of-concept and into full development.
In addition, you will lead or integrate global, cross-functional teams to design, implement, and execute cutting-edge translational strategies, and act as an influential thought partner in neurodegenerative disease biology, clinical development, and emerging therapeutic modalities.
About the Role
Key Responsibilities:
Strategic Leadership & Scientific Direction- Define and oversee the long-term translational strategy for the Neurodegeneration Pillar, ensuring scientific excellence and alignment with broader BR and TM organizational priorities.
- Serve as a senior advisor and thought leader within neurodegeneration disorders, leveraging deep specialty expertise to inform program design, biomarker strategy, and patient-relevant endpoints.
- Lead global translational teams across Phase I–IIa (“Discovery” through TDP), driving implementation of high‑quality development strategies in single or multiple neurodegeneration indications.
- Represent TM on global program teams (GPT) and decision boards, ensuring that neurodegeneration programs meet quality, regulatory, and differentiation objectives.
- Lead the design and execution of First‑in‑Human (FIH) and Phase IIa studies, working collaboratively with clinical, regulatory, biomarker, and profiling partners.
- Leads the creation of clinical components of key documents e.g., Clinical Trial Protocols (CTPs), Investigator’s Brochures, Clinical Study Reports (CSRs), regulatory documents etc. with high levels of quality and consistency
- Serve as a culture champion, promoting empowerment, innovation, and collaboration across TM and broader BR organizations.
- Mentor and develop scientific talent across translational and clinical functions.
- Lead interactions with external stakeholders (e.g., regulatory authorities, key opinion leaders, data monitoring committees, advisory boards etc.) and internal NVS stakeholders
- Contribute to opportunity assessments and due diligence for neurodegeneration and adjacent therapeutic areas.
Governance, Compliance & Documentation
Essential Requirements:
- MD and PhD required with clinical subspecialty training in neurological diseases with deep expertise in neurodegeneration disorders
- A minimum of 10+ years of extensive experience in translational medicine, early clinical development, or experimental therapeutics.
- Demonstrated success leading complex global programs and cross-functional scientific teams.
- Proven ability to shape development strategies, execute early clinical studies, and influence regulatory/packages supporting differentiation.
- Experience working in pharmaceutical/biotech company strongly preferred.
Desirable Requirements:
- Direct people management experience
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 a reasonable accommodation for any part of the recruitment process, or in order to receive more detailed information about the essential functions of a position, please send an e-mail to E-Mail schreiben and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.Please include the job requisition number in your message.
Why Novartis: Helping people with disease and their families takes more than innovative science. It takes a community of smart, passionate people like you. Collaborating, supporting and inspiring each other. Combining to achieve breakthroughs that change patients’ lives.Ready to create a brighter future together? https://www.novartis.com/about/strategy/people-and-culture
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