China Program Head

Job Description

500+ Ongoing clinical trials;160+ Projects in clinical development;80+ Major submissions planned 2020-2022. Novartis GDD (Global Drug Development) oversees the development of new medicines discovered by our researchers and partners. It drives breakthrough innovations to improve and extend the lives of millions.

Your key responsibilities:
•Support Development Unit (DU) Head in managing projects in the defined area, usually priority projects or challenging areas that require strategic oversight. Provide timely updates and escalation to DU head and help DU head make informed decisions. Present/defend project assessments and recommendations to China Unit Leadership Team, China Development Board and Global Project Teams (GPT);
•Provide leadership to CPT to generate and be accountable for high quality integrated China development plan. Provide optimal recommendation on China development strategy to GPT by leading alignment among local functions on product strategy and milestone delivery;
•Serve as the primary contact on assigned programs to global & local key stakeholders. Maintain a close collaboration with GPT to ensure transparency and alignment on China development plan;
•Develop the local development strategy with scientific and business rationale in line with local regulatory requirement;
•Ensure China development strategy integrated into the Global Integrated Development Plan (IDP);
•Anticipate internal and external changes which may risk the program strategy and delivery. Make sound judgement and rapid revisions to the program/portfolio strategy after aligning with internal decision makers at local and global level;
•Lead China programs to achieve key deliverables including CTA, NDA approvals and operational milestones. Oversee the project progress to ensure the competitiveness of the assigned project in local market;
•Form and build a high performing team by setting up clear goals and motivating and engaging entire team members. Ensure the internal or external expert resources in place to support project success. Coach CPT members and ensure that CPT members have the skills and capabilities to enable operational delivery of project/grogram;
•Proactively participate or identify or lead new initiatives to strengthen China GDD to achieve its vision in China;
•Support Clinical QA planning, implementation and follow-up on regulatory agency’s inspections and internal audits;
•Proactively shape the external environment to defend and improve Novartis position relevant to the project by developing strong evidence and trust based relationship with key stakeholders.

Diversity & Inclusion / EEO

Novartis is committed to building an outstanding, inclusive work environment and diverse team’s representative of the patients and communities we serve.

Minimum Requirements

What you’ll bring to the role:
•MSc/ＭＤ or Doctoral degree equivalent in Life science; 8 - 10 years related working experience
•Excellent verbal and written communication skill in Chinese and English.
•Experience in strategic planning and achievement in leading a team to reach regulatory approval is preferred; Strong leadership or rich experience of leading multidisciplinary teams in the biopharmaceutical industry.
•Strategic thinking by actively seeking information and understanding the impact of the external environment and internal business priority at program level.
•Demonstrated understanding of commercial and market access issues and collaborates closely with these groups to reach clarity and alignment; Undertakes continuous self and team development to sustain team success of delivery on strategic vision.
•Ability to motivate people with collaborative and courageous spirit; Proven ability to work independently in a cross functional team setting.
•Strong learning agility; interpersonal skills; Strong negotiation and conflict resolution skills.

Why Novartis?
766 million lives were touched by Novartis medicines in 2021, and while we’re proud of this, we know there is so much more we could do to help improve and extend people’s lives. We believe new insights, perspectives and ground-breaking solutions can be found at the intersection of medical science and digital innovation. That a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment inspires new ways of working.
We believe our potential can thrive and grow in an unbossed culture underpinned by integrity, curiosity and flexibility. And we can reinvent what's possible, when we collaborate with courage to aggressively and ambitiously tackle the world’s toughest medical challenges. Because the greatest risk in life, is the risk of never trying! Imagine what you could achieve here at Novartis!

Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion:
Novartis is committed to building an outstanding, inclusive work environment and diverse team’s representative of the patients and communities we serve.

Join our Novartis network:
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