Head of Neurodegeneration, Translational Medicine

Job Description Summary

Job Description

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.

Program & Portfolio Leadership

• Lead global translational teams across Phase IIIa (Discovery through TDP) driving implementation of highquality 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.

Translational & Clinical Development Excellence

• Lead the design and execution of FirstinHuman (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) Investigators Brochures Clinical Study Reports (CSRs) regulatory documents etc. with high levels of quality and consistency

Leadership of People Culture and Matrix Teams

• 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.

External Impact & Partnerships

• 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 and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Please include the job requisition number in your message.

Skills Desired