Director, Data Strategy & Data Products

Job Description Summary

#LI-Hybrid
Location: San Diego CA
This role is based in San Diego CA. Novartis is unable to offer relocation support for this role. Please only apply if this location is accessible for you.


At Novartis we are reimagining medicine by building the trusted data foundations governance and data products that enable better decisions across the enterprise. As Director Data Strategy & Data Products you will lead strategic initiatives that strengthen how data is defined governed connected accessed and used across complex business and scientific environments. This role is ideal for a senior data leader who can translate enterprise priorities into practical data strategies scalable data solutions and high-value data products that improve decision making operational effectiveness and long-term organizational capability.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the strategy design and execution of enterprise data initiatives focused on foundational data solutions data governance data quality data management and data product development.

• Partner with senior stakeholders across scientific technology and operational functions to identify critical data needs and translate them into clear data strategies roadmaps and delivery priorities.

• Define and scale data products that enable reliable reusable and well-governed access to priority scientific data assets across teams and functions.

• Establish and strengthen data governance frameworks including data ownership stewardship metadata standards data quality expectations access principles and lifecycle management practices.

• Drive alignment across scientific and technical teams to ensure data solutions are strategically relevant operationally sustainable and designed for measurable business impact.

• Provide thought leadership on data strategy data architecture principles data operating models and enterprise data management practices.

• Lead cross-functional scientific data programs from concept through adoption ensuring clear scope stakeholder alignment delivery accountability and effective change management.

• Identify opportunities to improve data usability interoperability quality and consistency across business processes platforms and analytical workflows.

• Build and mentor high-performing teams and scientific communities of practice focused on data strategy governance data product management and data-enabled transformation.

• Ensure data initiatives are delivered in accordance with applicable Novartis standards for quality ethics privacy information security data governance health safety and environmental requirements.

Essential Requirements

• Advanced degree in Data Science Computer Science Information Management Life Sciences or a related discipline.

• 10 years of relevant experience in data strategy data management data governance data architecture data product management analytics strategy or related enterprise data leadership roles.

• Demonstrated success leading large-scale cross-functional data initiatives within complex global organizations.

• Strong understanding of foundational data capabilities including data governance master data management metadata management data quality data lineage data stewardship and data lifecycle management.

• Experience establishing data strategy roadmaps operating models and governance practices that support enterprise priorities and enable scalable data use.

• Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders align diverse teams and translate complex data challenges into clear decisions priorities and implementation plans.

• Strong communication collaboration and change leadership skills with the ability to operate effectively across business technology scientific and operational functions.

• Experience leading mentoring and developing teams or communities focused on data management governance analytics or data product delivery.

Desirable Requirements

• Experience in the pharmaceutical biotechnology healthcare life sciences or other highly regulated industry.

• Experience developing or scaling data products enterprise data platforms or data governance capabilities that support analytics automation or AI-enabled use cases.

Novartis Compensation Summary

The salary for this position is expected to range between $194600 and $361400 per year. The final salary offered is determined based on factors like but not limited to relevant skills and experience and upon joining Novartis will be reviewed periodically. Novartis may change the published salary range based on company and market factors.

Your compensation will include a performance-based cash incentive and depending on the level of the role eligibility to be considered for annual equity awards.

US-based eligible employees will receive a comprehensive benefits package that includes health life and disability benefits a 401(k) with company contribution and match and a variety of other addition employees are eligible for a generous time off package including vacation personal days holidays and other leaves.

To learn more about the culture rewards and benefits we offer our people click here.

EEO Statement:

The Novartis Group of Companies are Equal Opportunity Employers. We do not discriminate in recruitment hiring training promotion or other employment practices for reasons of race color religion sex national origin age sexual orientation gender identity or expression marital or veteran status disability or any other legally protected status.

Accessibility and reasonable accommodations

The Novartis Group of Companies are committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If because of a medical condition or disability you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process or to perform the essential functions of a position please send an e-mail to or call 1 and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Please include the job requisition number in your message.

Salary Range

$194600.00 - $361400.00

Skills Desired

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Business Value Creation Change Management Curious Mindset Data Governance Data Literacy Data Quality Data Science Data Visualization Deep Learning Learning Agility Machine Learning (ML) Machine Learning Algorithms Mentorship Stakeholder Engagement Statistical Analysis Time Series Analysis