Global Clinical Operations AI Program Associate Director

Global Clinical Operations AI Program Associate Director

Job Description Summary

#LI-Hybrid

Location: Hyderabad, India

Relocation Support: This role is based in Hyderabad, India. Novartis is unable to offer relocation support; please only apply if accessible. Novartis is also unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position.

This is a Hybrid working role with an expectation of 12 days per month in office.
About the Role

Help shape how AI creates measurable impact across Clinical Operations.

As the Global Clinical Operations AI Program Associate Director, you will drive the delivery of GCO's AI portfolio, translating innovative ideas into scalable, compliant solutions that improve how teams work. Partnering across Clinical Operations, Development AI, Data, Digital and Information Technology, and business leaders, you will lead program execution, enable adoption, and help accelerate the transformation to an AI-enabled organization. This is an opportunity to combine clinical operations expertise, change leadership, and innovation delivery to bring AI from concept to real-world impact.

Job Description

This position acts as the programmatic backbone of the AI team by supporting the coordination and alignment of GCO AI product roadmaps with Dev AI products and strategy as well as enabling Product Owners, Platform Leads and the Head of AI Transformation to deliver on the GCO AI goals.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee planning, execution, delivery, and reporting across the Global Clinical Operations AI portfolio.

• Monitor portfolio progress, dependencies, risks, and milestones to support effective decision-making.

• Deliver portfolio reporting and insights using standardized key performance indicators and metrics.

• Partner with Product Owners and Platform Leads to maintain an integrated AI roadmap and solution landscape.

• Coordinate governance activities including intake, prioritization, risk assessment, compliance alignment, and approvals.

• Support adoption of self-service, low-code, and productivity-focused AI solutions across Clinical Operations.

• Lead change management, communications, training, and launch readiness activities for AI initiatives.

• Apply consistent program management practices, including value tracking, quality assurance, and benefits realization.

Essential Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Life Sciences, or a related discipline, or equivalent relevant business experience.

• A postgraduate qualification in a relevant discipline would be beneficial.

• Significant experience in program management, project management, digital delivery, or business transformation within complex global organizations.

• Must have experience in the pharmaceutical industry with strong knowledge of Good Clinical Practice (GCP), Clinical Research and Clinical Trials Operations

• Proven ability to coordinate multiple workstreams and drive delivery across cross-functional initiatives.

• Strong understanding of Clinical Operations or the ability to rapidly develop expertise in the clinical trial environment.

• Experience delivering innovation, transformation, or technology-enabled change that resulted in measurable business outcomes.

• Ability to build trusted partnerships and influence stakeholders across technical, operational, and compliance functions.

• Experience supporting digital or AI initiatives, including solution deployment, adoption, or process automation.

• Experience working within regulated environments and applying compliance requirements to operational delivery.

• Excellent communication, change management, and facilitation skills, with the ability to drive adoption of new ways of working.

Desirable Requirements

• Demonstrated personal use of AI beyond basic productivity applications, including experimentation with emerging tools or solutions.

• Experience supporting technology adoption, change, or process improvement within Clinical Operations or a related healthcare environment.

Why Consider This Opportunity

This role offers the opportunity to help shape how AI is adopted across Global Clinical Operations, working at the intersection of innovation, transformation, and delivery. You will partner with leaders across the organization to turn AI opportunities into practical solutions that enhance productivity, support compliant operations, and accelerate the journey toward an AI-enabled Clinical Operations organization.

Accessibility and accommodation 
Novartis is 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 recruitment process, or in order to perform the essential functions of a position, please send an e-mail to diversityandincl.india@novartis.com and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Please include the job requisition number in your message

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion / EEO

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

Skills Desired

AI Adoption, AI Adoption, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Artificial Intelligence Software, Artificial Intelligence Strategy, Artificial Intelligence Technologies, Biostatistics, Business Value Creation, Change Management, Change Management for AI Adoption, Clinical Operations, Clinical Research, Clinical Trials Operations, Curious Mindset, Data Governance, Data Literacy, Data Quality, Data Science, Data Visualization, Deep Learning, Good Clinical Practice (GCP), Graph Algorithms, Learning Agility, Machine Learning (ML), Machine Learning Algorithms {+ 4 more}

Experience Level

Mid Level