Project Manager Strategy and Operations, Patient Safety and Pharmacovigilance

Job Description Summary Internal Job title: Associate Director, Project Manager Strategy and Operations Work Arrangement: Hybrid Location: Basel, Switzerland Relocation Support: This role is based in Basel, Switzerland. Novartis is unable to offer relocation support: please only apply if accessible.

Step into a role where strategy meets impact across a global patient safety organisation. As Associate Director, Project Manager Strategy and Operations within Patient Safety and Pharmacovigilance, you will partner closely with senior leaders to drive strategic priorities, strengthen governance operations, support functional communication and engagement, and help deliver cross-functional transformation initiatives. This is a unique opportunity to bring clarity to complexity, enable effective decision-making, and help shape how critical priorities are executed across a global, matrixed environment.

Job Description Key Responsibilities

Drive preparation and delivery of senior leadership meetings, ensuring clear agendas, outputs, and action tracking

Coordinate cross-functional inputs to create high-quality presentations, briefings, and executive communications

Lead project management for strategic initiatives, ensuring delivery against timelines, milestones, and agreed outcomes

Strengthen operational discipline through structured planning, risk identification, follow-up, and timely escalation

Partner with global stakeholders to align priorities across Patient Safety and Pharmacovigilance functions and locations

Support and contribute to the execution of the external engagement strategy with global stakeholders and partners

Represent leadership in cross-functional initiatives, ensuring visibility, coordination, and alignment of strategic priorities

Essential Requirements

Master’s degree in life sciences, pharmacy,

public health, business administration, or a related field

At least seven years of experience in pharmaceutical, biotechnology, healthcare, life sciences, or health institutions

Proven experience in project management, strategy, or operations within a complex business environment

Strong track record of independently managing complex projects, governance forums, executive meetings, or cross-functional initiatives

Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including preparation of executive presentations and senior stakeholder materials

Demonstrated ability to work effectively across global, matrixed, and cross-functional organisations

Strong strategic thinking, analytical problem-solving, and professionalism in handling sensitive information

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

Benefits and Rewards:

Learn about all the ways we’ll help you thrive personally and professionally.

Read our handbook (PDF 30 MB)

Skills Desired Clinical Trial, Databases, Employee Training, Pharmacovigilance, Reporting, Safety Science, Team Management, Waterfall Model