Demo

Head Portfolio Strategy & Operations Neuroscience & Gene Therapy

Novartis
East Hanover, NJ Full Time
POSTED ON 4/6/2026
AVAILABLE BEFORE 5/10/2026
Summary

Onsite

Cambridge, MA

East Hanover, NJ

About The Role

As Head of Portfolio Strategy & Operations, Neuroscience and Gene therapies (NS & GTx), you will lead the therapeutic area and portfolio strategy. You will serve as a thought partner for the NS & GTx Head and leadership team, in collaboration with key stakeholders along the R-D-C continuum, while considering internal & external factors impacting the neuroscience and gene therapies portfolio. You will have the opportunity to lead the team’s operations and oversee program execution by actively partnering with Global Program Heads, development line functions, global medical affairs, and other key stakeholders, while partnering directly with the Global Program Manager function with workforce planning, demand planning, & resource needs in NS & GTx. You may also deputize for the NS & GTx Head. This position reports to the DU Head.

About The Role

Your Key Responsibilities:

  • Serve as a thought partner for the NS & GTx unit head and leadership team on all topics related to strategy, portfolio strategy and program-level strategic considerations.
  • Lead the strategic initiatives within NS GTx and contribute to development or enterprise-level initiatives.
  • Co-lead the NS & GTx strategy review in collaboration with the NS & Gtx Head and other NS & GTx members; works in collaboration with NS & GTx leadership members and their respective organizations; prepares outputs for Novartis senior management, Board of Directors and external audiences (e.g., investors).
  • Proactively monitor external landscape (incl. industry, regulatory landscape etc.), assesses impact on portfolio and derives concrete actions / recommendations.
  • Lead governance, effective discussion and quality decision making at NS & GTx Leadership team; Point person for portfolio & strategy related activities and requests .
  • Lead effective internal and external communication to include IR and pipeline communications via generation or review of all NS & GTx level reports; lead development of strategic communication and associate engagement plan.
  • Translate NS & GTx strategy into NS & GTx leadership team and development leadership team objectives jointly with GPTs and DU LFs; continuously tracks status.
  • Optimize the portfolio value and update relevant NS & GTx strategy.
  • Prepare (and support leadership team in preparation) for governance meetings, including in-writing memos and monthly updates. Liaising with governance boards to coordinate flow of review.
  • May manage the NS & GTx Operational Manager(s) and have direct reports ranging from 1-5 associates.
  • Accountable for external annual DU budget Planning and management of department headcount (10-20 FTEs) and oversight of the DU project development costs.
  • Ensures resource optimization through influencing trial and program design by matching investment to portfolio prioritization and risk profile.

Video Link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggbnzRY9z8w

This position will be located at the Cambridge, MA or East Hanover, NJ site and will not have the ability to be located remotely. This position will require 5% travel as defined by the business (domestic and/ or international).

Role Requirements

Essential Requirements:

  • Master’s degree or equivalent education/degree in life sciences or healthcare and 10 years of drug development experience, and knowledge of drug development strategy.
  • 5 years people and matrix management experience.
  • Excellent problem-solving, negotiation and conflict resolution skills.
  • Considerable organizational awareness, including significant experience working cross-functionally and in global teams.
  • Strong relationship builder and communicator with experience leading diverse work teams, driving program excellence, engaging functional partners, and partnering with disease unit Head and Business Franchise Head.
  • Advanced planning and project management skills, with understanding of business processes.

Desired Requirements

  • MD, PhD or MBA highly desired.
  • Global people management experience

Novartis Compensation And Benefit Summary

The salary for this position is expected to range between $225,400 and $418,600 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 benefits. In 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.

Why Novartis

Our purpose is to reimagine medicine to improve and extend people’s lives and our vision is to become the most valued and trusted medicines company in the world. How can we achieve this? With our people. It is our associates that drive us each day to reach our ambitions. Be a part of this mission and join us! Learn more here: https://www.novartis.com/about/strategy/people-and-culture

You’ll Receive

You can find everything you need to know about our benefits and rewards in the Novartis Life Handbook.

https://www.novartis.com/careers/benefits-rewards

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 in order to perform the essential functions of a position, please send an e-mail to tas.nacomms@novartis.com call 1(877)395-2339 and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Please include the job requisition number in your message.

Join our Novartis Network: If this role is not suitable to your experience or career goals but you wish to stay connected to learn more about Novartis and our career opportunities, join the Novartis Network here: https://talentnetwork.novartis.com/network

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)

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 & 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 [email protected] or call 1(877)395-2339 and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Please include the job requisition number in your message.

Salary : $225,400 - $418,600

If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution. Compensation Planning
Enhance your organization's compensation strategy with salary data sets that HR and team managers can use to pay your staff right. Surveys & Data Sets
Employees: Get a Salary Increase
View Core, Job Family, and Industry Job Skills and Competency Data for more than 15,000 Job Titles Skills Library

Job openings at Novartis

  • Novartis Indianapolis, IN
  • Summary Production Technicians play an active role in daily production of isotope manufacturing as well as setup and preparation of instruments and equipme... more
  • 1 Day Ago

  • Novartis Lansing, MI
  • Summary This is a field-based and remote opportunity supporting key accounts in an assigned geography. Novartis is unable to offer relocation support for t... more
  • 1 Day Ago

  • Novartis East Hanover, NJ
  • Summary Onsite East Hanover, New Jersey 200 compounds in Novartis are supported by biostatisticians in 10 sites around the globe. Biostatisticians transfor... more
  • 1 Day Ago

  • Novartis East Hanover, NJ
  • Summary The Insights and Decision Science (IDS) team is dedicated to enabling improved decision making at Novartis by leveraging data and advanced analytic... more
  • 1 Day Ago


Not the job you're looking for? Here are some other Head Portfolio Strategy & Operations Neuroscience & Gene Therapy jobs in the East Hanover, NJ area that may be a better fit.

  • Krystal Biotech, Inc. Newark, NJ
  • Position will cover a broad region along the US East Coast, across several multi-state territories. Candidates must be located along the East Coast, prefer... more
  • 2 Days Ago

  • Krystal Biotech, Inc. Newark, NJ
  • Position will cover a broad region along the US East Coast, across several multi-state territories. About Krystal Bio: At Krystal Biotech, we bring togethe... more
  • 11 Days Ago

AI Assistant is available now!

Feel free to start your new journey!