Associate Director, Governance & Operations

Job Description Summary

The Associate Director, Governance & Operations leads a Governance & Operations team within BSI Operations with full accountability to enable operational excellence for BSI and International Commercial, Medical and Value & Access functions.

The role serves as the operational backbone for BSI, ensuring scalable processes, trusted data, efficient digital & AI solutions, and decision-enabling insights that support business priorities across International, functions and markets. The Associate Director drives operational excellence through strong governance, AI-enabled innovation, BSI Operations tools ownership, and continuous process simplification while ensuring alignment with BSI, CLS, Finance, P&O, DDIT, CLS, and regional stakeholders.

The position is responsible for defining and evolving the Governance & Operations operating model, ensuring high adoption of tools, process adherence, robust data quality and controls, and sustainable value creation across BSI Operations

Job Description

Key responsibilities

Governance & Operating Model Leadership

• Define and execute the Governance & Operations priorities, roadmap, and service model aligned to CLS priorities.
• Establish governance frameworks, operating procedures, service standards, and performance metrics.
• Drive process simplification, standardization, and continuous improvement across operational processes.
• Ensure operational governance supports business priorities, compliance requirements, and organizational objectives.
• Lead governance forums, reviews, and cross-functional decision-making discussions.

Platform, Process & Product Ownership

• Own the portfolio of Governance & Operation tools, dashboards, and automation solutions.
• Govern enhancement roadmaps, release planning, adoption performance, and user experience standards.
• Ensure key operational processes including workforce planning, travel approvals, centralized purchasing enablement, demand tracking, budget management, and operational reporting are effectively supported through digital solutions.
• Establish a scalable and sustainable operating model for platform ownership and support.

Data Governance, Reporting & Insights

• Own BSI data governance, data quality, integrity, and reporting strategy.
• Ensure trusted, timely, and decision-enabling reporting across workforce, budget, demand, portfolio, and operational performance domains.
• Establish data quality controls, source-data accountability, and governance processes with business and functional stakeholders.
• Drive maturity of reporting capabilities through Power BI, automation, and advanced analytics.
• Ensure operational metrics and insights support leadership decision making. turn9search1

Digital Transformation & AI Enablement

• Lead digital transformation initiatives across Governance & Operations.
• Drive adoption of Power Platform, automation, AI/GenAI, and workflow simplification opportunities.
• Evaluate and scale Agentic AI and intelligent automation use cases where business value is demonstrated.
• Drive innovation through continuous modernization of tools, processes, and operating practices. Lead by example with hands-on experimentation.
• Improve operational productivity and user experience through technology-enabled solutions.

Organization Leadership & Stakeholder Management

• Lead organization design, resource planning, capability building, succession planning, and talent development.
• Build strong partnerships with Finance, P&O, DDIT, Procurement, CLS, and BSI leadership teams.
• Drive stakeholder alignment, governance compliance, and value realization across BSI Operations.
• Lead prioritization, risk management, and portfolio governance across multiple initiatives.
• Foster a culture of accountability, innovation, customer-centricity, and operational excellence.
• Governance and operating model design
• Enterprise data governance and controls
• Digital platform strategy and product ownership
• GenAI, AI and MS Power Platform ecosystem (Power BI, Power Apps, Power Automate, SharePoint)
• AI, automation, and digital innovation
• Workforce planning and operational governance
• Budget, spend, and portfolio governance
• Reporting and analytics strategy
• Senior stakeholder management and influencing
• Organization leadership and capability development
• Risk management and prioritization
• Change leadership and transformation management

Essential Requirements

• Delivery of Governance & Operations roadmap and strategic priorities
• Adoption and value realization of AI enabled digital platforms and operational tools, incl. hands-on experimentation & innovation.
• Improvement in data quality, governance maturity, and reporting trust
• Operational efficiency gains through automation and AI enablement
• Effectiveness of workforce planning, budget governance, and operational reporting
• Timely delivery of platform enhancements and transformation initiatives
• Stakeholder satisfaction and governance effectiveness
• Team engagement, capability development, and succession readiness

Ideal Background

• 15+ years of relevant experience in operations, governance, digital & AI transformation, business excellence, or related leadership roles.
• Proven experience leading governance, automation, or operational excellence functions.
• Experience managing digital & AI products, and transformation initiatives.
• Strong understanding of workforce planning, process excellence, and operational controls.
• Experience working across Finance, P&O, Procurement, DDIT, and business functions in a global environment.
• Demonstrated success in leading cross-functional programs and organizational change initiatives.
• Strong strategic thinking, stakeholder management, and influencing skills.
• Experience building and leading high-performing teams and operational excellence.
• Strong digital & AI mindset with proven hands-on experience in AI, automation, and data-driven decision making.
• Proven hands-on experience in using AI/GenAI (e.g. Co-Pilot Studio and Cowork or other similar platforms like Claude or ChatGPT), and MS Power Platform ecosystem (Power BI, Power Apps, Power Automate, SharePoint)
• Pharmaceutical, healthcare, life sciences, or similarly regulated industry experience preferred.

Desirable Requirements

• Strategic Leadership
• Governance & Operating Model Design
• Digital Transformation
• Product & Platform Governance
• Data Governance & Stewardship
• Workforce Planning Governance
• AI & Automation Leadership
• Stakeholder Influence
• Organizational Development
• Change Leadership
• Operational Excellence
• Continuous Improvement
• Risk Management

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

Read our handbook to learn about all the ways we’ll help you thrive personally and professionally: https://www.novartis.com/careers/benefits-rewards

Skills Desired

Cross-Functional Collaboration, Customer Engagement, Customer Insights, Data Analytics, Digital Marketing, Market Research, Media Campaigns, Product Marketing, Stakeholder Engagement, Stakeholder Management, Team Leadership, Waterfall Model