Band Level 6 Job Description Summary #LI-Remote- Location: Remote- At Novartis, an industry leader, you will provide critical medical and scientific leadership across a broad rheumatology portfolio. The Medical Director will play a central role in strategic planning, tactical execution, and budget planning, with a strong emphasis on evidence generation, clinical development support, and scientific communications. This role will drive close collaboration and co leadership with Global and U.S. Medical Affairs, Clinical Development, HEOR, Regulatory, Commercial, and Market Access colleagues to develop and execute integrated evidence plans and scientific communication strategies supporting early pipeline, launch, and in line rheumatology therapies. The Medical Director will serve as a key internal and external scientific leader, partnering with healthcare professionals, investigators, and professional societies to advance data generation, scientific exchange, and understanding of evolving standards of care across multiple rheumatology and rare autoimmune disease areas. Major Accountabilities • Lead the development and execution of integrated evidence generation plans across multiple rheumatology disease states, including Sjögren’s disease, lupus, systemic sclerosis, psoriatic arthritis, and rare autoimmune conditions, in partnership with Global and U.S. cross functional teams. • Provide medical leadership and scientific input to clinical development programs, including support for protocol development, study design, data interpretation, and ongoing trial execution and enrollment across early and late phase studies. Partner with Clinical Development, Clinical Operations, and external investigators to drive innovative patient recruitment and retention solutions, supporting the successful enrollment of a large portfolio of Phase 3b studies, while overseeing Investigator Initiated Trials (IITs) and Research Collaboration programs to ensure scientific quality, strategic alignment, and compliant execution. • Develop and implement a comprehensive external medical engagement strategy, including interactions with medical experts, investigators, academic centers, large rheumatology practices, and professional societies, ensuring impactful and compliant scientific exchange. • Collaborate in the establishment and ongoing execution of advisory boards and expert meetings, partnering with cross functional stakeholders to ensure clear objectives, high quality scientific dialogue, and compliance with all applicable guidelines. • Lead the development and execution of scientific communication plans, including congress strategy, publications, external presentations, and scientific materials aligned with evidence and lifecycle strategy. • Drive and coordinate congress medical strategy and execution, including scientific sessions, investigator meetings, and external engagement activities at key U.S. and international rheumatology congresses, in collaboration with Global teams. • Serve as a strategic partner to field medical teams (e.g., MSLs) by providing scientific leadership, aligning on external engagement priorities, and incorporating field insights into medical strategy and evidence planning. • Represent the U.S. Medical voice in internal forums and cross functional governance, providing input into global strategy, evidence planning, and external engagement approaches. • Act as a disease area medical expert for internal stakeholders across functions and for external audiences, including healthcare professionals, professional medical societies, and patient advocacy organizations. • Perform additional Medical Affairs responsibilities as assigned, consistent with business needs and organizational priorities. Key Performance Indicators • Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively across Global and U.S. matrix teams to co develop and execute integrated medical, clinical, and evidence strategies. • Strength of scientific and strategic thinking, including the ability to translate complex clinical and real world data into clear medical insights that inform development, lifecycle, and scientific communication decisions. • Effectiveness in building and sustaining trusted relationships with external stakeholders, including healthcare professionals, investigators, and professional societies. • Successful contribution to clinical development support, evidence generation, and launch readiness across multiple rheumatology and rare autoimmune disease areas. • Ability to communicate clearly, concisely, and credibly with diverse internal and external audiences, aligning stakeholders around shared medical and scientific objectives. • Consistent delivery of key medical initiatives on time, with high quality, and within budget. • Demonstrated ability to leverage advanced analytics and AI enabled tools to enhance evidence generation, insight synthesis, scientific planning, and operational efficiency, while ensuring appropriate governance, data integrity, and compliance. • Evidence of innovative thinking, including identification and application of novel approaches—such as AI supported literature analysis, data visualization, and insight generation to improve medical strategy and scientific impact. • Consistent adherence to ethical standards and compliance requirements, ensuring all medical activities meet internal policies and external regulatory guidelines. Job Description ​Education (minimum/desirable): - Doctorate level degree required (MD, PharmD, DO, or PhD in Health Sciences or related field or Nurse Practitioner (DNP)/ Physician’s Assistant (PA) degree with significant relevant clinical experience required.) Experience required: - >5 years’ experience in progressively senior roles within clinical development and/or medical affairs roles in the biotech or pharmaceutical industry or academic institution/clinical practice. - Highly preferred: 3+ years pharmaceutical US Medical Director experience, ideally in immunology and/or neurology. Launch experience with new products and/or new indications. - Strong knowledge of immunology and/or rheumatology preferred. - Clinical research experience – including concept and protocol development – conducted in a pharmaceutical environment is strongly preferred. - Solid understanding of clinical trial operations and experience driving patient recruitment solutions, is strongly preferred. - Strong track record of positive, productive interactions with Medical Experts, Investigators, and Professional Societies. - US and European travel required. (25-30% annually). - Location is flexible as position is remote. The pay range for this position at commencement of employment is expected to be between $204,400 - $379,600 a 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. 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. 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, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status. We strive to create an inclusive workplace that cultivates bold innovation through collaboration and empowers our people to unleash their full potential. 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. https://www.novartis.com/careers/careers-research/notice-all-applicants-us-job-openings Salary Range $204,400.00 - $379,600.00 Skills Desired Agility, Agility, Clinical Practices, Cross-Functional Collaboration, Data Analysis, Drug Development, Employee Development, Healthcare Sector Understanding, Health Sciences, Influencing Skills, Innovation, Inspirational Leadership, Integrated Evidence Generation, Medical Affairs, Medical Communication, Medical Education, Patient Care, People Management, Pharmaceutics, Priority Disease Areas Expertise, Product Launches, Product Strategy, Real World Evidence (RWE), Regulatory Compliance, Research Methodologies {+ 4 more}