Associate Director Data Science

Major Accountabilities but not limited to:

·       The Associate Director, Data Scientist influences and drives all data science collaborations with other line functions. Explains methods and results in a manner easily understood by non-analytical folks, and provide adequate justifications, sensitivity analyses for actions/decisions/statements, when required. Establish and maintain sound working relationships and effective communication with the Clinical Colleagues and Biostatistics & Pharmacometrics team.

·       Oversee all Data science resources and deliverables for assigned projects. Track timelines and milestones with increasing autonomy. Ensure timeliness and adequate quality, reliability, and reproducibility of all Data Science deliverables for the assigned projects and/or non-clinical related activities. Significantly contribute to project team preparation for HA Advisory Committees and meetings as applicable.

·       Understands complex and critical business problems from a variety of stakeholders and business functions, formulate integrated analytical approach to mine data sources, employ statistical methods and machine learning algorithms to discover actionable insights and automate process for reducing effort and time for repeated use. High agility to be able to work across various business domains. Able to use business presentations, smart visualization tools and contextual storytelling to translate findings back to business users with a clear impact.

·       Contribute to planning, assessment, prioritization and tracking of effective partnership with vendors and will ensure effective partnership with other functions to deliver integrated quantitative input into project. Propose and implement innovative data science methods to optimize drug development. Represent the Biostatistics & Pharmacometrics Line Function on cross-functional teams for the assigned trials. Responsible for functional alignment and ensuring line function awareness throughout the assigned trials.

·       Collaborate with other line functions. Explain statistical concepts in an easily understandable way to non-statisticians and provide adequate statistical justifications and interpretation of analysis results for actions/decisions/statements, when required. Establish and maintain sound working relationships and effective communication within the clinical trial team and Biostatistics & Pharmacometrics team.  Independent oversight of all Biostatistics resources and deliverables for assigned trials. Ensure timeliness and adequate quality of all Biostatistics deliverables for the assigned trials and/or non-clinical related activities.

·       Responsible for strategic statistical input and influence into one or more projects (development plan, regulatory strategy, publication strategy, pricing & reimbursement strategy, statistical deliverables). May be a core member of one or more early project teams representing Biostatistics and Pharmacometrics. Collaborate with clinical, regulatory and other strategic functions to drive quantitative decision making in drug development and enable successful impact on robust drug development plans. Collaborate cross-functionally (e.g., with data management, statistical programming, medical writing) to ensure timeliness and quality of statistical deliverables.

·        Facilitate seamless transition of projects from early to late development. Effective partnership with other functions to ensure integrated quantitative input into project.  Propose and implement innovative designs and methods to optimize drug development.  Plan, prioritize and oversee project level statistical activities and ensure efficient resource management and effective partnership with vendors. Drive adherence to organizational standards and regulatory guidelines. Represent Biostatistics and Pharmacometrics at internal and external decision boards (e.g. regulators). Significantly contributes to project team preparation and may play a prominent role representing Biostatistics at HA meetings.

Minimum Requirements:

Education: MS (in Statistics or equivalent) with 10+ years relevant work experience or PhD (in Statistics or equivalent) with 6+ years relevant work experience.

Experience/Professional Requirement:

·       Effective utilization of innovative data science and quantitative analytics to influence assigned program team decisions and support department to deliver objectives. Proven knowledge and expertise in data science and its application to clinical trials. Depending on the assignment, may require proven expertise in pharmacokinetics, exposure-response modelling, exploratory biomarker, diagnostic analyses, applied Bayesian statistics, or data exploration skills. Demonstrated excellence in use of statistical software packages (e.g. SAS, R). Strong knowledge of drug development and Health Authority guidelines. Experience independently leading a multidisciplinary team to achieve team objectives. Expert skills to facilitate and maximize the contribution of quantitative team. Hands-on experience in leading the interface to regulatory agencies/leading the early clinical development campaign.

·       Strong understanding of Franchise/Therapeutic Area and or regulatory activities. Expert scientific leadership skills demonstrated in facilitating and optimizing the (pre/early/full-) clinical development strategy. Strong track record for global scientific leadership in the development and evaluation of modern program/trial design methodologies. May have proven people leadership ability. Demonstrated strong skills in building partnerships and collaborations. Demonstrated skills in coaching and mentoring associates.

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

Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion:

We are committed to building an outstanding, inclusive work environment and diverse teams' representative of the patients and communities we serve.

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

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