Execution Excellence Head

Job Description:

Job Description Summary#LI-Hybrid
Location: Bucharest, Romania

The Execution Excellence Head leads the enterprise-wide evolution of execution standards across the product lifecycle, from pre-launch through loss of exclusivity. The role supports the Country President, Finance, and P&O to drive business performance, medical and access outcomes, and future ambitions through data-driven decision-making, innovative go-to-market models, digital enablement, and future-ready capability building, while preserving strict functional independence and compliance standards.

Job Description

Key responsibilities

* Act as guardian of execution excellence by defining, harmonizing, and continuously evolving execution standards, processes, and ways of working across Commercial, Value & Access, and selected Medical Affairs areas while preserving functional independence.
* Lead a neutral, cross-functional execution excellence organization covering Field Excellence, Integrated Insights, Data, Analytics & Platforms, Capability Building, and Customer Excellence.
* Enable strategic decision-making through integrated insights, advanced analytics, market research, forecasting, and performance vigilance across the portfolio.
* Strengthen field excellence by optimizing territory design, incentives, sizing, resource allocation, and launch go-to-market models using data-driven recommendations.
* Localize and operationalize global digital and execution excellence strategies by deploying trusted data platforms, dashboards, AI-enabled solutions, and change management programs.
* Drive digital transformation and AI enablement to enhance customer experience, productivity, and effectiveness across Marketing, Sales, Medical, and Value & Access.
* Build and deploy future-ready capabilities and learning strategies, including AI, digital, and commercial skills, aligned with global standards and local needs.
* Serve as the execution engine for integrated customer excellence by orchestrating omnichannel engagement, content activation, launch readiness reviews, and execution metrics.
* Partner closely with Finance, P&O, Medical, Value & Access, Legal, and Supply Chain to optimize resource allocation, governance, compliance, and operational execution.
* Build and sustain a high-performance culture by leading, developing, and retaining talent, strengthening succession pipelines, and role-modeling Novartis leadership and ethical standards.

Requirements

* University degree in business administration, engineering, biosciences, or related field with extensive senior leadership experience in the pharmaceutical industry or related sectors; consulting background preferred; fluency in English required, local language desirable.
* Extensive experience in commercial and execution excellence leadership roles with a proven track record of driving business performance and transformation.
* Strong understanding of the full pharmaceutical commercialization lifecycle, from pre-launch to loss of exclusivity, including Medical Affairs and Value & Access models.
* Proven expertise in data, analytics, market research, forecasting, and translating complex insights into strategic decisions.
* Demonstrated leadership in digital transformation, technology adoption, and AI enablement at scale.
* Strong change management capability with the ability to influence without formal authority in complex, matrixed organizations.
* Excellent cross-functional leadership skills, partnering effectively with senior stakeholders including Country President and Business Unit Heads.
* Proven ability to build, inspire, and retain diverse, high-performing teams and succession pipelines across multiple disciplines.
* Strong project management, organizational, and execution skills with a focus on continuous improvement.
* High integrity, compliance-driven mindset with deep knowledge of industry regulations and local regulatory requirements.

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.

Skills DesiredAgility, Agility, Brand Analysis, Brand Awareness, Commercial Excellence, Cross-Functional Collaboration, Customer Engagement, Customer Experience, Customer Insights, Data Strategy, Digital Marketing, Go-To-Market Strategy, Healthcare Needs, healthcare outcomes, Influencing Skills, Inspirational Leadership, launch products, Marketing Strategy, Media Campaigns, People Management, Product Marketing, Product Roadmap, Return on Investment (ROI), Stakeholder Engagement, Stakeholder Management {+ 2 more