Executive Director, Channel Strategy and Digital Innovation

Novartis seeks an Executive Director to lead channel strategy and digital innovation in Basel. This role focuses on building a connected digital ecosystem, leveraging AI, and driving global omnichannel marketing initiatives.

This senior leadership position is tasked with constructing a unified digital ecosystem that integrates corporate channels, AI-driven marketing tools, and emerging technologies. The role serves as a strategic hub for governance, experimentation, and innovation, aiming to scale a modern channel environment that enhances stakeholder engagement and business outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement the worldwide strategy for corporate digital channels and audience engagement.
• Create AI-powered digital experiences to boost personalization, content discoverability, and stakeholder impact.
• Direct omnichannel marketing efforts across web, social, email, and new platforms.
• Foster digital innovation via experimentation, performance optimization, and scalable operating models.
• Manage enterprise marketing technology platforms, analytics capabilities, and channel governance.
• Promote the responsible use of artificial intelligence to improve marketing effectiveness.
• Create measurement frameworks linking digital performance to business and brand results.
• Lead and mentor a high-performing global team while advancing digital transformation.
• Ensure all digital touchpoints align with brand identity, accessibility standards, and compliance requirements.
• Identify, evaluate, implement, and govern AI technologies.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred in marketing, communications, business, or related field.
• Extensive experience leading digital marketing, omnichannel strategy, and performance-driven initiatives within global matrixed organizations.
• Executive presence and proven ability to lead global, cross-functional teams and agency partners.
• Proven success driving digital transformation, channel modernization, and enterprise-scale innovation programs.
• Strong expertise in marketing technology platforms, analytics, and digital experience optimization as well as AI and emerging technology fluency.
• Demonstrated ability to translate data and insights into measurable business and brand impact.
• Strong grasp of modern MarTech stacks, analytics platforms (e.g., GA4, Adobe, Sprinklr), and campaign integration.
• Expertise in channel mix optimization, media planning, UX design, GEO, AEO, SEO, content syndication, and digital compliance.

What the company offers

• Competitive benefits in kind including insurance plans, retirement plans, wellbeing resources and global recognition programs.
• Flexible and hybrid working options, where possible.
• Minimum 14 weeks paid parental leave.
• Performance-based bonus depending on certain performance parameters.
• Long-term equity awards granted at group level.

About the company

Novartis is committed to reimagining medicine together. The company strives to build an outstanding, inclusive work environment and diverse teams representative of the patients and communities it serves.

• Committed to reimagining medicine together.
• Committed to building an outstanding, inclusive work environment and diverse teams representative of the patients and communities we serve.