Executive Director, Region Europe Communications & Patient Advocacy

Novartis seeks an Executive Director for Europe Communications & Patient Advocacy in Basel. The role leads regional strategy, team performance, and executive communications in a hybrid setup.

This position serves as a strategic partner to the Regional President and Leadership Team, responsible for translating global strategies into regional priorities. The role focuses on driving performance, accountability, and high-quality execution across the European network while fostering collaboration and best practice sharing.

Responsibilities

• Act as a key strategic advisor to the Regional President and senior leadership on communications and patient advocacy matters.
• Ensure high standards of performance and execution across all regional teams in these functions.
• Convert global strategic directives into actionable regional priorities and maintain consistent implementation at the country level.
• Mentor and develop country heads to enhance their capabilities, business impact, and strategic acumen.
• Facilitate executive communications that align with global narratives and broader enterprise goals.
• Promote collaboration and the exchange of best practices within a high-performing regional network.
• Manage media relations, reputation protection, and crisis response across key markets.
• Allocate regional resources and budgets strategically to maximize impact on priority activities.
• Champion AI upskilling and integrate AI tools into workflows across country teams.

Requirements

• Significant experience in communications, patient advocacy, or corporate affairs within a global, matrixed organization.
• Demonstrated success in partnering with senior commercial or general management leaders at the executive level.
• Proven ability to lead multi-country teams with clear accountability for performance and delivery.
• Expertise in media relations, reputation management, and crisis or issues management.
• Experience working with patient organizations and advocacy groups in regulated healthcare environments.
• Excellent leadership, influencing, and coaching skills across diverse, matrixed teams.
• Deep understanding of healthcare systems, policy, and access dynamics across multiple geographies.
• Ability to translate strategy into execution and drive measurable business impact.
• AI fluency in day-to-day execution and efficiency, as well as understanding of AI impact on external landscape.
• Degree required; advanced degree preferred (Public Policy, International Relations, Political Science, Communications, or related field).

What the company offers

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

About the company

Novartis is committed to reimagining medicine together and rewarding the people who make it happen. The company fosters a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment that treats all employees with dignity and respect. Pay equity is a fundamental principle of their employment policy, and they strive to build outstanding, inclusive work environments with diverse teams representative of the patients and communities they serve.

• Committed to reimagining medicine together and rewarding the people who make it happen.
• Pay equity is a fundamental principle of our employment policy.
• Committed to create a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment that treats all employees with dignity and respect.
• Committed to building an outstanding, inclusive work environment and diverse teams representative of the patients and communities we serve.