Head, AI Strategy and Governance

The company seeks a Director to lead AI strategy and governance within Development, integrating across teams and ensuring responsible, value-driven AI implementation in Basel.

This role serves as the central strategic integrator across Development, DDIT, and enterprise AI bodies. The position is responsible for maintaining, operationalizing, and continuously improving the Development AI strategy, governance model, and decision-support processes.

Responsibilities

• Maintain and evolve the Development AI strategic narrative, planning materials, and strategic priorities.
• Establish and continuously mature a structured competitive intelligence capability.
• Synthesize competitive intelligence into actionable strategic insights to support leadership decision-making.
• Prepare decision materials enabling leadership trade-offs across AI initiatives based on value, risk, and competitive positioning.
• Maintain portfolio prioritization principles, decision frameworks, and evaluation criteria.
• Coordinate portfolio reviews and prepare recommendations on priorities, sequencing, and trade-offs.
• Maintain the value governance framework, including methods for defining, measuring, and assessing AI impact.
• Maintain and continuously improve the Development AI governance framework, processes, and maturity roadmap.
• Ensure alignment of governance approach with enterprise frameworks, regulatory expectations, and Responsible AI standards.
• Maintain and refine the Development AI operating model, including governance processes, decision interfaces, and role clarity.
• Run and coordinate AI governance forums within Development.
• Serve as key liaison to enterprise AI Office, Trailblazer, and company-wide governance bodies.
• Identify and develop external partnership opportunities and ecosystem insights aligned with AI priorities.
• Identify capability implications of the AI strategy and governance model.
• Lead the team responsible for AI strategy support, governance operations, portfolio decision support, and enterprise coordination.

Requirements

• Advanced degree (PhD/Master) in data science, AI, technology, or scientific discipline.
• Fluent English (oral and written).
• Extensive experience in AI, data, digital, or technology-driven transformation.
• Proven track record in defining and executing strategy in complex environments.
• Experience in governance, compliance, or risk management frameworks.
• Strong experience in portfolio management and cross-functional program delivery.
• Experience working with external partners and innovation ecosystems.
• Demonstrated leadership in global, matrix organizations influencing without authority.
• Strong understanding of pharmaceutical development landscape.

What the company offers

• Insurance plans.
• Retirement plans.
• Wellbeing resources.
• Global recognition programs.
• Flexible and hybrid working options.
• Minimum of 14 weeks paid parental leave.
• Performance-based bonus.

About the company

The company is committed to reimagining medicine together. Pay equity is a fundamental principle of its employment policy. It is committed to creating a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment that treats all employees with dignity and respect.

• Committed to reimagining medicine together.
• 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.