Head Data Privacy & AI Compliance - Switzerland & Germany

The company seeks a Director to lead Data Privacy & AI Compliance for Switzerland and Germany, ensuring responsible innovation and regulatory adherence while managing risk and governance.

This role is responsible for driving the Data Privacy and AI strategy across Switzerland and Germany. The position focuses on enabling teams to utilize data and AI responsibly, providing practical guidance to senior stakeholders, and maintaining robust risk management to protect patients, employees, and partners.

Responsibilities

• Direct the Data Privacy and AI (DPDAI) strategy for Switzerland and Germany, ensuring alignment with global standards.
• Lead and develop the German DPDAI team, establishing clear priorities, workflows, and delivery expectations.
• Act as the Data Privacy Officer for Swiss Novartis entities.
• Collaborate with business and functional leaders to provide pragmatic regulatory advice on data and AI usage.
• Adapt global policies into actionable country-specific guidance, covering consent, data retention, and cross-border transfers.
• Serve as the primary contact for interpreting and applying group-wide DPDAI policies and procedures.
• Monitor emerging privacy and AI legislation, assessing impact and driving timely adoption of necessary changes.
• Develop and maintain the country DPDAI risk strategy, identifying and escalating key risks through governance channels.
• Oversee privacy notices, training programs, and response processes, including access requests and complaints.
• Maintain risk and control documentation in OneTrust to facilitate timely business remediation.

Requirements

• Law or business degree with executive education in data privacy, specifically within Swiss and German contexts.
• Demonstrated experience in people leadership.
• Extensive knowledge of global data privacy and AI regulations and their practical application.
• Hands-on experience in designing and operating privacy and AI compliance programs, controls, and governance structures.
• Ability to navigate complex, multi-country regulatory environments effectively.
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing capabilities across business and functional teams.
• Fluency in both German and English.

Nice to have

• Background in an international law firm or a data privacy and AI compliance role within a multinational organization.
• Relevant certifications such as CIPP/E, CIPM, AIGP, or AI ethics/compliance credentials.
• Experience in the pharmaceutical, life sciences, or healthcare sector.

About the company

Novartis leverages data and AI to reimagine medicine while maintaining trust as a non-negotiable value. The company is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to all individuals.

• Data and AI are used to reimagine medicine while maintaining trust as a non-negotiable value.
• The company is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to all individuals.