Lab Automation & Logistics Delivery Lead

Novartis seeks a Director to lead lab automation and logistics delivery in Basel. The role focuses on implementing AI, orchestration, and automation solutions to optimize biomedical research workflows and sample logistics.

The company is looking for a Director to spearhead the implementation of advanced automation, orchestration, and AI-driven solutions within its biomedical research laboratory operations and sample logistics. This position aims to transform scientific workflows into scalable, efficient, and data-driven environments that accelerate research outcomes by creating and improving automated, end-to-end processes across lab, data, and logistics domains.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the complete delivery of lab automation and workflow orchestration projects, ensuring scalable and efficient processes across biomedical research.
• Manage project scope, timelines, and budgets while leading cross-functional teams and aligning with various stakeholders and functions.
• Identify inefficiencies in business processes and translate them into scalable, reusable automation solutions using RPA, orchestration, and AI.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for stakeholders, building strong relationships, aligning priorities, and communicating progress, risks, and outcomes.
• Ensure all solutions comply with architectural, security, and regulatory standards, aligning with enterprise platforms and data integrity requirements.

Requirements

• Master's or PhD degree in a scientific, technology, computational science, or data science field.
• Over 10 years of relevant experience in a multidisciplinary environment within the pharmaceutical industry.
• Proven track record of delivering complex initiatives end-to-end, achieving high-quality outcomes on time and within budget.
• Strong project management expertise, including prioritization, planning, execution, communication, and risk management.
• Experience leading cross-functional matrix teams, coordinating diverse stakeholders, and driving aligned execution.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, acting as a trusted delivery partner across business and technical audiences.
• Solid domain and digital expertise, including understanding of lab operations, scientific systems, and hands-on knowledge of workflow automation, RPA, and AI-enabled solutions.
• Strong systems thinking and automation mindset, identifying optimization opportunities and applying appropriate approaches to deliver scalable solutions.

Nice to have

• Experience applying modern delivery practices such as agile, experimentation, or product-centric delivery models.
• Experience with agentic AI.
• Ability to translate ambiguous operational challenges into structured, deliverable initiatives.
• Proven ability to drive innovation, continuous improvement, and high-performance delivery behaviors in complex environments.
• Curious, self-motivated, and continuous learner.
• Collaborative and delivery-oriented mindset.

About the company

Novartis is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to all individuals.

• Commitment to reasonable accommodation for all individuals.