Sr. Global Program Safety Team Lead - Oncology

Novartis seeks a Senior Global Program Safety Team Lead in Oncology based in Basel, Switzerland. The role requires a medical or equivalent graduate degree, extensive experience in drug development safety, and leadership in global clinical safety programs. Hybrid work model available.

This role oversees an oncology disease area within the Therapeutic Area/Development Unit Medical Safety organization, contributing scientific and medical expertise to benefit-risk assessments throughout a product’s lifecycle.

Responsibilities

• Lead the medical safety function for an oncology disease area, supporting benefit-risk evaluation across the product lifecycle.
• Coach and train medical safety physicians and scientists to strengthen their scientific and clinical capabilities.
• Provide safety expertise to global clinical development teams and participate actively in program and trial teams.
• Detect, monitor, evaluate, interpret, and manage safety data related to assigned compounds.
• Maintain comprehensive documentation, track safety activities, and respond to regulatory or healthcare professional inquiries.
• Lead the development of safety strategies for regulatory responses in collaboration with project teams.
• Contribute to and often lead the creation of departmental and business unit goals and objectives.

Requirements

• A medical degree or equivalent (preferred), or a PhD, PharmD, or other graduate-level healthcare professional degree is required.
• Minimum of 5 years of clinical experience after postdoctoral training.
• At least 7 years of progressive experience in drug development at a major pharmaceutical company, including 5 years in a global role and 5 years in medical safety.
• Proven expertise in preparing or contributing to clinical safety assessments and regulatory safety submissions, including NDA documents.
• Extensive experience leading cross-functional, multicultural teams.
• Strong background in managing safety or other critical issues.
• Deep experience in drug development, clinical trial design, regulatory standards, scientific methods, statistics, and scientific writing.
• Demonstrated leadership abilities, including coaching, motivating, directing, and fostering collaboration across all levels.

Nice to have

• Board certification in a medical specialty is desirable.
• A postgraduate degree in Pharmaceutical Medicine or a Master of Public Health in Epidemiology (or equivalent) is advantageous.
• Strong negotiation and conflict resolution skills.
• Experience in medical writing and producing high-quality safety documents such as RMPs and PSURs.

What the company offers

• Expected annual base salary range: 169,400 – 314,600 CHF.
• Eligibility for a performance-based bonus based on individual and company performance.
• Competitive benefits including health insurance, retirement plans, wellbeing resources, and global recognition programs.
• Flexible hybrid work arrangements where feasible.
• Minimum 14 weeks of paid parental leave.
• Long-term equity awards may be included as part of the compensation package.

About the company

Novartis is dedicated to reimagining medicine through innovation and recognizes the contributions of its employees. The company upholds pay equity as a core principle in its employment practices.

• Commitment to reimagining medicine through collaborative innovation.
• Pay equity is a foundational principle in employment policy.