Associate Director, Innovation Lab (Innovation Practice)

Job Description Summary

At Novartis, we are reimagining medicine to improve and extend people’s lives. Our work combines breakthrough science, advanced technology, and a deep commitment to patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals around the world. Innovation at Novartis goes beyond drug discovery, it includes how we educate, engage, and enable better decisions across highly complex scientific and healthcare ecosystems.
The Associate Director, Innovation Lab – Innovation Practice sits within the Innovation Lab (iLab), part of the Marketing Technology Product Management organization. This role is central to advancing open innovation, building innovation capability across the enterprise, and translating emerging technologies into meaningful business and customer impact.

You will act as the program owner for open innovation, serve as a resident expert in innovation practice, and help cultivate a vibrant internal and external innovation ecosystem. This includes designing and delivering immersive innovation experiences, managing innovation platforms and lab spaces, and enabling cross‑functional collaboration that accelerates experimentation, learning, and value realisation.

 

Job Description

Key Responsibilities

• Own and execute the open innovation strategy for the Innovation Lab, enabling iLab to act as enterprise Enablers and Practitioners of Innovation.

• Design, manage, and continuously improve innovation management tools and platforms that build innovation capability and associate engagement.

• Lead hackathon and Innovation Jam programming end‑to‑end, from concept through execution, driving measurable outcomes and storytelling impact.

• Plan and deliver innovation community events (live and virtual), fostering idea exchange, experimentation, and collaboration.

• Create and execute cadenced innovation touchpoints focused on emerging technologies, innovation methods, and business‑relevant use cases.

• Lead multi‑functional, multi‑disciplinary teams and external partners to co‑develop immersive learning and innovation experiences aligned to iLab verticals.

• Partner closely with iLab leaders and stakeholders to embed innovation as a core enterprise discipline, with a strong focus on upskilling and capability building.

• Drive change management and business transformation initiatives through innovation‑led experiences that deliver clear business value.

What You’ll Bring

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Innovation, or a related field; MBA or Master’s degree preferred.

• 5–7+ years of experience in innovation management, including exposure to Big Tech or emerging technology ecosystems (e.g., AI, XR, metaverse).

• Proven experience leading without authority across marketing, innovation, digital, or technology‑driven teams.

• Strong background in marketing strategy, innovation execution, and experience design, with a customer‑centric mindset.

• Demonstrated expertise in enterprise‑scale event management, including hackathons and innovation programs using best‑practice innovation methodologies.

• Deep understanding of design thinking, behavioral science, and user journeys to advance innovation and marketing objectives.

• Ability to thrive in ambiguous, fast‑moving environments, managing quick starts and shifting priorities.

• Exceptional communication, presentation, and stakeholder‑influencing skills, with experience engaging senior leaders and navigating enterprise governance.

Why Join Novartis Innovation Lab

• Work on high‑impact problems that accelerate innovation at the intersection of science, emerging technology, and human behavior.

• Build and validate next‑generation digital solutions used across a global pharmaceutical enterprise.

• Operate in a true innovation environment that values evidence, experimentation, learning, and measurable business impact.

• Contribute to reusable innovation capabilities that shape how Novartis innovates at scale.

Novartis is committed to building an outstanding, inclusive work environment and diverse teams representative of the patients and communities we serve.

 

Skills Desired

Agility, Cross-Functional Collaboration, Customer Engagement, Customer Experience, Customer Insights, Data Analytics, Data Strategy, Digital Marketing, Marketing Strategy, Market Research, Media Campaigns, Product Marketing, Stakeholder Engagement, Stakeholder Management, Team Leadership, Waterfall Model