Clinical Operations Head - Turkey Cluster

Job Description Summary

Location: Istanbul, Turkey

This role is based in Istanbul, Türkiye. Novartis is unable to offer relocation support for this role: please only apply if this location is accessible for you.

Only CVs in English will be considered for this role.

As Clinical Operations Head – Turkey Cluster, you will provide senior, enterprise-level leadership for Novartis’ clinical operations across Turkey and selected cluster countries, operating in a highly regulated GxP environment. This is a Director-level leadership role (with potential appointment at Executive Director level), accountable for setting direction, leading large multi disciplinary teams, and delivering high quality, compliant clinical trial execution in complex and evolving markets.

 

Job Description

You will shape and execute the regional clinical operations strategy, build strong internal and external partnerships, and role‑model inclusive, values‑based leadership. Success in this role requires leadership maturity, the ability to navigate complexity, and strong stakeholder management and strategic thinking—balancing delivery, culture, and long‑term sustainability.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide overall leadership and strategic direction for clinical operations delivery across the Turkey Cluster, ensuring alignment with global GCO and SSO strategies.

• Lead, develop and inspire senior leaders and teams across study start‑up, monitoring and site operations, fostering a high‑performance and speak‑up culture.

• Ensure all clinical trials are delivered in full compliance with applicable regulations, ICH‑GCP, local legislation and Novartis quality standards.

• Act as the senior point of accountability for inspection readiness, quality oversight, escalation management and implementation of corrective and preventive actions (CAPAs).

• Drive sustainable portfolio execution by aligning resources, capabilities and priorities to business and pipeline needs in a dynamic operating environment.

• Partner closely with global, regional and country stakeholders to influence strategy, manage complexity and represent cluster interests effectively.

• Strengthen external partnerships with sites, investigators, CROs and vendors to position Novartis as a sponsor of choice.

• Lead change and transformation initiatives to continuously improve delivery, quality and ways of working across the cluster.

• Ensure effective talent management, succession planning and capability building across the clinical operations organization.

• Promote a culture of ethical conduct, patient safety and operational excellence at all times.

• Contribute to longer‑term portfolio and footprint decisions by providing insight on country and cluster dynamics.

Major Activities, Impact and Scope

This role has significant impact on trial delivery, patient access, regulatory outcomes and Novartis’ reputation in a complex and evolving cluster. The Clinical Operations Head will operate at enterprise level, influencing strategic decisions, navigating challenging market conditions, and balancing near‑term execution with long‑term sustainability. The role interfaces extensively with Global Clinical Operations, Development Units, Quality, Legal & Compliance, Finance, and external partners, requiring strong judgment, credibility and influence.

Essential Requirements (Ideal Background)

• Extensive leadership experience within clinical operations in a GxP‑regulated environment, ideally within a pharmaceutical company or CRO.

• Proven track record of leading large, multi‑layered teams through complexity and change.

• Strong understanding of clinical trial operations, regulatory requirements and quality systems.

• Demonstrated ability to operate at senior stakeholder level, influencing across functions and geographies.

• Strategic thinker with experience translating enterprise strategy into operational execution.

• Experience working in complex or emerging markets is strongly preferred.

• Excellent communication, decision‑making and leadership presence.

Backgrounds from leading CROs (e.g. global or regional leadership roles) or major pharmaceutical organizations are highly relevant.

Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion:

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

 

Skills Desired

Clinical Research, Clinical Trials, People Management, Program Management, Regulatory Compliance, Resource Management (Organizational), Risk Management