Execution Excellence Head

Job Description Summary

#LI-Hybrid
Location: Bucharest, Romania

The Execution Excellence Head leads the enterprise-wide evolution of execution standards across the product lifecycle, from pre-launch through loss of exclusivity. The role supports the Country President, Finance, and P&O to drive business performance, medical and access outcomes, and future ambitions through data-driven decision-making, innovative go-to-market models, digital enablement, and future-ready capability building, while preserving strict functional independence and compliance standards.

 

Job Description

Key responsibilities

• Act as guardian of execution excellence by defining, harmonizing, and continuously evolving execution standards, processes, and ways of working across Commercial, Value & Access, and selected Medical Affairs areas while preserving functional independence.

• Lead a neutral, cross-functional execution excellence organization covering Field Excellence, Integrated Insights, Data, Analytics & Platforms, Capability Building, and Customer Excellence.

• Enable strategic decision-making through integrated insights, advanced analytics, market research, forecasting, and performance vigilance across the portfolio.

• Strengthen field excellence by optimizing territory design, incentives, sizing, resource allocation, and launch go-to-market models using data-driven recommendations.

• Localize and operationalize global digital and execution excellence strategies by deploying trusted data platforms, dashboards, AI-enabled solutions, and change management programs.

• Drive digital transformation and AI enablement to enhance customer experience, productivity, and effectiveness across Marketing, Sales, Medical, and Value & Access.

• Build and deploy future-ready capabilities and learning strategies, including AI, digital, and commercial skills, aligned with global standards and local needs.

• Serve as the execution engine for integrated customer excellence by orchestrating omnichannel engagement, content activation, launch readiness reviews, and execution metrics.

• Partner closely with Finance, P&O, Medical, Value & Access, Legal, and Supply Chain to optimize resource allocation, governance, compliance, and operational execution.

• Build and sustain a high-performance culture by leading, developing, and retaining talent, strengthening succession pipelines, and role-modeling Novartis leadership and ethical standards.

Requirements

• University degree in business administration, engineering, biosciences, or related field with extensive senior leadership experience in the pharmaceutical industry or related sectors; consulting background preferred; fluency in English required, local language desirable.

• Extensive experience in commercial and execution excellence leadership roles with a proven track record of driving business performance and transformation.

• Strong understanding of the full pharmaceutical commercialization lifecycle, from pre-launch to loss of exclusivity, including Medical Affairs and Value & Access models.

• Proven expertise in data, analytics, market research, forecasting, and translating complex insights into strategic decisions.

• Demonstrated leadership in digital transformation, technology adoption, and AI enablement at scale.

• Strong change management capability with the ability to influence without formal authority in complex, matrixed organizations.

• Excellent cross-functional leadership skills, partnering effectively with senior stakeholders including Country President and Business Unit Heads.

• Proven ability to build, inspire, and retain diverse, high-performing teams and succession pipelines across multiple disciplines.

• Strong project management, organizational, and execution skills with a focus on continuous improvement.

• High integrity, compliance-driven mindset with deep knowledge of industry regulations and local regulatory requirements.

Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion:

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

 

Skills Desired

Agility, Agility, Brand Analysis, Brand Awareness, Commercial Excellence, Cross-Functional Collaboration, Customer Engagement, Customer Experience, Customer Insights, Data Strategy, Digital Marketing, Go-To-Market Strategy, Healthcare Needs, healthcare outcomes, Influencing Skills, Inspirational Leadership, launch products, Marketing Strategy, Media Campaigns, People Management, Product Marketing, Product Roadmap, Return on Investment (ROI), Stakeholder Engagement, Stakeholder Management {+ 2 more}