Associate Director Governance & Operations

**Job Description Summary** The Associate Director, Governance & Operations leads a Governance & Operations team within BSI Operations with full accountability to enable operational excellence for BSI and International Commercial, Medical and Value & Access functions. The role serves as the operational backbone for BSI, ensuring scalable processes, trusted data, efficient digital & AI solutions, and decision-enabling insights that support business priorities across International, functions and markets. The Associate Director drives operational excellence through strong governance, AI-enabled innovation, BSI Operations tools ownership, and continuous process simplification while ensuring alignment with BSI, CLS, Finance, P&O, DDIT, CLS, and regional stakeholders. The position is responsible for defining and evolving the Governance & Operations operating model, ensuring high adoption of tools, process adherence, robust data quality and controls, and sustainable value creation across BSI Operations   **Job Description** **Key responsibilities:**   **Governance & Operating Model Leadership** * Define and execute the Governance & Operations priorities, roadmap, and service model aligned to CLS priorities. * Establish governance frameworks, operating procedures, service standards, and performance metrics. * Drive process simplification, standardization, and continuous improvement across operational processes. * Ensure operational governance supports business priorities, compliance requirements, and organizational objectives. * Lead governance forums, reviews, and cross-functional decision-making discussions. **Platform, Process & Product Ownership** * Own the portfolio of Governance & Operation tools, dashboards, and automation solutions. * Govern enhancement roadmaps, release planning, adoption performance, and user experience standards. * Ensure key operational processes including workforce planning, travel approvals, centralized purchasing enablement, demand tracking, budget management, and operational reporting are effectively supported through digital solutions. * Establish a scalable and sustainable operating model for platform ownership and support. **Data Governance, Reporting & Insights** * Own BSI data governance, data quality, integrity, and reporting strategy. * Ensure trusted, timely, and decision-enabling reporting across workforce, budget, demand, portfolio, and operational performance domains. * Establish data quality controls, source-data accountability, and governance processes with business and functional stakeholders. * Drive maturity of reporting capabilities through Power BI, automation, and advanced analytics. * Ensure operational metrics and insights support leadership decision making. turn9search1 **Digital Transformation & AI Enablement** * Lead digital transformation initiatives across Governance & Operations. * Drive adoption of Power Platform, automation, AI/GenAI, and workflow simplification opportunities. * Evaluate and scale Agentic AI and intelligent automation use cases where business value is demonstrated. * Drive innovation through continuous modernization of tools, processes, and operating practices. Lead by example with hands-on experimentation. * Improve operational productivity and user experience through technology-enabled solutions. **Organization Leadership & Stakeholder Management** * Lead organization design, resource planning, capability building, succession planning, and talent development. * Build strong partnerships with Finance, P&O, DDIT, Procurement, CLS, and BSI leadership teams. * Drive stakeholder alignment, governance compliance, and value realization across BSI Operations. * Lead prioritization, risk management, and portfolio governance across multiple initiatives. * Foster a culture of accountability, innovation, customer-centricity, and operational excellence. * Governance and operating model design * Enterprise data governance and controls * Digital platform strategy and product ownership * GenAI, AI and MS Power Platform ecosystem (Power BI, Power Apps, Power Automate, SharePoint) * AI, automation, and digital innovation * Workforce planning and operational governance * Budget, spend, and portfolio governance * Reporting and analytics strategy * Senior stakeholder management and influencing * Organization leadership and capability development * Risk management and prioritization * Change leadership and transformation management **Essential Requirements:**   * Delivery of Governance & Operations roadmap and strategic priorities * Adoption and value realization of AI enabled digital platforms and operational tools, incl. hands-on experimentation & innovation. * Improvement in data quality, governance maturity, and reporting trust * Operational efficiency gains through automation and AI enablement * Effectiveness of workforce planning, budget governance, and operational reporting * Timely delivery of platform enhancements and transformation initiatives * Stakeholder satisfaction and governance effectiveness * Team engagement, capability development, and succession readiness **Ideal Background** * **15+ years of relevant experience** in operations, governance, digital & AI transformation, business excellence, or related leadership roles. * Proven experience leading governance, automation, or operational excellence functions. * Experience managing digital & AI products, and transformation initiatives. * Strong understanding of workforce planning, process excellence, and operational controls. * Experience working across Finance, P&O, Procurement, DDIT, and business functions in a global environment. * Demonstrated success in leading cross-functional programs and organizational change initiatives. * Strong strategic thinking, stakeholder management, and influencing skills. * Experience building and leading high-performing teams and operational excellence. * Strong digital & AI mindset with proven hands-on experience in AI, automation, and data-driven decision making. * Proven hands-on experience in using AI/GenAI (e.g. Co-Pilot Studio and Cowork or other similar platforms like Claude or ChatGPT), and MS Power Platform ecosystem (Power BI, Power Apps, Power Automate, SharePoint) * Pharmaceutical, healthcare, life sciences, or similarly regulated industry experience preferred. **Desirable Requirements:** * Strategic Leadership * Governance & Operating Model Design * Digital Transformation * Product & Platform Governance * Data Governance & Stewardship * Workforce Planning Governance * AI & Automation Leadership * Stakeholder Influence * Organizational Development * Change Leadership * Operational Excellence * Continuous Improvement * Risk Management **Why Novartis:** Helping people with disease and their families takes more than innovative science. It takes a community of smart, passionate people like you. Collaborating, supporting and inspiring each other. Combining to achieve breakthroughs that change patients’ lives. Ready to create a brighter future together? **https://www.novartis.com/about/strategy/people-and-culture**   **Benefits and Rewards:** Read our handbook to learn about all the ways we’ll help you thrive personally and professionally: **https://www.novartis.com/careers/benefits-rewards**      **Skills Desired** Cross-Functional Collaboration, Customer Engagement, Customer Insights, Data Analytics, Digital Marketing, Market Research, Media Campaigns, Product Marketing, Stakeholder Engagement, Stakeholder Management, Team Leadership, Waterfall Model