Lab Automation & Logistics Delivery Lead
Novartis
Summary
As a Delivery Lead for Lab Automation & Logistics in Data & Digital (D&D), you will drive the delivery and adoption of cutting-edge automation, orchestration, and AI-enabled solutions across laboratory operations and sample logistics in Biomedical Research. You will play a pivotal role in transforming how scientific workflows are executed enabling scalable, efficient, and data-driven lab environments that accelerate research outcomes.
Job description
This role is based in San Diego, CA or Cambridge, MA. Novartis is unable to offer relocation support for this role: please only apply if either location is accessible for you.
The role focuses on creating and improving automated, and scalable end-to-end processes across lab, data, and logistics environments. Delivery is performed through predictable, high-quality, and timebound initiatives, aligned with enterprise priorities and architectural standards. The Delivery Lead is instrumental in prioritizing, planning, and executing initiatives across the full lifecycle from ideation to release, scaling, and transition to operations while ensuring alignment with architectural, security, and compliance standards.
Scope of Responsibility
- Lab device and system integration
- Workflow orchestration across systems and teams
- Automation (RPA, event-driven workflows)
- AI solutions for operational processes
- Sample ordering, production, and logistics workflows
- Compliance-enabled workflow design and execution
Key Responsibilities
- Lead end-to-end delivery of lab automation and workflow orchestration initiatives, driving scalable and efficient lab and logistics processes across Biomedical Research
- Ensure delivery excellence by managing scope, timelines, and budget while leading cross-functional matrix teams and aligning across stakeholders and D&D functions
- Drive workflow automation by identifying inefficiencies and translating business processes into scalable, reusable automation solutions (RPA, orchestration, AI)
- Own stakeholder engagement by acting as the primary interface, building strong relationships, aligning priorities, and communicating progress, risks, and outcomes clearly
- Guarantee compliance and standards by ensuring solutions meet architectural, security, and regulatory requirements, and align with enterprise platforms and data integrity needs
Requirements
- Masters or PhD degree in a scientific/technology/computational science/data science area
- 10+ years of relevant experience in a multidisciplinary environment across the Pharma continuum
- Proven ability to deliver complex initiatives end-to-end, consistently achieving high-quality outcomes on time and within budget across lab, data, or digital domains
- Strong project management expertise, including prioritization, planning, execution, communication, and risk management, with the ability to manage dependencies across multiple teams and systems
- Demonstrated experience leading cross-functional matrix teams, with the ability to effectively coordinate diverse stakeholders and drive aligned execution
- Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to act as a trusted delivery partner across business and technical audiences
- Solid domain and digital expertise, including understanding of lab operations and scientific systems, and hands-on knowledge of workflow automation, RPA, and AI-enabled solutions
- Strong systems thinking and automation mindset, with the ability to identify optimization opportunities and apply appropriate approaches (workflow orchestration, RPA, AI) to deliver scalable solutions
Benefits
- Health Insurance
- Life Insurance
- Disability Benefits
- 401(k) Matching
- Performance-Based Cash Incentive
- Annual Equity Awards
- Vacation
- Personal Days
- Holidays
Company overview
Novartis is a global pharmaceutical company headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, dedicated to reimagining medicine to improve and extend people's lives. As an innovative medicines company, Novartis focuses on developing high-value treatments that address society's greatest disease burdens through technology leadership in research and development. The company operates across five core therapeutic areas: cardiovascular, renal and metabolic diseases; immunology; neuroscience; oncology; and hematology. With a workforce of approximately 75,883 employees worldwide, Novartis reaches nearly 300 million patients across 118 countries. The company leverages advanced technology platforms including targeted protein degradation, cell therapy, gene therapy, radioligand therapy, and xRNA to develop breakthrough treatments. Novartis maintains a strong portfolio of oncology drugs and generics while continuously expanding its pipeline through strategic acquisitions and internal research. The company's commitment extends beyond drug development to ensuring global access to medical innovations through novel access approaches and patient assistance programs.