Site MS&T Head SMO - Drug Substance
Novartis
Summary
The Site, Manufacturing, Science & Technology Head - Small Molecule Drug Substance is an Associate Director level role. Lead the scientific and technical strategy behind a cutting-edge manufacturing site that delivers life-changing medicines to patients around the world. As the Site MS&T Head for Drug Substance (DS), you will play a critical leadership role in shaping manufacturing excellence, driving innovation, and ensuring robust product stewardship across the full product lifecycle. You will lead a highly skilled Manufacturing Science & Technology DS organization, partnering across site functions and global teams to optimize processes, enable successful product launches and transfers, strengthen validation and compliance programs, and build the technical capabilities that support the future growth of the Morrisville site.
Job description
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the site MS&T DS organization, setting vision, priorities, and technical strategy aligned with site objectives.
- Ensure end-to-end product stewardship and technical oversight throughout the commercial product lifecycle.
- Drive process robustness, continuous improvement, and manufacturing excellence across products, processes, and technologies.
- Oversee technical changes, validation programs, and compliance activities to maintain inspection readiness.
- Lead technology transfers, product launches, and scale-up activities to deliver successful implementation outcomes.
- Partner with site and global teams to resolve technical challenges and strengthen process capability.
- Develop technical talent, succession plans, and knowledge-sharing programs to build organizational capability.
Essential Requirements
- Bachelor’s Degree Required. Master’s degree in Science, Pharmacy, Chemical Engineering, Pharmaceutical Technology, or equivalent scientific discipline preferred.
- Minimum 10 years of experience in manufacturing. Additional specialist experience is preferred (e.g., pharmaceutical formulation, process development, manufacturing technology).
- Proven experience driving quality and compliance in an organization.
- Strong working knowledge of applied statistics, quality systems and regulatory requirements across multiple health authorities.
- Fundamental understanding of standard pharmaceutical analytical testing.
- Demonstrated leadership experience building, developing, and leading high-performing technical and scientific teams.
Desirable Requirements
- Diverse pharmaceutical experience needed. Specifically, Small Molecule experience - API/Drug Substance/Oligonucleotide is highly preferred.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s Degree Required
- Master’s degree in Science, Pharmacy, Chemical Engineering, Pharmaceutical Technology, or equivalent scientific discipline preferred
- Minimum 10 years of experience in manufacturing
- Additional specialist experience preferred (e.g., pharmaceutical formulation, process development, manufacturing technology)
- Proven experience driving quality and compliance in an organization
- Strong working knowledge of applied statistics, quality systems and regulatory requirements across multiple health authorities
- Fundamental understanding of standard pharmaceutical analytical testing
- Demonstrated leadership experience building, developing, and leading high-performing technical and scientific teams
- Diverse pharmaceutical experience needed
- Small Molecule experience - API/Drug Substance/Oligonucleotide is highly preferred
Benefits
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Disability benefits
- 401(k) with company contribution and match
- Vacation
- Personal days
- Holidays
- Performance-based cash incentive
- Annual equity awards
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.