Associate Director - Consulting & Program Management

#LI-Hybrid  , Hyderabad

Key Responsibilities

• Support the scoping and design of priority programs and strategic initiatives across the BSI Consulting and Program Management portfolio.

• Lead the delivery of high-impact programs aligned with international business priorities, driving commercial growth and operational excellence.

• Partner with cross-functional and global stakeholders to define, shape, and execute strategic programs and initiatives.

• Champion the adoption of Artificial Intelligence and Generative Artificial Intelligence solutions, identifying opportunities to enhance program delivery and business impact.

• Support capability-building initiatives across consulting, program management, and learning disciplines.

• Lead commercial consulting engagements focused on commercial excellence, growth strategy, organizational effectiveness, and efficiency optimization.

• Design and facilitate executive and cross-functional workshops that drive alignment, decision-making, and measurable outcomes.

• Leverage technology, advanced analytics, and Artificial Intelligence to accelerate insights generation, strategic analysis, and scalable solution development.

• Build and maintain strong stakeholder partnerships across International markets while delivering consulting excellence and innovation.

• Collaborate closely with other Business Services Innovation teams to deliver priority programs and strengthen organizational capabilities.

• Coach and mentor Managers and Senior Analysts, fostering collaboration, continuous improvement, and talent development.

• Serve as a role model for Novartis values, promoting an inclusive culture centered on shared impact and business excellence.

Essential Requirements

• Significant experience managing end-to-end project lifecycles, from strategy and planning through program execution and delivery.

• More than 10 years of experience within the pharmaceutical, life sciences, healthcare, consulting, or program management sectors.

• Demonstrated success leading consulting teams, including virtual and matrixed teams across geographies and functions.

• Proven ability to apply consulting methodologies and Artificial Intelligence-enabled solutions to solve complex business challenges.

• Strong consulting mindset with intellectual curiosity, structured problem-solving, and a results-oriented approach.

• Strategic and commercial acumen with the ability to translate market, customer, financial, and operational insights into actionable recommendations.

• Exceptional executive communication and storytelling skills, capable of influencing senior stakeholders through clear and compelling narratives.

• Strong facilitation and stakeholder management capabilities, driving collaboration and consensus across diverse teams.

• Proven people leadership and coaching experience, with a track record of developing talent and high-performing teams.

• Bachelor's degree in Science, Engineering, Business Administration, Economics, or a related field.

Desirable Requirements

• Master's degree in a business-related discipline.

• Professional certifications in Program Management, Project Management, Product Management, Change Management, Agile, Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL), Enterprise Communications, Facilitation, Coaching, or Design Thinking.

• Experience leading large-scale transformation initiatives within global organizations.

• Advanced knowledge of Artificial Intelligence, Generative Artificial Intelligence, and digital innovation methodologies.