Director, Risk & Assurance Partner

Job Description Summary

The Director, Risk and Assurance Partner will drive healthcare compliance risk management and assurance initiatives with a focus on maintaining and enhancing the U.S. risk and control register. This person will lead annual compliance risk assessments and deliver actionable insights through deep-dive analyses and robust testing plans. Additionally, he/she will serve as a strategic extension of the business advisor team-providing and leveraging insights that influence residual risk scores and functional compliance health dashboards. Finally, this person will partner closely with the Risk & Assurance Enablement team to define requirements that strengthen risk management processes and enable integrated reporting at both functional and U.S. levels.

Novartis will not sponsor visas for this position. Novartis is unable to offer relocation support for this role.


This role is required to be in our East Hanover, NJ office 3x/week. Please only apply if that works for you.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities:

• Maintain and update the US risk and control register for assigned business function grouping, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and alignment with evolving business risks.

• Facilitate annual risk and control assessments, including calibration of residual risk scores in partnership with cross-functional stakeholders and business advisors.

• Evaluate key risk indicators (KRIs) associated with specific risk areas during risk assessment and calibration, ensuring robust and data-driven risk scoring.

• Establish and conduct annual testing plans to evaluate the effectiveness of controls and identify areas for improvement.

• Identify and conduct deep-dive risk analyses to generate functional risk insights and support business partnering.

• Track and report on action plans for ineffective controls and high-risk areas, ensuring timely implementation of "reduce" plans and mitigation strategies.

• Collaborate extensively with business advisor teams to exchange insights, support risk calibration, and enhance the accuracy of risk and compliance health dashboards.

• Partner with the Risk & Assurance Enablement team to define and communicate requirements for technology, analytics, and reporting solutions that support integrated risk management processes.

• Support continuous improvement of risk management processes, leveraging data and technology to enhance risk detection and assurance outcomes.

Key Performance Indicators:

• Timeliness and accuracy of risk and control register updates

• Quality and impact of annual risk assessments and testing plans

• Effectiveness of KRI evaluation and integration into risk scoring

• Completion and effectiveness of action plans for high-risk areas

• Stakeholder satisfaction and engagement

• Quality of collaboration and information exchange with business advisor and Risk & Assurance Enablement teams

Desirable Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred (e.g., MBA, JD, MS in Risk Management, Data Analytics, or related field)

• 7+ years of experience in risk management, healthcare compliance, or assurance roles, preferably in the pharmaceutical/healthcare industry

• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and project management skills

• Experience facilitating risk assessments and controls testing

• Demonstrated ability to collaborate across functions and with business advisor and enablement teams

• Familiarity with risk management platforms and data analytics tools

Benefits & Rewards

The salary for this position is expected to range between $176,400 and $327,600 per year. The final salary offered is determined based on factors like, but not limited to, relevant skills and experience, and upon joining Novartis will be reviewed periodically. Novartis may change the published salary range based on company and market factors. Your compensation will include a performance-based cash incentive and, depending on the level of the role, eligibility to be considered for annual equity awards. US-based eligible employees will receive a comprehensive benefits package that includes health, life and disability benefits, a 401(k) with company contribution and match, and a variety of other benefits. In addition, employees are eligible for a generous time off package including vacation, personal days, holidays and other leaves.

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?

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EEO Statement:

The Novartis Group of Companies are Equal Opportunity Employers. We do not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion or other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status.

Accessibility and reasonable accommodations

The Novartis Group of Companies are committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process, or to perform the essential functions of a position, please send an e-mail to View email address on click.appcast.io or call View phone number on click.appcast.io and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Please include the job requisition number in your message.

Salary Range

$176,400.00 - $327,600.00

Skills Desired

Business Acumen, Business Stewardship Functional Capabilities, Courage, Critical thinking (Analytical thinking/ problem solving), Delivering Collective Impact, empowerment, Ethical Leadership, Fast decision making, Influencing, Inspirational, Lead and Develop People, Learning agility, and Resilience, Navigates Complexity, Prioritization, Proactive and Accountable, Provide clarity on goals, Risk Management , Self-Awareness, Social awareness and interpersonal & comms skills (read the room), Stakeholder Management, Strategic Thinking (Connecting the dots and looking at bigger picture) (), Strong Execution, Talent Development