Associate Director, Therapeutic Area Communications (East Hanover)

This job is with Novartis, an inclusive employer and a member of myGwork – the largest global platform for the LGBTQ+ business community. Please do not contact the recruiter directly.

Summary

Location: East Hanover NJ, US or Basel Switzerland. This role will follow a hybrid working model.
If based in Europe, please only apply to REQ-10080776
LI-#hybrid

The Associate Director, TA Communications will support the development and execution of high-impact product and portfolio communications strategies across Novartis' Cardiovascular & Metabolic (CVM) Therapeutic Area in both the U.S. and global markets.

The Associate Director will support communications strategy across a dynamic portfolio of mid-stage development assets, priority growth brands, and launch-stage programs advancing the next generation of cardiovascular innovation. Working across Global and US Communications, this individual will help shape the product stories behind priority brands tackling some of cardiology's most significant unmet needs, including ASCVD, thrombosis, and emerging risk factors such as Lp(a). They will support key development and launch milestones, craft compelling product and disease narratives, and help position breakthrough science in ways that resonate with stakeholders. This is a high-visibility opportunity to influence how future cardiovascular innovations are understood, differentiated, and ultimately brought to patients.

About the Role

Key Responsibilities

• Support the development and execution of integrated communications strategies informed by market dynamics, stakeholder insights, and evolving communications trends.
• Partner closely with cross-functional development and commercial teams to identify opportunities where communications can most effectively advance brand and therapeutic area objectives.
• Collaborate across Communications functions, including media relations, digital communications, executive and internal communications, patient advocacy, issues management, and analytics, to deliver coordinated and impactful campaigns.
• Lead the development of compelling brand and disease-state narratives, leveraging modern content strategies and optimizing for AI-enabled and search-driven information environments.
• Protect and strengthen the reputation of Novartis and the CVM portfolio through proactive issues identification, risk assessment, and strategic communications planning.
• Develop and maintain reporting frameworks that measure communications effectiveness and demonstrate impact against business objectives.
• Ensure flawless execution while maintaining compliance with all legal, regulatory, and company requirements.
• Manage communications agency partnerships and budgets effectively and efficiently.

Essential Requirements

• Contribution of CVM communications strategies to Novartis' reputation, leadership positioning, and therapeutic area objectives.
• Strength, consistency, and differentiation of CVM storytelling across audiences and channels.
• Alignment of communications priorities and strategies across the therapeutic area.
• Audience engagement and narrative adoption, including visibility within AI-powered and search-based information environments.
• Effective use of OGSM planning principles to drive measurable outcomes and continuous improvement.
• Successful management of issues and reputation risks across CVM brands and pipeline assets.
• Feedback from internal and external stakeholders regarding collaboration, strategic partnership, and communications expertise.
• Demonstrated ownership of individual development objectives and continuous professional growth.

Desirable Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree required
• 7+ years of experience in communications with significant prior experience in brand communications disciplines, including data and regulatory milestones

• Management of agency partners and budget

• Crisis and issues management

• Pharmaceutical experience preferred

Benefits & Rewards

The salary for this position is expected to range between $126,000 and $234,000 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?

Join our Novartis Network: Not the right Novartis role for you? Sign up to our talent community to stay connected and learn about suitable career opportunities as soon as they come up:

Benefits and Rewards: Read our handbook to learn about all the ways we'll help you thrive personally and professionally:

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?

Benefits and Rewards: Learn about all the ways we'll help you thrive personally and professionally.
Read our handbook (PDF 30 MB)

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 & 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 [email protected] or call View phone number on apply.placed-app.com and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Please include the job requisition number in your message.