Job ID
REQ-10056870
Date
July 16, 2025
Location
Switzerland, Basel
Summary
The Clinical Operations Program Associate Director (COPaD) is responsible for the oversight, coordination, and development of early modeling viability assessments, global feasibility assessments, recruitment projections, and allocation strategies for assigned trials and programs.
About the Role
The Clinical Operations Program Associate Director (COPaD) plays a vital role in ensuring the success of clinical trials through effective planning and strategy development.
Responsibilities
- Lead and conduct the end-to-end feasibility process in collaboration with country feasibility managers, clinical trial teams, and medical teams.
- Analyze various data sources, including clinical trial data, historical performance, publications, epidemiology, and the commercial landscape.
- Provide modeling and viability analysis to support early recruitment projections and clinical trial planning.
- Offer feedback on study design based on available data and feasibility insights.
- Propose optimal country and site allocation, assessing associated risks and opportunities in alignment with global program strategies.
- Act as the primary contact for assigned program and trial feasibilities, leading multidisciplinary teams to develop, validate, and refine allocation strategies.
- Identify and mitigate operational risks represented by events within the indication landscape that may affect clinical trial execution.
- Integrate regional and local indication strategies into global execution plans.
- Collaborate closely with the country feasibility team to ensure the quality of the feasibility product.
- Oversee the creation and maintenance of patient enrollment forecasts at the study level.
- Ensure alignment of feasibility and allocation strategies, facilitating a seamless startup process in collaboration with relevant teams.
- Enhance tools and processes for modeling and viability assessments, feasibility studies, and recruitment projections.
Minimum Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in life sciences/healthcare; advanced degree (PhD/MD/PharmD/Master's) preferred.
- Five years of experience in pharmaceutical clinical drug development, with three years in planning and executing global clinical trials preferred.
- Strong understanding of clinical drug development, particularly in trial design and execution, with comprehensive knowledge of feasibility and allocation processes.
- Exceptional research skills and the ability to develop a deep domain-specific knowledge base.
- Familiarity with the clinical trial process from research through post-marketing phases, including regulatory guidelines and country-specific challenges.
Desirable Requirements
- Proven ability to collaborate effectively across partner functions in a matrix environment.
- Experience in feasibility assessments for global clinical trials.
- Strong track record in identifying and resolving risks, including experience with strategic scenario planning and management.
- Effective communication skills with leaders in various organizational contexts.
- Expertise in strategic planning and managing operational challenges at global, regional, or country levels.
- Proficient project management skills with a demonstrated ability to problem-solve.
- Strong analytical skills with the capability to convey complex insights.
- Thorough knowledge of international drug development processes, GCP/ICH standards, and clinical development regulations.
- Solid understanding of the global competitive landscape and its implications for clinical development.
- Strong leadership and negotiation skills, along with effective presentation abilities.
Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion
Novartis is dedicated to fostering an outstanding, inclusive work environment and building diverse teams that reflect the patients and communities we serve.
Accessibility and Accommodations
If you require reasonable accommodations during the recruitment process due to a medical condition or disability, please send an email to inclusion.switzerland@novartis.com and include the job requisition number in your message.
Why Novartis
At Novartis, helping people living with disease and their families requires more than innovative science. It takes a collaboration of passionate individuals working together to make a difference. Ready to create a brighter future together?
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Benefits and Rewards
Explore our benefits handbook to learn more about how we support your personal and professional growth.
Application Process
Apply online using the form below. Only applications matching the job profile will be considered.
Company Information
- Division: Development
- Business Unit: Universal Hierarchy Node
- Location: Switzerland
- Site: Basel (City)
- Company/Legal Entity: Novartis Pharma AG
- Functional Area: Research & Development
- Job Type: Full time
- Employment Type: Regular
- Shift Work: No
Novartis is committed to fostering an outstanding, inclusive work environment and diverse teams that represent the patients and communities we serve.