Job ID
REQ-10047870
Date: February 06, 2026
Location: Switzerland
Summary
The Director, Marketing Skills & Capabilities Lead will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of marketing excellence across International Top Markets and Regions. This position is integral to driving the development of core and future-ready marketing capabilities, creating and enhancing a holistic learning framework, and ensuring our teams are equipped with the necessary skills to thrive in an evolving customer experience landscape. You will design and deliver a comprehensive training strategy that spans in-house learning and train-the-trainer models while defining clear KPIs and tracking progress across the organization.
Reporting directly to the Head of Customer Experience & Content, you will act as a strategic learning partner, collaborating closely with senior leaders to understand business priorities and transform them into impactful capability-building initiatives that elevate our marketing functions.
If you are passionate about developing talent, accelerating marketing excellence, and shaping the future of commercial capabilities, we invite you to apply online using the form below and help us drive meaningful impact across the International organization.
About the Role
Major Accountabilities:
- Collaborate with internal and external thought leaders as well as leaders within CLS, Top 11 markets, and functional leaders to assess and define priority capabilities, training needs, behaviors, skills, and knowledge required for Marketing Excellence within Novartis.
- Develop a fit-for-future marketing capabilities framework and learning curriculum to deliver against the organization's capability roadmap, harmonizing ongoing commercial capabilities-building efforts while leveraging best practices from the US and international markets.
- Possess experience or knowledge in AI/Digital improvements and applications in regulated industries, particularly in Pharma and healthcare.
- Maintain an established network of L&D companies, institutions, and networks primarily in Europe, especially in London or Switzerland, to accelerate the adoption of suitable models for Novartis.
- Lead the design and delivery of impactful training and train-the-trainer programs for International markets, potentially adapting existing approaches like the finance academy or GM onboarding.
- Build and lead communities of practice with a distributed team of content experts accountable for successful capability development.
- Design KPIs and benchmarking for marketing capabilities and develop a roadmap for continuous improvement.
- Focus on Future Marketing Capabilities, particularly on AI and Integrated Operating Concepts as well as novel Go-To-Market models.
- Oversee a digital knowledge hub with the OC team, serving as the central learning platform for above-country and in-country learnings.
- Stay abreast of external marketing capability evaluations and trends to transform the function into an agile learning organization with best-in-class methodologies and approaches.
- Create a work environment that enables people to perform to the best of their abilities, fostering high-performing teams.
- Serve as an active member of the CE&C Leadership team, partnering with functional leads from Launch and Commercial Excellence.
Essential Requirements:
- Minimum of 2 to 5 years of experience in Marketing and Skills & Capabilities Training in a regulated industry.
- At least 10 years of multi-functional experience in Pharmaceutical, Healthcare, or regulated industries in strategic marketing and execution.
- Experience in leading and delivering learning curriculum and solutions within a marketing organization.
- A high-level understanding of training design and delivery concepts, architecture, tools, and environments.
- Experience leading transformational digital, data, and customer experience solutions to support the evolution of commercial organizational capabilities.
- Experience in employee development and career pathing.
- Experience in both local and above-country (Headquarter) marketing and commercial functions.
- A demonstrated curiosity and passion for marketing, keeping abreast of industry news, best practices, and emerging trends.
- Strong influencing skills at all levels of a multinational enterprise, practicing tact, diplomacy, and decisiveness in varied situations.
- Ability to facilitate and drive change in a fast-paced, matrix environment utilizing strong interpersonal skills to influence individuals at all levels of the organization.
- Capable of establishing credibility and influence among a diverse range of stakeholders in a matrix organization.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills, with the ability to communicate complex ideas effectively to a variety of audiences and stakeholders.
Desirable Requirements:
- Experience in US or large market commercial operations.
- Intrapreneurial mindset, thriving in fast-paced, complex, and ambiguous environments while being flexible, proactive, resourceful, and efficient.
- A demonstrated sense of ownership and accountability for the shared success of the team.
- Ability to re-prioritize, pivot, and manage multiple complex projects simultaneously.
- Experience in developing and executing "Best in Class" processes at scale.
Location
This role can be based in Basel, Switzerland, or in one of the international hubs: London, UK; Barcelona, Spain.
Benefits
Read our handbook to learn about all the ways we’ll help you thrive personally and professionally: Novartis Life Handbook.
Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion
Novartis is committed to building an outstanding inclusive work environment and diverse teams representing the patients and communities we serve.
Accessibility and Accommodation
Novartis is dedicated to providing reasonable accommodation to all individuals. If, due to a medical condition or disability, you require reasonable accommodation during the recruitment process, or wish to receive more detailed information about the essential functions of a position, please reach out via email to inclusion.switzerland@novartis.com. Please include the job requisition number in your message.
Why Novartis?
Our purpose is to reimagine medicine to improve and extend people's lives, and our vision is to become the most valued and trusted medicines company globally. Achieving this requires our dedicated associates who drive us every day toward our ambitions. Be part of this mission and join us! Learn more here.
Join Our Novartis Network
If this role does not align with your experience or career goals but you would like to stay connected to learn more about Novartis and our career opportunities, join the Novartis Network here.
Why Novartis
Supporting people with diseases and their families requires more than just innovative science. It necessitates a community of passionate individuals like you, who collaborate, support, and inspire one another to achieve breakthroughs that change patients' lives. Are you ready to create a brighter future together?
Benefits and Rewards
Discover all the ways we’ll help you thrive personally and professionally by reading our handbook here.