Job ID: REQ-10070499
Date Posted: January 30, 2026
Location: Basel, Switzerland
Working Model: Hybrid (12 days per month on-site)
Alternate Location: London (The Westworks), United Kingdom
- Working model(s): Hybrid (12 days per month on-site if living within 50 miles of our London office)
- Remote (if living beyond 50 miles of our London office)
Summary
The Senior Principal Programmer will oversee all statistical programming and data review reporting aspects of various studies and manage medium to large sized projects or project-level activities. This role is crucial in ensuring that drug development plans are executed efficiently and that deliverables meet high standards of quality and timeliness.
About the Role
Our Development Team is dedicated to reimagining medicine to enhance and extend people's lives. To achieve this, we are optimizing our processes and investing in advanced technologies, building specific therapeutic area expertise, and enhancing our capabilities—all to bring our medicines to patients faster.
We are looking for talented individuals like you to join us and help provide a brighter future for those with diseases and their families.
Apply online using the form below.
Key Accountabilities
- Lead statistical programming activities as a Trial Programmer for multiple studies or as the Lead/Program Programmer for medium to large-sized projects in phase I to IV clinical studies.
- Coordinate activities of programmers, making statistical programming decisions and proposing strategies at the study or project level.
- May act as a functional manager, providing supervision and guidance to local associates on functional expertise and processes.
- Build and maintain effective relationships with cross-functional teams, summarizing and discussing deliverables and critical programming aspects.
- Review electronic case report forms (eCRF), discuss data structures, and ensure project-level standardization.
- Comply with company, department, and industry standards, assessing and clarifying programming requirements as needed.
- Provide and implement statistical programming solutions, ensuring knowledge sharing and acting as the programming expert in problem-solving.
- Ensure timely and quality development and validation of datasets and outputs for regulatory submissions, safety reports, and exploratory analyses.
- Maintain an up-to-date knowledge of programming software (e.g., SAS) and industry standards (e.g., CDISC).
- Establish successful working relationships with external associates according to agreed contracts and internal guidelines.
- Act as a subject matter expert or lead process improvement initiatives focused on programming and analysis reporting procedures.
Your Experience
- BA/BS/MS or international equivalent in statistics, computer science, mathematics, life sciences, or a related field.
- Experience in a programming role, ideally supporting clinical trials in the pharmaceutical industry.
- Expertise in SAS and proven skills in a Statistical Programming environment, including developing and validating deliverables and advanced MACROs.
- Advanced experience in statistical analysis plans and technical programming specifications.
- Thorough knowledge of industry standards including CDISC data structures.
- Good understanding of regulatory requirements relevant to Statistical Programming (e.g., GCP).
- Strong communication and negotiation skills with the ability to collaborate globally.
- Experience as Trial/Lead/Project Programmer for multiple studies, coordinating teams of programmers.
Accessibility and Inclusion
Novartis is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to all individuals. If you need an accommodation during the recruitment process due to a medical condition or disability, please reach out to inclusion.switzerland@novartis.com with your request and contact information. Remember to include the job requisition number in your message.
Why Novartis
Helping people with diseases and their families requires more than innovative science; it necessitates a community of smart, passionate individuals like you. We collaborate, support, and inspire each other to achieve breakthroughs that transform patients' lives. Are you ready to create a brighter future together?
Benefits and Rewards
Discover all the ways we can support your personal and professional growth by reading our handbook.
Join Us
Apply online using the form below. Please note that only applications matching the job profile will be considered.