Novartis Pharma AG - March 1, 2026

Job ID

REQ-10070499

Jan 30, 2026

Switzerland

Summary

Location: Basel, Switzerland
Working Model: #LI-Hybrid Hybrid (12 days per month on-site)

Alternate Location: London (The Westworks), United Kingdom
Working model(s):
#LI-Hybrid Hybrid (12 days per month on-site if living within 50 miles of our London office)
#LI-Remote Remote (if living beyond 50 miles of our London office)

The Senior Principal Programmer is responsible for all statistical programming aspects of several studies, a medium to large-sized project, or project-level activities (including submission and post-marketing activities). This position serves as a key collaborator and strategic partner with biostatistics, ensuring that pharmaceutical drug-development plans in Novartis Global Drug Development are executed efficiently, with timely and high-quality deliverables.

About the Role

Our Development Team is guided by our purpose: to reimagine medicine to improve and extend people's lives. To achieve this mission, we are optimizing and strengthening our processes and ways of working while investing in new technologies and building specific therapeutic area capabilities. We are seeking key talent to join us in giving people with diseases and their families a brighter future.

Apply online using the form below.

Key Accountabilities

Lead statistical programming activities as Trial Programmer for several studies or as Lead/Program Programmer for a medium to large-sized project in phase I to IV clinical studies within Novartis Global Development Organization.
Coordinate activities of programmers, whether internal or external. Make statistical programming decisions and propose strategies at the study or project level.
Act as a functional manager for local associates, providing supervision and advice on functional expertise and processes.
Build and maintain effective working relationships with cross-functional teams, summarizing and discussing the status of deliverables and critical programming aspects.
Review eCRF, discuss data structures and review activities, and ensure project-level standardization for efficient CRT production.
Comply with company, department, and industry standards (e.g., CDISC) and processes; assess and clarify additional programming requirements.
Provide and implement statistical programming solutions, ensuring knowledge sharing, and act as a programming expert in problem-solving scenarios.
Ensure timely and quality development and validation of datasets and outputs for CSRs, regulatory submissions/interactions, safety reports, and exploratory analyses.
Maintain quality control and audit readiness of all statistical programming deliverables.
Keep up-to-date advanced knowledge of programming software (e.g., SAS) as well as industry requirements.
Establish successful working relationships on individual studies with external associates according to agreed contracts and internal business guidance.
Act as a subject matter expert (SME) or lead process improvement initiatives focused on programming and analysis reporting procedures.

Your Experience

BA/BS/MS or equivalent experience in statistics, computer science, mathematics, life sciences, or a related field.
Work experience in a programming role, preferably supporting clinical trials or in the pharmaceutical industry.
Expertise in SAS with proven skills in developing and validating deliverables and experience in developing advanced MACROs.
Advanced experience in contributing to statistical analysis plans and/or developing technical programming specifications.
In-depth knowledge of industry standards, including CDISC data structures.
Good understanding of regulatory requirements relevant to Statistical Programming (e.g., GCP, study procedures).
Excellent communication and negotiation skills, ability to work collaboratively and influence others.
Experience as Trial/Lead/Project Programmer for several studies or project-level activities, with the capability to transfer knowledge to others.

Accessibility and Inclusion

Novartis is committed to fostering an inclusive work environment and providing reasonable accommodations to all individuals. If you need assistance due to a medical condition or disability during the recruitment process, please reach out to inclusion.switzerland@novartis.com with your request and contact information. Be sure to include the job requisition number in your message.

Why Novartis

Helping people with disease and their families takes more than innovative science; it requires a community of smart, passionate individuals like you. Together, we collaborate, support, and inspire each other to achieve breakthroughs that can change patients' lives. Ready to create a brighter future together?

Benefits and Rewards

Learn about the numerous ways we will help you thrive personally and professionally.

Division: Development
Business Unit: Development
Location: Switzerland
Site: Basel (City)
Company / Legal Entity: C028 (FCRS = CH028) Novartis Pharma AG
Alternative Location: London (The Westworks), United Kingdom
Functional Area: Research & Development
Job Type: Full time
Employment Type: Regular
Shift Work: No