Executive Director of Applied AI

About this role

Job Description Summary Location: Cambridge or East Hanover #LI-Hybrid 3 days/week in office Internal Job Title: The Executive Director, Applied AI Lead

Novartis is making a significant long-term investment in becoming an AI-first organization, with sponsorship at the highest levels of the company. This is a rare opportunity to shape how generative AI and agentic systems are engineered, deployed and adopted across a global enterprise whose work ultimately supports patients and healthcare systems worldwide. As Executive Director of Applied AI, you will combine technical depth, product thinking and enterprise influence to turn high-value business challenges into secure, scalable AI products and intelligent workflows. You will lead a small, globally distributed team of applied AI engineers and work directly with senior business and technology leaders to deliver measurable value at scale.   Job Description Key Responsibilities  

• Define and lead the applied AI deployment strategy, execution   roadmap   and business integration model across enterprise business units.  

• Act as a forward-deployed AI engineering leader, partnering directly with business teams to translate strategic priorities into deployable products, intelligent   workflows   and redesigned processes.  

• Lead technical solution architecture for specific complex AI deployments, partnering with IT to make hands-on decisions on application architecture, system integration patterns, model orchestration, APIs, security controls and production infrastructure.  

• Lead end-to-end implementation, customization, integration and scaling of generative AI, agentic   systems   and workflow automation solutions in production environments.  

• Build, lead and coach a small, globally distributed team of forward deployed AI engineers,   establishing   engineering excellence.  

• Establish delivery frameworks and engineering standards that support scalability, reliability, security,   maintainability   and sustained operational adoption in partnership with IT.

• Create reusable AI services, accelerators, evaluation frameworks,   blueprints   and integration patterns that reduce time to value across business domains.  

• Partner with data, infrastructure, information security, architecture,   compliance   and business teams to align solutions with enterprise priorities and   regulated-environment   requirements.  

• Track solution performance, adoption and business value through monitoring, feedback loops, user   analysis   and continuous service optimization.  

• Guide   modernization of existing systems and processes so they can integrate with agentic AI products, applied AI models and enterprise technology platforms.  

• Communicate business impact, technical transformation vision, delivery progress, risks and investment needs to senior executives and key stakeholders.  

Essential Requirements  

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering, data   science   or   a related   field.  

• At least 15 years of progressive experience in technology leadership, enterprise AI   transformation   or complex solution delivery, including leadership of senior technical and cross-functional teams.  

• Deep, hands-on   expertise   in applied AI delivery,   including taking   machine learning, generative   AI   and agentic solutions from concept through production and enterprise-scale adoption.  

• Strong software and product engineering grounding, with experience integrating AI into complex enterprise platforms, data   environments   and operational workflows.  

• Hands-on   proficiency   with modern AI engineering stacks, including Python, cloud platforms (e.g., AWS), LLM orchestration frameworks, vector databases,   MLOps / LLMOps   and software delivery practices.  

• Demonstrated success defining and scaling enterprise-level AI initiatives, with measurable business value,   automation   or performance outcomes.  

• Experience leading forward deployed, solutions engineering or technical consulting teams, translating ambiguous business problems into production-grade software systems in enterprise environments.  

• Consulting or   professional-services   experience partnering with senior technology and business leaders on enterprise transformation, operating   models   or technology strategy.  

• Proven   people   leadership and organizational development capability, including building high-performing teams, developing   leaders   and   establishing   effective governance.  

• Strong executive communication and cross-functional influence skills, with the ability to align priorities, investment   decisions   and delivery across a complex matrixed organization.  

Desirable Requirements  

• Master of Science, engineering postgraduate degree or MBA.  

• Experience delivering AI solutions in healthcare, life sciences or another complex regulated environment, or prior   zero -to-one startup experience.  

Benefits & Rewards  

The salary for this position is expected to range between   $ 225,400.00 - $418,600.00 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.  

To learn more about the culture, rewards and benefits we offer our people click   here.  

  EEO Statement:

The Novartis Group of Companies are Equal Oppo

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