Executive Director, AI Platform Engineering Lead - Remote

About the Role

The Strategy, Platforms & Transformation team at Novartis is dedicated to enabling improved decision-making by leveraging data and advanced analytics capabilities to generate actionable insights that drive business growth. This role will work closely with product leaders, business stakeholders, data and technology teams, and transformation leaders to ensure the AI platform accelerates innovation, supports enterprise adoption, and delivers measurable business value through reliable and scalable execution.

What You Will Do

• Define and lead the engineering strategy, roadmap, and operating model for the organization's agentic AI platform
• Oversee the design, development, integration, deployment, and ongoing operation of platform capabilities that support agentic AI products and workflows
• Establish platform engineering standards, architectural principles, and development practices to ensure scalability, reliability, security, and maintainability
• Lead cross-functional engineering teams in building reusable platform services, tools, and components that accelerate product delivery and adoption
• Partner with product, data, infrastructure, security, and business teams to align platform capabilities with enterprise priorities and evolving user needs
• Drive platform performance, operational excellence, and continuous improvement through monitoring, feedback loops, incident review, and service optimization
• Guide the modernization of existing systems and processes to enable integration with agentic AI products, workflows, and platform services
• Communicate platform strategy, technical direction, delivery progress, risks, and investment needs to senior executives and key stakeholders
• Collaborate with stakeholders to identify and prioritize platform requirements and ensure alignment with business objectives
• Develop and manage the platform engineering budget, ensuring effective resource allocation and cost optimization

What We Are Looking For

• A minimum of a Bachelor's degree in a related field, with a Master of Science and/or MBA strongly preferred
• 15-plus years of progressive product management experience, including significant leadership over senior product leaders
• Deep expertise in AI-driven product management, including experience bringing innovative data, machine learning, and generative AI products from concept to commercialization in complex enterprise environments
• Proven people leadership and organizational development capability, with experience leading directors and senior product teams
• Strong cross-functional and executive influence skills, with demonstrated success partnering with stakeholders to drive business growth
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively collaborate with technical and non-technical stakeholders
• Strong problem-solving skills, with the ability to analyze complex problems and develop creative solutions
• Experience with Excel and other data analysis tools

Nice to Have

• Experience with cloud-based platforms and technologies, such as AWS or Azure
• Knowledge of machine learning and artificial intelligence concepts, including deep learning and natural language processing
• Familiarity with Agile development methodologies and DevOps practices
• Experience with data analytics and visualization tools, such as Tableau or Power BI

Benefits and Perks

• Competitive salary and bonus structure
• Comprehensive health insurance and benefits package
• Generous paid time off and holiday schedule
• Remote work stipend and flexible work arrangements
• Opportunities for professional development and career advancement
• Access to cutting-edge technologies and innovative projects
• Collaborative and dynamic work environment with a team of experienced professionals

• To stand out as a candidate, emphasize your experience with AI-driven product management and platform engineering, as well as your ability to lead cross-functional teams and drive business growth.
• Be prepared to provide specific examples of your experience with data analytics and machine learning, and how you have applied these skills to drive business results.
• Familiarize yourself with Novartis' commitment to innovation and its focus on data-driven decision-making, and be prepared to discuss how you can contribute to this mission.
• Highlight your excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and provide examples of how you have effectively collaborated with technical and non-technical stakeholders in the past.
• Consider creating a portfolio or case studies that demonstrate your experience and skills in AI platform engineering and product management, and be prepared to discuss these during the interview process.
• Don't be afraid to ask questions during the interview process, such as what the biggest challenges facing the team are, and how you can contribute to solving them.
• Be prepared to discuss your experience with Excel and other data analysis tools, and how you have used these tools to drive business insights and decision-making.