Associate Director, Solution Architect Innovation & Delivery

Salary Range:
CHF122,500.00 - CHF227,500.00
Job Description Summary
As a Solution Architect in Innovation & Delivery, you are responsible for not only designing and planning, but actively guiding thru execution end-to-end solution architectures that enable scalable, integrated, and high-impact digital systems supporting Biomedical Research. Working at the intersection of delivery segment teams and engineering teams, you translate business, scientific, and portfolio strategy into clear, actionable architectural direction that informs design, engineering, and delivery outcomes.
Leveraging strong domain awareness and architectural expertise, you oversee the landscape of scientific and informatics capabilities and how they map to digital solutions. You ensure these capabilities are consistently represented across data platforms, AI solutions, and shared services, and that they integrate into cohesive, scalable ecosystems serving thousands of users.
Operating as an expert individual contributor, you bridge domain intent with technical implementation, delivering solution design, ensuring alignment with enterprise standards as well as data and AI strategies, and driving consistent adoption of architectural patterns across the organization.
Job Description
#LI-Hybrid
This role is based in Basel, Switzerland. Novartis is unable to offer relocation support for this role: please only apply if this location is accessible for you.
Accountabilities
Innovation Discovery & Evaluation
Continuously identify and prioritize emerging technologies across Software & Workflows that enable future outcomes and strengthen Portfolio, Data and AI strategies.
Assess innovation opportunities using structured criteria including value, feasibility, maturity, risk, and strategic fit.
Contribute to vendor assessments, RFI/RFP processes, and external partner evaluations
Identify early trends and directional signals that could influence software, platform, or portfolio strategy.
Experimentation & Rapid Validation
Translate high-potential opportunities to testable hypotheses and structured experiments
Conduct rapid prototyping to validate assumptions and generate evidence for decision making that can inform scaled implementation initiatives.
Define success criteria and learning objectives to ensure experiments produce actionable results.
Strategic Translation & Integration
Translate external innovation signals into improvements for existing Software and Workflow capabilities and into new strategic opportunities
Partner with Software and Workflow leaders to drive experiments, pilots, and scalable initiatives
Insight Communication & Influence
Deliver clear, concise and compelling narratives tailored to executive, delivery and technical stakeholders
Influence prioritization and investment decisions through evidence-based recommendations
Establish credibility as a trusted advisor on emerging technologies and innovation opportunities
Innovation Culture & Ways of Working
Operate with urgency by focusing on rapid learning cycles and actionable outputs
Collaborate effectively across organizational boundaries to accelerate innovation adoption
Foster a culture of experimentation, curiosity, and continuous learning across teams
Skills Required
Minimum 5+ years’ experience in the life sciences / pharmaceutical industry
Advanced degree in a relevant field (e.g., Life Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, Engineering, Computer Science, or related discipline)
Innovation & Technology Insight
Strong understanding of scientific domains (e.g., biomedical research, data-driven science) to effectively evaluate technologies and vendor offerings in context
Strong understanding of digital, software, data, and AI technology landscapes, including emerging patterns and capabilities.
Ability to distinguish meaningful signals from noise and assess relevance in complex, evolving environments.
Strong external orientation with awareness of industry, academic and startup innovation trends
Strategic & Analytical Strength
Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills to evaluate opportunities and prioritize based on value, feasibility, risk, and strategic alignment
Ability to translate ambiguous signals into clear, decision-ready insights that inform Software and Workflows portfolio direction
Experience shaping hypotheses and defining structured approaches to early-stage opportunity evaluation
Ability to connect technology trends to real user, scientific, and business problems.
Communication & Influence
Excellent communication and storytelling skills, with the ability to convey complex ideas to executive, product, and technical audiences
Proven ability to influence decision-making and prioritization without direct authority
Ability to synthesize complex concepts into clear insights and compelling, actionable recommendations.
Mindset & Learning Agility
High curiosity and learning agility with comfort operating in ambiguity and early‑stage uncertainty.
Strong bias toward exploration, rapid experimentation, and continuous learning.
Collaborative mindset with the ability to effectively engage across diverse stakeholder groups.
Benefits & Rewards
At Novartis, we’re committed to reimagining medicine together - and rewarding the people who make it happen.
Expected Annual Base Salary Range for role: 122,500.00 - 175,000.00 - 227,500.00 CHF Annual