Medical Neuroscience Head at Novartis in Milano

Medical Neuroscience Head

Location: Milano

Salary Range:

€81,800.00 - €151,800.00

Job Description Summary

At Novartis, we are committed to reimagining medicine to improve and extend people's lives. As the Medical Neuroscience Head, you will serve as the country's scientific leader for the Neuroscience Therapeutic Area, driving medical strategy and ensuring impactful execution across the product lifecycle.

This strategic leadership role is responsible for shaping scientific engagement, evidence generation, medical education, external partnerships, and cross-functional collaboration. You will lead the development and execution of a country-specific medical strategy, ensuring that patients, healthcare professionals, and healthcare systems benefit from innovative, evidence-based solutions that address unmet medical needs in Neuroscience.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities

Medical Strategy Leadership

• Develop and execute the country-specific Medical Neuroscience strategy aligned with global and regional objectives.
• Adapt international medical plans into locally relevant strategies supporting pre-launch, launch, and lifecycle management activities.
• Define strategic priorities and tactical plans across scientific engagement, medical education, evidence generation, publications, and external insight generation.
• Lead local evidence generation strategies, including Real-World Evidence (RWE), Health Economics and Outcomes Research (HEOR) initiatives, Phase IIIb/IV studies, and publication planning.
• Provide scientific and clinical expertise to support integrated evidence strategies, study feasibility assessments, and local research initiatives.
• Act as the trusted scientific advisor to internal stakeholders across Commercial, Market Access, Regulatory, Digital, and other functional areas.
• Ensure all medical activities are conducted in accordance with applicable regulatory, ethical, and compliance standards.
  

Scientific Engagement and Medical Excellence

• Lead scientific engagement activities with healthcare professionals, medical experts, academic institutions, and scientific societies.
• Ensure high-quality, unbiased, peer-to-peer scientific exchange that advances medical understanding and patient care.
• Provide strategic direction for field medical activities and ensure alignment with Therapeutic Area objectives.
• Establish processes for systematic collection, analysis, and utilization of external insights to inform strategic decision-making.
• Drive excellence in scientific communication, medical education initiatives, and congress activities.
• Support capability building across medical and cross-functional teams through training and scientific leadership.
  

Evidence Generation and Medical Education

• Oversee delivery of local evidence generation programs that address patient, healthcare system, and scientific needs.
• Guide publication strategies and ensure timely dissemination of scientific data.
• Support the development and delivery of impactful medical education programs for healthcare professionals and internal stakeholders.
• Ensure scientific integrity and excellence throughout all educational and evidence-generation activities.
  

Strategic Partnerships and External Leadership

• Build and maintain strong relationships with key medical experts, scientific organizations, research institutions, and healthcare stakeholders.
• Establish Novartis as a trusted scientific partner within the Neuroscience community.
• Foster collaborations that advance scientific understanding, improve patient outcomes, and address healthcare system challenges.
• Contribute to the development of multi-stakeholder initiatives that create value for patients and healthcare systems.
• Represent Novartis as a credible scientific ambassador at national and international scientific forums.
  

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner closely with Commercial, Value & Access, Regulatory, Medical Affairs, and Execution Excellence teams to ensure aligned execution of strategic priorities.
• Collaborate with global, regional, and local colleagues to translate scientific insights into actionable medical strategies.
• Support launch readiness and lifecycle management through scientific leadership and strategic input.
• Drive integration of external insights into cross-functional planning and decision-making.
  

Governance, Compliance and Quality

• Ensure adherence to all applicable regulations, industry codes, Novartis policies, and governance standards.
• Maintain the highest standards of scientific credibility, ethics, and patient focus.
• Ensure appropriate management and reporting of adverse events, technical complaints, and special situations in accordance with Novartis requirements.
• Promote a culture of compliance, accountability, and continuous improvement across the medical organization.
  

Essential Requirements

Education

• Advanced scientific degree in Medicine, Pharmacy, Neuroscience, Life Sciences, or a related field.
• MD, PharmD, PhD, or equivalent scientific qualification strongly preferred.
  

Experience

• Significant experience within Medical Affairs, Clinical Development, or related functions in the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry.
• Strong experience in Neuroscience and a deep understanding of the relevant disease landscape.
• Demonstrated success in developing and executing medical strategies across the product lifecycle.
• Experience in scientific engagement with healthcare professionals, medical experts, and scientific organizations.
• Proven track record of evidence generation, publication planning, and medical education leadership.
• Strong cross-functional leadership and stakeholder management experience.
• Experience working in complex matrix organizations at local, regional, or global levels.
  

Skills

• Deep scientific and clinical expertise in Neuroscience.
• Strategic thinking with the ability to translate science into impactful medical initiatives.
• Evidence generation and publication planning capabilities.
• Strong analytical and data interpretation skills.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and scientific storytelling abilities.
• High level of business acumen and healthcare system understanding.
• Strong leadership, influencing, and partnership-building capabilities.
• Ability to manage complexity and drive execution in a fast-paced environment.
  

What You'll Bring

• A passion for advancing patient care through scientific excellence.
• Strong scientific credibility and intellectual curiosity.
• Strategic mindset with the ability to shape and influence medical direction.
• Collaborative leadership style with a focus on partnership and inclusion.
• Accountability for delivering meaningful medical and patient outcomes.
• Commitment to ethical conduct, compliance, and patient-centric decision-making.
• Ability to inspire and develop high-performing teams and scientific communities.
  

Why Novartis?

At Novartis, our purpose is to reimagine medicine to improve and extend people's lives. We empower our associates to challenge the status quo, collaborate across boundaries, and bring transformative medicines to patients worldwide. Joining Novartis means becoming part of an innovative organization where scientific excellence and patient impact drive everything we do.

Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion

Novartis is committed to building an outstanding, inclusive work environment and diverse teams representative of the patients and communities we serve. We believe that diverse perspectives strengthen innovation and help us better meet the needs of patients around the world.

Join us and help shape the future of Neuroscience through scientific leadership, medical innovation, and a relentless focus on improving patient outcomes.

Expected Annual Base Salary Range for role: 81,800.00 - 116,800.00 - 151,800.00 EUR Annual

The base salary offered is determined based on gender-neutral objectives, such as relevant skills, competencies and experience in accordance with the Novartis pay setting policy and upon joining Novartis will be reviewed periodically.

In addition to your base salary, you may be eligible for a performance-based bonus depending on certain performance parameters.

The rewards of being part of our team go far beyond base pay and incentives. We also offer a variety of competitive benefits in kind to help you thrive personally and professionally, such as insurance plans, retirement plans, wellbeing resources and global recognition programs. In addition, we provide flexible and hybrid working options, where possible, and minimum 14 weeks paid parental leave.

You may be eligible for a company vehicle or a car allowance in accordance with the applicable local Novartis policies and guidelines.

Pay equity is a fundamental principle of our employment policy and reflects our commitment to create a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment that treats all employees with dignity and respect, as outlined in our Code of Ethics.

Read our brochure to learn more about our global total rewards offering:

https://www.novartis.com/sites/novartis_com/files/novartis-life-handbook.pdf

Skills Desired

Cross-Functional Collaboration, Data Analysis, Drug Development, Employee Development, Health Sciences, Influencing Skills, Innovation, Inspirational Leadership, Medical Affairs, Patient Care, People Management, Pharmaceutics, Product Launches, Real World Evidence (RWE), Regulatory Compliance, Research Methodologies, Results-Oriented, Stakeholder Engagement, Stakeholder Management, Statistical Analysis