[Hiring] Associate Director, Field Launch & Change Surge @Novartis

Role Description

This position can be based remotely anywhere in the U.S. (there may be some restrictions based on legal entity). The expectation of working hours and travel (domestic and/or international) will be defined by the hiring manager. This position will require 10% travel.

The Associate Director, Field Launch & Change Surge provides focused, time-bound execution capacity to support major launches and high-priority change events across the field organization. This role helps stabilize performance during peak change periods by coordinating execution mechanics, readiness actions, and rapid issue resolution—so field leaders can stay focused on customers and core performance.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide surge execution support for launches, major tool/process releases, and high-impact organizational changes, ensuring clear sequencing, ownership, and follow-through.
• Translate launch/change plans into practical field actions (readiness tasks, cutover steps, stabilization activities), ensuring clarity on who does what by when.
• Identify cross-team dependencies and readiness risks early (training gaps, workflow breaks, operational constraints) and drive mitigation actions with owners.
• Support cutover planning and go-live readiness, including readiness checklists, field-facing timing clarity, and escalation pathways for high-severity issues.
• Coordinate hypercare mechanics during launch/change windows to ensure rapid triage, clear ownership, and timely resolution of field-impacting issues.
• Drive rapid stabilization by tracking issues through to closure and ensuring recurring problems are addressed with root-cause fixes, not repeated workarounds.
• Partner across teams to align execution details (timelines, readiness expectations, support model) and reduce last-minute churn during launch windows.
• Maintain an integrated view of launch/change readiness signals and surface actionable watch-outs to execution leadership.
• Capture lessons learned and convert them into improved readiness playbooks, templates, and standard operating patterns.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required from 4-year college or university.
• 6+ years’ of experience in field operations, launch execution, program delivery, or execution-focused roles within complex, matrixed organizations.
• Demonstrated ability to operate effectively in high-intensity environments with competing priorities and tight timelines.
• Strong execution discipline, coordination skills, and ability to translate plans into clear actions and closures.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, including ability to drive alignment without direct authority.

Requirements

• Familiarity with readiness frameworks, cutover/hypercare practices, and structured issue management.
• Comfort operating as surge capacity across multiple portfolios and workstreams, adapting quickly as priorities evolve.

Benefits

• The salary for this position is expected to range between $145,600 and $270,400 per year.
• 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.
• Employees are eligible for a generous time off package including vacation, personal days, holidays and other leaves.