Major accountabilities:

Performance & Launch preparation

• Manage and develop the overall performance of the medical unit in country
• Drive best-in-class launch preparedness and launch execution (incl. ensuring that diagnostic/biomarker availability at launch and overcoming local data gaps also for HTA Submission – when applicable)
• Accountable that Target Patient Population Outcomes (TPOs) are updated and relevant, and that they are being tracked, resourced, and impacted at CPO level with appropriate regional and global support for all franchises

Healthcare Partnership & Stakeholder Management

• Raises country medical and clinical interests into global and regional strategy and planning prelaunch starting at DDP, through providing timely and strategic feedback to GPTs. This shapes the development program earlier and ensures IDPs include integrated, diverse data available at launch to support own local reimbursement and clinical implementation
• In line with the evolving healthcare ecosystem, proactively and strategically builds bold partnerships beyond the traditional Healthcare professionals and organizations. Identifies opportunities for joint value creation deploying new engagement models of broader reach. Engages with key patient associations, academic societies, patients, payers and reimbursement bodies as well as the relevant healthcare systems, to harness opportunities and share ownership in transforming the clinical practice with optimal access and better outcomes for real world patients.
• Ensures implementation science plans in place early and holistically to systematically shape health policy and practice guidelines converging clinical innovations and treatments into better standards of care via better disease management. Depth of insight and understanding of local Healthcare ecosystem and contextual system challenges to ensure early reimbursement and patient adherence.
• Builds and facilitates close cross-functional equal partner collaboration with key internal stakeholders, co creating and leading where necessary. Function as the key medical interface to CPO head, Value & Access, TA Heads and BE&E Heads or similar position, GDD representatives, Public Affairs, and compliance teams as well as related Regional teams. In partnership with country Regulatory Affairs, develops and manages long-term relationships with local Regulatory agencies and relevant medical societies.
• Represent Novartis at key external governmental, scientific, clinical, and medical events to educate, advocate and support innovation and evidence-based research.

Evidence Generation & Clinical Trials

• Encourages earlier (starting at DDP) initiation of innovative integrated evidence generation strategies, novel research activities, and local collaborative and impactful partnership engagements. Supports utility of RWE innovative study designs and exploratory trials (where applicable) across TAs to accelerate patient access; oversight of Managed Access Programs (MAPs), IITs etc.
• Encourages utility of more innovative digital technologies for more meaningful and impactful engagements and data generation and utilization.
• Foresees that all local studies are developed and timely executed based on country evidence gaps. Accountable to ensure adherence to all governance, compliance, quality, and safety measures in accordance with local standards in implementation. Ensures effective communication plans in place for external stakeholder education and advocacy.
• In close collaboration with Global Drug Development (GDD), cultivates strategic and effective co-creation and collaboration plans, for allocation and execution of clinical trials within the country, as necessary. Local portfolio prioritization to shape GDD trial strategies and resource allocation. P3 approval for events/ materials used by TMO and collaboration to upgrade capability of investigators, Ethics Committees etc. CMO is country manager for CRMA

Leadership & Culture

• Maintains and drives the standards of medical and scientific excellence in the country through recruitment selection, deployment and capability upskilling of agile innovative and collaborative talent together with P&O, in accordance with Novartis Leadership Standards.
• Owns and optimizes medical resources and allocation: Advocates early resourcing where and when appropriate, while ensuring cost adherence in spend of Medical Affairs trials, activities, and resourcing. Ability to articulate and defend priorities and needs of medical with strong influencing skills.
• Inspire people through role modelling cultural behaviors to enable the organization to transform & perform.
• Demonstrate strong self-awareness to instill a personal growth mindset evolving to the business, customer, company’s needs.

Key Performance Indicators

• Recruitment, development, and retention of Medical Top Talents in the country as measured by effective OTR process and Employee Engagement Survey
• Execution of Medical Affairs strategy as per agreed KPIs
• Adherence to legal and regulatory compliance criteria as per relevant legislation and Novartis Policies; Code of Conduct as per policy.
• Optimal alignment of execution with GDD and commercialization/Patient access needs of the CPO.
• Continuous operational improvements to enhance quality and efficiency in all areas of responsibility.
• Implementation of Medical capability building and innovative medical initiatives