Executive Director, Channel Strategy and Digital Innovation

Summary

#LI-Hybrid

Location: Basel, Switzerland or East Hanover, United States (see separate posting)

Relocation Support: This role is based in Basel, Switzerland. Novartis is unable to offer relocation support: please only apply if accessible.

Imagine shaping how one of the world’s leading pharma companies connects with audiences across every digital touchpoint. The Executive Director of Corporate Channel Strategy & Digital Marketing Innovation is a senior leader responsible for building a connected digital ecosystem that brings together corporate channels, AI-enabled marketing capabilities, intelligent experiences, and emerging technologies to strengthen discoverability, trust, engagement, and business value across human and AI-mediated environments. This role leads the strategy, governance, experimentation, optimization, and innovation agenda for corporate-owned channels, including global web platforms, visibility, social ecosystems, emerging AI interfaces, and digital experience infrastructure. Operating at the intersection of strategy, innovation, analytics, and technology, they lead the development of integrated digital marketing frameworks (across owned and paid), builds omnichannel capability, and ensures performance-driven content delivery to priority audiences utilizing AI, SEO, and AEO.

This is a business-critical, future-forward leadership position designed to build and scale a modern channel ecosystem that delivers impact at speed and at scale. You’ll bring the full power of omnichannel marketing, performance data, platform thinking, and digital storytelling into a unified strategy to elevate corporate brand relevance, marketing ROI, and our reputation as an innovative medicines company.

About the Role

Key Responsibilities

• Define and execute the global strategy for corporate digital channels and audience engagement.
• Build AI-enabled digital experiences that improve personalization, discoverability, and stakeholder impact.
• Lead omnichannel marketing initiatives across web, social media, email, and emerging platforms.
• Drive digital innovation through experimentation, performance optimization, and scalable operating models.
• Oversee enterprise marketing technology platforms, analytics capabilities, and channel governance.
• Champion responsible adoption of artificial intelligence technologies to enhance marketing effectiveness.
• Establish measurement frameworks that connect digital performance to business and brand outcomes.
• Lead and develop a high-performing global team while advancing digital transformation.
• Ensure every digital touchpoint reflects our brand identity, accessibility principles, and compliance standards while pushing boundaries on creativity and UX.
• Lead the identification, evaluation, implementation and governance of AI technologies that enhance corporate marketing effectiveness, predictive intelligence, and operational excellence

Essential Requirements

• (Prof.) Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred in marketing, communications, business, or related field.
• Extensive experience leading digital marketing, omnichannel strategy, and performance-driven initiatives within global matrixed organizations.
• Executive presence and proven ability to lead global, cross-functional teams and agency partners.
• Proven success driving digital transformation, channel modernization, and enterprise-scale innovation programs.
• Strong expertise in marketing technology platforms, analytics, and digital experience optimization as well as AI and emerging technology fluency and willingness to train others on AI enablement
• Demonstrated ability to translate data and insights into measurable business and brand impact.
• Strong grasp of modern MarTech stacks, analytics platforms (e.g., GA4, Adobe, Sprinklr), and campaign integration.
• Expertise in channel mix optimization, media planning, UX design, GEO, AEO, SEO, content syndication, and digital compliance.

Benefits & Rewards

At Novartis, we’re committed to reimagining medicine together - and rewarding the people who make it happen.

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.

In addition to your base salary, you may be eligible for a performance-based bonus depending on certain performance parameters. Long-term equity awards granted at group level may also be part of your package. Further details will be provided during the application process.

Read our brochure to learn more about our global total rewards offering: https://www.novartis.com/sites/novartis_com/files/novartis-life-handbook.pdf

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion:

Novartis is committed to building an outstanding, inclusive work environment and diverse teams representative of the patients and communities we serve.

Accessibility and Accommodation:

Novartis is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to all individuals. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the recruitment process, or in order to receive more detailed information about the essential functions of a position, please send an e-mail to diversity.inclusion_ch@novartis.com and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Please include the job requisition number in your message.

Why Novartis: Helping people with disease and their families takes more than innovative science. It takes a community of smart, passionate people like you. Collaborating, supporting and inspiring each other. Combining to achieve breakthroughs that change patients’ lives. Ready to create a brighter future together? https://www.novartis.com/about/strategy/people-and-culture

Benefits and Rewards: Learn about all the ways we’ll help you thrive personally and professionally. Read our handbook (PDF 30 MB)