About the role

Aplyr's Quick Take

This role is about leading and managing the Operational Excellence agenda within the Procurement function at Novartis. You'll be responsible for tracking performance, ensuring transparency, and driving continuous improvement initiatives. It's a senior leadership position that involves strategic oversight rather than day-to-day operational tasks.

Good fit

Ideal candidates have at least 8 years of experience in Procurement leadership, preferably in a global context. Strong project management skills and the ability to drive innovation in procurement practices are essential, along with excellent communication abilities.

Worth noting

This position requires navigating a complex, matrixed organization, which may be challenging for those not accustomed to such environments. The role also emphasizes a high-performance culture, which could be a double-edged sword depending on your work style.

Job Description Summary

The Head of Operational Excellence & Project Management is a critical leadership role within Procurement, acting as a strategic partner and operational backbone for the function. This role ensures full visibility, governance, and execution across Procurement priorities, objectives, KPIs, reporting, and transformation initiatives.

The role owns the Operational Excellence agenda end-to-end: from data, reporting, performance tracking, and leadership presentations to implementation of key programs, capability building, systems/platform adoption, and continuous improvement of ways of working.

Job Description

Major accountabilities:

Lead the Operational Excellence agenda across the Procurement function, ensuring structure, discipline, and transparency.
Govern Procurement priorities through clear processes, routines, and performance standards.
Track and maintain ownership of strategic objectives, operational goals, and cross‑functional commitments.
Manage end‑to‑end Procurement objectives, KPIs, and performance reporting frameworks.
Ensure KPIs are well‑defined, measured, embedded in decision‑making, and monitored for progress and gaps.
Maintain full visibility of delivery status, risks, dependencies, and performance trends, driving corrective actions as needed.
Oversee Procurement data governance, reporting landscape, and management information accuracy and consistency.
Translate complex data into actionable insights and drive standardization, automation, and reporting efficiency.
Lead development of high‑quality leadership presentations, synthesizing progress, risks, and recommendations for executive communication.
Lead and develop a team whilst building strong capabilities and fostering a proactive, high‑performance culture

Minimum Requirements:

Minimum of 8 years' experience in within a Procurement environment
Proven track record in Procurement Leadership (ideally global or regional).
Demonstrated success in developing and executing global strategies and delivering measurable business impact.
Ability to drive innovation and continuous improvement in procurement practices.
Demonstrated success in project management and operational excellence
Ability to operate effectively within global, matrixed organizations, and collaborate across diverse geographies and cultures.
Outstanding communication and collaboration skills.

Languages:

Fluent English (both written and spoken)

Skills Desired

Effective Communication, Finance Management, Internal And External Customer Needs Analysis & Satisfaction Studies, Managing Resources, Negotiating

Aplyr's read

Novartis is a Swiss-based global healthcare leader, known for its focus on innovative medicines and commitment to addressing patient needs through diverse roles.
Synthesized from recent postings & public sources

What's promising

•Novartis invests heavily in research and development, driving innovation in pharmaceuticals.
•The company offers a wide range of global career opportunities across various fields.
•Strong focus on cutting-edge therapies, including gene therapy and AI-driven solutions.

What to watch

•Regulatory challenges can impact the speed of drug approval and market entry.
•High competition in the pharmaceutical industry requires constant innovation to maintain market position.
•Complex organizational structure may slow decision-making processes.

Why Novartis

•Novartis has a robust pipeline of innovative medicines, setting it apart in the healthcare sector.
•The company emphasizes a diverse and inclusive workplace culture across its global operations.
•Novartis is a leader in digital transformation within pharmaceuticals, integrating AI and data science.

Aplyr’s read is generated by AI from public sources. Was it useful?

About Novartis

Novartis

novartis.com

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Novartis is a global healthcare company based in Switzerland that provides solutions to address the evolving needs of patients worldwide. It focuses on innovative medicines, generics, and eye care.