Director and Group Head (AI Methods), AI and Computational Sciences (AICS)

Role Summary

Director and Group Head (AI Methods), AI and Computational Sciences (AICS) at Novartis. Leads the AI Methods group within AICS, directing a team of scientists in building and optimizing state-of-the-art AI algorithms to support biomedical research and accelerate drug discovery. Partners with BR and wider AI community to advance AI applications in drug discovery.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of AI researchers specializing in methodological improvisations of AI models
• Ensure models are robust, performant, and scalable with Engineering and Product Development resources
• Raise awareness of AI applications to answer key research questions across BR
• Position AI-aided drug discovery contributions to advance BR’s portfolio, enable new therapeutic discoveries, shorten cycles, and increase efficiency
• Serve as primary subject matter expert across BR for building, analyzing, and recommending usage of state-of-the-art AI algorithms and models
• Communicate and align with AICS teams, data science community, and senior scientists; initiate and lead high-value internal collaborations across BR
• Drive in-housing of SOTA AI models where applicable, in collaboration with BR DAs and FAs

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in innovation, development, deployment, and support of machine learning data management and modeling
• Expertise in AI algorithmic development and research, preferably in biomedical sciences for drug discovery
• Strong ability to understand emerging technologies and integrate them into business solutions
• Ability to balance requirements, manage expectations, and drive results with a proactive approach
• Entrepreneurial spirit with pro-active attitude
• Strong organizational, problem-solving, and influencing skills; proven teamwork
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and presentation skills
• Ability to execute and prioritize in a complex matrixed environment
• Operational and functional leadership

Skills

• AI and ML methodologies
• Model development, tuning, and deployment
• Robustness and performance optimization
• Cross-functional collaboration
• Strategic communication with scientific and engineering stakeholders

Education

• Relevant advanced degree in a related field (implied by senior leadership requirements; not explicitly listed in source)