Director, Product Strategy Lead, ASCVD

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Director, Product Strategy Lead, ASCVD

Company: Novartis

Location: East Hanover, New Jersey, United States

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Product Strategy & Management (Pharmaceutical/Biotech GTM Operations)

Date Posted: April 09, 2026

Experience Level: 10+ Years (Senior/Director Level)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the strategic direction and execution of integrated product strategies for a key cardiovascular (CV) therapeutic area product within the US market, focusing on maximizing impact and accelerating business growth.

• Drive P&L management for the assigned product, making critical trade-off decisions regarding resource allocation across multiple functions to achieve ambitious topline results and enhance patient outcomes.

• Orchestrate cross-functional collaboration, ensuring alignment and cohesive execution of strategies from Marketing, Sales, Market Access, Patient Support, Insights & Data Science, and Medical teams.

• Champion transformational leadership and decisive strategy development within a business-critical period of product transformation, demonstrating accountability and enterprise-wide impact.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned at a senior/director level within the pharmaceutical GTM (Go-To-Market) operations, specifically focusing on product strategy within the cardiovascular therapeutic area. The emphasis on P&L management, cross-functional orchestration, and driving accelerated impact aligns with senior leadership roles in commercial operations and strategy. The mention of "business-critical transformation" suggests a dynamic environment requiring strategic agility and robust operational execution.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Define and articulate critical integrated product priorities and key performance indicators (KPIs) for the assigned product/indication in close consultation with the cross-functional product strategy team, under the ultimate leadership of the General Manager.

• Integrate, lead, and rigorously measure the execution of the overall product strategy against defined KPIs, taking decisive action to elevate product impact and market performance.

• Significantly contribute to the Profit & Loss (P&L) management of the product/indication, empowering partner functions to effectively manage day-to-day resource deployment while holding accountability for overarching outcomes.

• Drive topline results through strategic choices and ensure the integrated cross-functional resource allocation is optimized to deliver the highest possible impact for the product.

• Establish and coordinate the management of comprehensive KPIs across all functions accountable for the integrated product strategy, ensuring clear performance tracking and accountability frameworks.

• Partner effectively with functional heads to navigate complex trade-off decisions, balancing competing priorities and resource demands to maximize strategic advantage.

• Collaborate with other General Managers and Product Strategy team members on enterprise-wide strategic decisions, including potential trade-offs and resource prioritization across different products or indications.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a strong focus on strategic decision-making, financial accountability (P&L, budget), and cross-functional leadership. The emphasis on KPIs, trade-off decisions, and enterprise-level impact indicates a role that requires both deep product-specific knowledge and a broad understanding of the pharmaceutical business landscape.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree (Required)

Experience:

• 8+ years of progressive experience in the pharmaceutical, biotech, healthcare, or healthcare consulting industry.

• Must include experience in at least two different types of cross-functional roles, demonstrating breadth of understanding across commercial functions.

• 2+ years of direct responsibility for large budget management, including owning key product trade-off decisions and resource allocation.

• 2+ years leading and translating an integrated product strategy requiring global and local alignment.

Required Skills:

• Product Strategy Development & Execution: Proven ability to define, develop, and implement comprehensive integrated product strategies that drive market penetration and revenue growth.

• P&L Management & Budgetary Control: Demonstrated experience in managing significant product budgets, making critical financial trade-offs, and being accountable for P&L performance.

• Cross-Functional Leadership & Orchestration: Expertise in leading and aligning diverse, cross-functional teams (Marketing, Sales, Market Access, Medical, etc.) towards a unified strategic objective.

• US Market Dynamics: Deep understanding of the US pharmaceutical market, including regulatory landscape, payer dynamics, and commercial execution strategies across product lifecycle stages.

• Strategic Decision-Making: Ability to make decisive, data-informed strategic choices, often under pressure, and effectively manage competing priorities and resources.

• Stakeholder Management: Strong capability to engage, influence, and manage relationships with internal stakeholders at all levels, including senior leadership and functional heads.

Preferred Skills:

• Therapeutic Area Experience (specifically Cardiovascular/ASCVD)

• Consulting Experience (Management, Strategy, or Healthcare)

• Market Access Strategy and Execution Experience

• Finance Experience (Financial modeling, forecasting, business case development)

• Global or other country/region product strategy experience (Projects or full-time roles for 6+ months)

• Commercial Excellence methodologies

• Data Science and Insights interpretation for strategic planning

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirements emphasize a blend of strategic thinking, financial acumen, and extensive cross-functional leadership experience within the pharmaceutical sector, particularly with US market exposure. The preference for an MBA and specific functional experiences like Market Access and Consulting indicates a desire for candidates with advanced analytical and business strategy backgrounds. The "10+ Years" experience level is inferred from the "8+ years" requirement combined with the senior "Director" title and the expectation of leading complex strategies and P&L.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Strategic Frameworks: Showcase examples of developing and implementing integrated product strategies, detailing the market analysis, competitive landscape assessment, and strategic pillars.

• P&L Impact Case Studies: Present documented cases where you managed a product's P&L, including specific examples of budget management, resource allocation decisions, and the resulting financial outcomes (e.g., revenue growth, market share improvement).

• Cross-Functional Orchestration Examples: Provide evidence of leading initiatives that required significant coordination across multiple departments (e.g., Marketing, Sales, Market Access, Medical), detailing your role in alignment and execution.

• Product Lifecycle Management Projects: Include examples of strategic contributions across different stages of a product's lifecycle, from launch to maturity, demonstrating adaptability and strategic foresight.

Process Documentation:

• Integrated Strategy Development: Demonstrate your process for translating market insights and business objectives into a cohesive, multi-functional product strategy document.

• Resource Allocation & Trade-off Analysis: Outline your methodology for evaluating resource requests, conducting trade-off analyses, and making defensible allocation decisions to maximize ROI.

• KPI Definition & Performance Management: Illustrate your approach to defining relevant KPIs, establishing tracking mechanisms, and using performance data to inform strategic adjustments and drive accountability.

• Cross-Functional Alignment & Communication: Detail your processes for ensuring clear communication, buy-in, and synchronized execution across diverse stakeholder groups.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a role at this level, a portfolio is crucial. It should clearly demonstrate strategic thinking, financial management capabilities, and the ability to lead complex, cross-functional initiatives. The emphasis is on tangible results and documented processes that showcase leadership in driving product success within the pharmaceutical GTM.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $185,500.00 - $344,500.00 per year

Benefits:

• Health & Wellness: Comprehensive health insurance, life insurance, and disability benefits to support employee well-being.

• Retirement Savings: A 401(k) plan with company contribution and matching to aid in long-term financial planning.

• Performance Incentives: Eligibility for a performance-based cash incentive program, directly linking compensation to individual and company achievements.

• Equity Opportunities: Potential for annual equity awards, offering ownership and upside tied to Novartis's long-term success.

• Time Off: A generous time off package including vacation days, personal days, and holidays, promoting work-life balance.

• Additional Benefits: Access to a variety of other benefits as detailed by the company, contributing to a holistic employee experience.

Working Hours: Approximately 40 hours per week.

• While a standard 40-hour work week is expected, the nature of a Director-level role in product strategy, particularly during critical launches or transformations, may require flexibility and dedication beyond standard hours to meet strategic objectives and deadlines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is substantial, reflecting a senior leadership position in a major pharmaceutical company for a critical therapeutic area. The benefits package is comprehensive, typical for executive-level roles, emphasizing financial security, health, and work-life balance. The estimation of 40 hours per week is a baseline; actual demands will likely be higher.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Pharmaceutical / Biotechnology

Company Size: Large Enterprise (Novartis is a global pharmaceutical giant with tens of thousands of employees worldwide). This scale implies access to extensive resources, global networks, and complex organizational structures.

Founded: 1996 (formed from the merger of Ciba-Geigy and Sandoz). Novartis has a long heritage, combining deep scientific expertise with a forward-looking approach to healthcare innovation.

Team Structure:

• Integrated Product Strategy Organization: This role is a key member of the General Manager's team, operating within a dedicated Integrated Product Strategy Organization focused on maximizing product impact.

• Cross-Functional Alignment: The structure necessitates close collaboration with functional heads and teams across Marketing, Sales, Market Access, Patient Support, Insights & Data Science, and Medical affairs.

• Reporting Hierarchy: The role reports indirectly to the General Manager for the Product and will likely have direct interaction with senior leadership within the US Pharma organization, demonstrating a matrixed and collaborative reporting environment.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Emphasis on leveraging insights from data science and market intelligence to inform strategic priorities and resource allocation.

• Agile & Transformational Approach: The role is expected to drive change and operate with speed, agility, and a focus on continuous improvement, especially during business-critical transformations.

• Customer-Centric Strategy: Ensuring that customer engagement and relationship building are integral to strategic planning and performance metrics to optimize market approach and mitigate risks.

Company Website: https://www.novartis.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Novartis operates in a highly regulated and competitive industry. The company culture likely emphasizes scientific rigor, ethical conduct, patient focus, and innovation. For a role like this, expect a fast-paced environment with high expectations for strategic contribution and operational execution. The "business-critical transformation" mentioned suggests an organization undergoing significant change, which can be both challenging and rewarding.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Director, Product Strategy Lead (Senior Leadership)

This level signifies a strategic leadership role responsible for a significant product portfolio within a key therapeutic area. It involves direct impact on business performance, P&L accountability, and the management of complex cross-functional initiatives. This is a critical juncture for individuals looking to move into senior commercial leadership within the pharmaceutical industry.

Reporting Structure:

• The role is part of the General Manager's team for the assigned product, indicating a close working relationship with senior commercial leadership.

Operations Impact:

• Direct influence on the commercial success and P&L of a major product within the cardiovascular (ASCVD) therapeutic area.

• Strategic decisions made by this role will significantly impact patient access to critical treatments, market share, revenue generation, and the overall legacy of the product and Novartis in the cardiovascular space.

Growth Opportunities:

• Further Commercial Leadership: Potential progression to General Manager roles, Head of Commercial Strategy, or VP-level positions within specific therapeutic areas or business units.

• Strategic Specialization: Deepen expertise in areas like market access, commercial operations, or specific therapeutic areas, becoming a recognized subject matter expert.

• Enterprise Leadership Development: Opportunities to lead broader strategic initiatives, participate in executive development programs, and gain exposure to global strategy discussions.

• Mentorship & Influence: Build a strong professional network, mentor emerging talent, and influence strategic direction at a senior level within a leading pharmaceutical company.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role represents a significant career advancement opportunity, offering a direct path to senior commercial leadership. The emphasis on P&L and strategic orchestration prepares individuals for top-tier roles within the pharmaceutical industry. The growth potential is substantial, with clear pathways toward general management and broader enterprise leadership.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Primarily On-site

The role is based in East Hanover, NJ, indicating a requirement for regular presence in the office to facilitate close collaboration with internal teams, leadership, and potentially external partners.

Office Location(s): East Hanover, New Jersey, United States. This location serves as a key hub for Novartis operations, offering access to a significant concentration of pharmaceutical and biotech professionals and resources.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Hub: The office environment is designed to foster collaboration, likely featuring open-plan areas, meeting rooms, and shared workspaces to encourage interaction between different functions.

• Technology-Enabled: Access to standard office technology, robust IT infrastructure, and specialized pharmaceutical/biotech software and data platforms will be available to support strategic analysis and execution.

• Cross-Functional Interaction: The physical proximity of various departments will facilitate spontaneous discussions, quick problem-solving sessions, and the development of strong working relationships critical for integrated strategy execution.

Work Schedule: Standard business hours, with an expectation of flexibility.

• While the role is typically aligned with a 40-hour work week, the demands of a senior leadership position in product strategy, especially during critical phases like product launches or market access negotiations, will often necessitate extended hours and dedicated effort to meet strategic objectives and deadlines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "On-site" designation implies a traditional office-based work environment. Candidates should expect to be physically present at the East Hanover, NJ location, which is typical for senior leadership roles requiring extensive collaboration and access to company resources.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: HR or Recruiter screen to assess basic qualifications, experience, and alignment with the role's core requirements.

• Hiring Manager Interview(s): In-depth discussion with the hiring manager (likely the General Manager or a senior commercial leader) focusing on strategic thinking, leadership experience, P&L management, and cross-functional orchestration.

• Cross-Functional Panel Interviews: Interviews with key stakeholders from Marketing, Sales, Market Access, Medical, and potentially Finance/Insights. These sessions will assess collaboration style, ability to influence, and understanding of respective functional needs.

• Case Study/Presentation: A common element for senior strategy roles. Candidates may be asked to prepare and present a strategic analysis of a given scenario or a portfolio piece, demonstrating their approach to problem-solving, strategy development, and communication.

• Senior Leadership Interview: Final interview with an executive leader to assess overall fit, strategic vision, and potential for enterprise-level impact.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Quantify Impact: For each project or initiative presented, clearly articulate the measurable outcomes, using specific metrics (e.g., revenue growth percentage, market share increase, cost savings, ROI).

• Structure Your Narratives: Use a clear storytelling framework (e.g., Situation, Task, Action, Result - STAR method) to explain your role, the challenges, the strategies implemented, and the ultimate impact.

• Highlight Strategic Trade-offs: Explicitly discuss the difficult decisions you had to make, the rationale behind them, and how you managed the associated risks and resource allocations.

• Demonstrate Cross-Functional Mastery: Showcase how you built consensus, managed diverse stakeholder needs, and facilitated collaboration to achieve a common goal. Focus on your role as an orchestrator.

• Tailor to Novartis & ASCVD: If possible, subtly tailor your portfolio examples to align with Novartis's business, therapeutic areas, and the specific challenges of the ASCVD market.

Challenge Preparation:

• Strategic Scenario Analysis: Be prepared to analyze a hypothetical market scenario, identify key challenges, and propose a strategic response, including resource allocation and KPI recommendations.

• P&L Projection & Justification: Practice developing high-level financial projections for a product and justifying strategic investments needed to achieve those targets.

• Cross-Functional Conflict Resolution: Anticipate questions about how you would resolve strategic disagreements or resource conflicts between different functional departments.

• Leadership Philosophy: Be ready to articulate your leadership style, your approach to team building, and how you foster a high-performance, collaborative culture.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role demands a strategic mindset coupled with strong execution capabilities. The interview process will likely be rigorous, focusing on assessing leadership, strategic acumen, financial responsibility, and the ability to drive complex cross-functional initiatives. A well-prepared portfolio showcasing tangible results is essential.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• CRM Systems (e.g., Veeva CRM, Salesforce): Essential for understanding customer engagement, sales force effectiveness, and market segmentation. Proficiency in leveraging CRM data for strategic insights is key.

• Business Intelligence & Analytics Platforms (e.g., Tableau, Power BI, QlikView): Crucial for data analysis, performance tracking, and creating compelling dashboards to communicate strategy and results to stakeholders.

• Project Management Software (e.g., Asana, Monday.com, Microsoft Project): To manage complex, cross-functional initiatives, track timelines, and ensure seamless project execution.

• Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint, Word): Advanced proficiency is assumed for financial modeling, strategic presentations, and detailed documentation. Excel for complex data analysis and scenario planning is particularly important.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Market Data & Analytics Tools (e.g., IQVIA, Symphony Health): Experience with pharmaceutical market data providers for competitive intelligence, market sizing, and performance benchmarking.

• Forecasting Tools: Familiarity with tools or methodologies used for product sales forecasting and financial modeling.

• Reporting Dashboards: Ability to design or interpret sophisticated dashboards that synthesize complex data into actionable insights for leadership.

CRM & Automation:

• Marketing Automation Platforms (e.g., Marketo, HubSpot - less common in Pharma, but principles apply): Understanding of how digital marketing efforts are integrated and measured, even if specific platforms differ in Pharma.

• Collaboration Tools (e.g., Microsoft Teams, Slack, SharePoint): Essential for day-to-day communication, document sharing, and cross-functional team collaboration.

• Internal Novartis Systems: Familiarity with Novartis's proprietary internal systems for project management, data access, and compliance will be an advantage.

📝 Enhancement Note: While specific tool names might vary, the core requirement is a strong command of data analysis, strategic planning, financial modeling, and cross-functional communication platforms. The ability to leverage data from CRM and market analytics tools to inform strategy and measure impact is paramount.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Patient-Centricity: A fundamental value at Novartis, ensuring all strategic decisions ultimately aim to improve patient outcomes and access to treatment.

• Integrity & Ethics: Upholding the highest ethical standards in all business dealings, especially critical in the highly regulated pharmaceutical industry.

• Innovation & Agility: Embracing new ideas, challenging the status quo, and adapting quickly to evolving market dynamics and scientific advancements.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: Fostering an environment where diverse perspectives are valued, and cross-functional teams work cohesively towards shared goals.

• Performance & Accountability: Driving for results, taking ownership of outcomes, and maintaining a clear focus on achieving ambitious targets.

Collaboration Style:

• Partnership-Oriented: The role requires building strong, collaborative partnerships with functional leaders to ensure integrated strategy and aligned execution.

• Influential Leadership: Success hinges on the ability to influence without direct authority, building consensus and driving action through strong communication and strategic rationale.

• Data-Informed Dialogue: Discussions and decision-making are expected to be grounded in data, insights, and objective analysis.

• Proactive Communication: Maintaining open and transparent communication channels across teams to ensure alignment, manage expectations, and proactively address potential challenges.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture at Novartis likely emphasizes scientific excellence, ethical conduct, and a strong patient focus, combined with a drive for innovation and performance. This role requires someone who can thrive in a collaborative, data-driven, and results-oriented environment, adept at influencing and aligning diverse teams.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating Complex Stakeholder Landscapes: Balancing the needs and priorities of numerous internal functions, each with its own objectives and resource constraints.

• Driving Change in a Large Organization: Implementing new strategies or transforming existing ones within a large, established pharmaceutical company can be complex and require significant change management skills.

• Market Access & Payer Dynamics: Understanding and effectively strategizing within the intricate US market access environment to ensure patient affordability and coverage.

• Competitive Pressures: Operating in a highly competitive therapeutic area like ASCVD requires continuous strategic adaptation and differentiation.

• Balancing Short-Term vs. Long-Term Goals: Making trade-off decisions that optimize immediate product performance while also ensuring long-term strategic sustainability and growth.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep Therapeutic Area Expertise: Opportunities to become a subject matter expert in Cardiovascular diseases and their treatment.

• Advanced Strategic Planning: Hone skills in complex market analysis, competitive strategy, and long-term portfolio planning.

• Executive Leadership Development: Access to Novartis’s leadership development programs, executive coaching, and opportunities to gain broader enterprise experience.

• Industry Exposure: Engaging with industry conferences, key opinion leaders, and market access stakeholders to stay abreast of trends and best practices.

• Mentorship: Opportunities to be mentored by senior leaders within Novartis and to mentor junior colleagues, fostering professional growth.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role presents significant challenges that are inherent to senior strategy positions in the pharmaceutical industry. Successfully navigating these challenges will provide substantial opportunities for professional growth and development, preparing individuals for even more senior leadership roles.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to make a significant strategic trade-off involving resource allocation across multiple functions. What was the situation, your decision process, and the outcome?" (Assesses P&L thinking, decision-making, cross-functional impact.)

• "How would you approach developing an integrated product strategy for a new ASCVD indication, considering market access, physician adoption, and patient support?" (Evaluates strategic planning methodology, market understanding.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What do you know about Novartis's current position in the cardiovascular market, and how do you see this product fitting into that landscape?" (Assesses research, strategic fit, and industry awareness.)

• "How would you foster collaboration and alignment between the Sales, Marketing, and Medical teams for this product?" (Evaluates collaboration style, influencing skills, and understanding of functional dynamics.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Focus on Impact & Rationale: For each portfolio example, clearly articulate the strategic rationale behind your actions and quantify the business impact (e.g., % revenue growth, market share gain, cost savings).

• Structure for Clarity: Use a consistent structure (e.g., Challenge, Strategy, Execution, Results) for each case study. Ensure slides are visually clean and focus on key takeaways.

• Highlight Your Role: Clearly define your specific responsibilities and contributions within each team effort. Use "I" when describing your actions and "We" for team achievements.

• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate detailed questions about your methodologies, the data you used, the challenges you faced, and alternative strategies you considered.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating strategic thinking, robust analytical capabilities, strong leadership presence, and a deep understanding of the pharmaceutical GTM environment, particularly within the ASCVD therapeutic area. Emphasize quantifiable achievements and the ability to articulate complex strategies clearly.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the official Novartis Careers portal via the provided URL.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight experience in product strategy, P&L management, cross-functional leadership, and pharmaceutical market expertise. Quantify achievements with specific metrics (e.g., revenue growth, budget oversight, market share impact).

• Portfolio Customization: Prepare a concise portfolio that showcases 2-3 key projects demonstrating your strategic planning, P&L management, and cross-functional orchestration skills. Focus on case studies with clear, measurable outcomes.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Novartis's current business objectives, its position in the cardiovascular market, and recent company news. Understand their approach to innovation and patient access.

• Interview Practice: Prepare for behavioral and strategic interview questions. Practice articulating your experience using the STAR method and be ready to present your portfolio with confidence, emphasizing your strategic impact and leadership capabilities.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.